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טְפַר

𐤈𐤐𐤓

ṭᵉphar

H2953 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A nail, claw, or hoof—specifically the hard keratinous outgrowth found on fingers, toes, or animal feet. In Aramaic biblical texts, the term most often refers to fingernails or claws, emphasizing their hard, protective, and sometimes predatory function.

Semantic Range

nail (of hand or foot), claw (of an animal or bird), talon, hoof

Root / Etymology

From the root טפר, which in Aramaic corresponds to the Hebrew root צפר (to scratch, claw, seize), and is semantically related to צִפֹּרֶן (ṣippōren, 'nail, claw'). In both languages, the noun form denotes a hard protrusion used for grasping, scratching, or digging.

Historical & Contextual Notes

טְפַר appears only in Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, notably in Daniel 4:33, where it describes the transformation of Nebuchadnezzar, whose nails (טְפָרוֹהִי) become like those of a bird—highlighting their unnatural length and talon-like quality. Unlike the standard Hebrew word צִפֹּרֶן (ṣippōren), which also means 'nail' or 'claw,' טְפַר carries distinctive Aramaic phonology and is used in imperial Aramaic texts. In later Jewish Aramaic, similar forms also connote claws or talons, sometimes used metaphorically for predatory power. Standard English translations typically render טְפַר as 'nail' or 'claw,' but the term encompasses both human and animal anatomy depending on context. There is no evidence for significant semantic change across periods; the Aramaic term’s use is limited and specifically descriptive.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to צָפַר, and meaning the same as צִפֹּרֶן; a finger-nail; also a hoof or claw; nail.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

טפר (ṭ-p-r) — to claw, to scratch, to seize

Root טפר to claw, to scratch, to seize

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2953-01 וְ/טִפְרַ֣י/הּ vetiferayh AC/Ncfpc/Sp3fs and its claws and her claws and its claws 1
H2953-02 וְ/טִפְר֥וֹ/הִי vetiferohi AC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms and-his-nails and his claws and his nails 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2953-02 Daniel 4:30 וְ/טִפְר֥וֹ/הִי vetiferohi AC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms and-his-nails and his claws and his nails
H2953-01 Daniel 7:19 וְ/טִפְרַ֣י/הּ vetiferayh AC/Ncfpc/Sp3fs and its claws and her claws and its claws
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