צִפֹּ֫רֶן (tsip.po.ren)
tsip.po.ren
fingernail
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tsiporen refers to a fingernail or the sharp point of an object, such as a stylus or diamond. In the Old Testament, it appears in only two verses, both found in Deuteronomy and Jeremiah. The word describes something hard, pointed, and small, often used metaphorically to emphasize precision or minuteness.
Its usage highlights the sharpness of divine judgment or the exactness of God’s word. For example, in Deuteronomy 32:42, God declares that His weapons will be like a tsiporen, striking with deadly accuracy. Similarly, Jeremiah 15:19 uses the image to suggest that false prophets will be rejected as easily as one discards a broken nail.
This rare word underscores the power of small things in biblical imagery. Whether referring to a physical nail or a metaphorical point, tsiporen reminds readers that even the smallest details matter in God’s plan. Its brevity in Scripture makes each occurrence stand out, drawing attention to the precision of divine action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tsiporen points to something small yet incredibly sharp. In Deuteronomy 21:12, it refers to trimming nails as part of a process of mourning and transition. This simple act shows how physical details connect to our inner emotional states. God cares about the tangible ways we express grief and prepare for new beginnings.
Jeremiah 17:1 uses a related image of a diamond point to describe sin being deeply engraved on the heart. Here, the sharpness represents permanence and seriousness. The contrast between the mundane act in Deuteronomy and the spiritual weight in Jeremiah highlights how God uses everyday objects to teach profound truths about our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ a point of1×
- finger-nails/ her1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צִפָּרְנֶֽי/הָ\׃1×
- בְּ/צִפֹּ֣רֶן1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 21:12
then you shall bring her home to your house. She shall shave her head and trim her nails.
This verse shows the word used literally for trimming nails during a ritual of mourning, grounding spiritual practice in physical care.
-
Jeremiah 17:1
“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond. It is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars.
The text uses the concept of a sharp point to describe how sin is permanently engraved on the heart, emphasizing its lasting impact.