(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to צָפַר, and meaning the same as צִפֹּרֶן; a finger-nail; also a hoof or claw; nail.
Transliteration:ṭᵉphar
Pronunciation:tef-ar'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word ṭᵉphar (`{{H2953}}`) is defined as a "finger-nail," "hoof," or "claw." It is explicitly stated to derive from a root corresponding to the Hebrew ṣāpar (צָפַר) and to share the meaning of ṣippōren (צִפֹּרֶן, `{{H6857}}`). This indicates its semantic core lies in the hard, keratinous structures found at the extremities of digits, whether human (nails) or animal (hooves/claws). The range extends to encompass these various forms, highlighting their common physiological nature as protective or grasping appendages.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word ṭᵉphar (`{{H2953}}`) appears only once in the biblical text, within the Aramaic sections of the Book of Daniel. Its sole occurrence is in the narrative concerning King Nebuchadnezzar's period of divine judgment and madness:
* **[[Daniel 4:33]]**: "The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws."
In this verse, ṭᵉphar (`{{H2953}}`) specifically refers to the king's "nails," which grew long and untamed, resembling "birds' claws." This vivid imagery underscores the king's complete degradation from human dignity and royal status to an animalistic state. The untrimmed, claw-like nails are a physical manifestation of his loss of reason, his expulsion from human society, and his profound humiliation. The context is one of divine judgment, where God brings low the proud ruler, stripping him of all outward signs of power and even his very humanity.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary linguistic connection for ṭᵉphar (`{{H2953}}`) is to its Hebrew cognates:
* **ṣippōren (צִפֹּרֶן, `{{H6857}}`)**: This is the direct Hebrew equivalent, consistently translated as "nail," "hoof," or "claw." It appears in contexts such as [[Deuteronomy 21:12]] regarding the trimming of a captive woman's nails, and [[Jeremiah 17:1]] where a sin is "engraved with an iron pen and with a diamond point" on the tablet of the heart, possibly alluding to a sharp, nail-like instrument. The semantic overlap with ṭᵉphar (`{{H2953}}`) is complete.
* **ṣāpar (צָפַר)**: The root from which ṭᵉphar (`{{H2953}}`) is said to derive or correspond to. This root is also connected to ṣippōr (צִפּוֹר, `{{H6833}}`), meaning "bird," a connection that resonates with the description of Nebuchadnezzar's nails growing "like birds' claws" in [[Daniel 4:33]].
Conceptually, ṭᵉphar (`{{H2953}}`) is linked to themes of:
* **Degradation and Humiliation:** The transformation of human nails into animal claws symbolizes a profound loss of status and dignity.
* **Wildness and Untamed Nature:** The growth of such nails signifies a departure from civilized human norms and a return to a primitive, uncontrolled existence.
* **Divine Judgment:** The physical change is a direct, visible consequence of God's punitive action against Nebuchadnezzar's pride.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of ṭᵉphar (`{{H2953}}`) in [[Daniel 4:33]] carries immense theological weight. It serves as a potent symbol of God's absolute sovereignty over human rulers and the devastating consequences of pride. Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful monarch of his time, was brought to a state of utter humiliation, his very physical being transformed to reflect his spiritual degradation. The growth of his ṭᵉphar (`{{H2953}}`) into "birds' claws" is not merely a descriptive detail but a vivid illustration of divine judgment.
This transformation underscores the biblical principle that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" ([[Proverbs 3:34]], [[James 4:6]], [[1 Peter 5:5]]). The grotesque appearance of the king's nails, alongside his hair like eagles' feathers, emphasizes the completeness of his fall and the radical nature of God's power to humble the haughty. The narrative of Daniel 4 ultimately demonstrates that even such extreme divine discipline can lead to repentance and a renewed acknowledgment of God's eternal dominion, as Nebuchadnezzar, upon his restoration, praises and honors the Most High ([[Daniel 4:34-37]]).
### Summary
The Aramaic word ṭᵉphar (`{{H2953}}`) denotes a "finger-nail," "hoof," or "claw," sharing its semantic range with the Hebrew ṣippōren (`{{H6857}}`). Its solitary biblical appearance in [[Daniel 4:33]] is highly significant, describing King Nebuchadnezzar's nails growing "like birds' claws" during his period of divinely imposed madness. This imagery powerfully symbolizes the king's complete degradation from human dignity to an animalistic state, a direct consequence of his hubris. The untamed ṭᵉphar (`{{H2953}}`) serves as a stark visual representation of divine judgment, illustrating God's absolute sovereignty in humbling the proud and ultimately leading to the king's repentance and recognition of God's supreme authority.
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