
In the Bible, the phrase 'pare her nails' refers to the act of trimming a woman's nails. This was done as a symbol of her submission and sorrow. In the East, it was customary to allow nails to grow when in sorrow. The Hebrew word for 'pare' is 'par' or 'asah', which means 'to fix' or 'manipulate'. The word has a wide range of applications in the Hebrew Bible and is used to express the dressing of the feet and the trimming of the beard.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meaning | To trim or cut nails |
| Reason | To prevent self-mutilation, to show sorrow, to show submission |
| Origin | Hebrew |
| Bible References | Deuteronomy 21:12, 2 Samuel 19:24 |
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What You'll Learn

The Hebrew word for finger-nail is tsipporen
The word 'pare' in Hebrew has a very wide range of applications and is of very frequent occurrence in the Hebrew Bible. It is found in the above meaning in but one passage of English Versions of the Bible. The Hebrew word for finger-nail only occurs in the plural, the singular of which denotes the point of a stylus (Jeremiah 17:1). According to the Haggadah, Adam's entire body, before he had sinned, was covered with a horny substance like the finger nail; but after he had sinned this disappeared, remaining only on the ends of his fingers and toes. The later cabalists find in this haggadah the origin of the law requiring the paring of the nails before Sabbaths and holy days.
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The act of paring nails is mentioned in the Bible
In the Bible, paring nails is seen as an act of submission and a sign of sorrow. This is further supported by the custom in the East of allowing nails to grow when in sorrow. The act of paring nails is also mentioned in 2 Samuel 19:24, where it is used to express the dressing of the feet and the trimming of the beard.
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Paring nails is a sign of submission
The word 'pare' is derived from the Hebrew word 'par' or 'asah', which means 'to fix' or 'manipulate'. It has a very wide range of applications and is frequently found in the Hebrew Bible. In 2 Samuel 19:24, it is used to express the dressing of the feet and the trimming of the beard.
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Paring nails is a custom of the East
In the East, it is customary to allow one's nails to grow when in sorrow. This is seen as a sign of submission and distress. The practice of paring one's nails, therefore, carries a different meaning in the East than it might in other cultures. It is not simply a matter of personal grooming, but a symbol of one's emotional state and willingness to submit to one's circumstances.
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Paring nails is a way to prevent self-mutilation
The act of paring nails is also associated with sorrow and submission in the Bible. In the East, it is customary to allow nails to grow when in sorrow. This is mentioned in the Bible as an emblem of distress.
The word 'pare' has a very wide range of applications and can be used in a variety of contexts, including as a verb meaning "to cut" or "to trim", as in the case of paring nails. It can also be used as an adjective, meaning "pared-down" or "simple", as in the phrase "her style is pared-down and simple".
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Frequently asked questions
It means to trim or cut her nails.
In the Bible, a captive woman is told to pare her nails so that she doesn't scratch her face in grief.
The word comes from the Hebrew word 'par', which means 'to fix' or 'manipulate'.
The Hebrew word for fingernail is 'tsipporen'.
The opposite would be to allow your nails to grow, which is a custom of the East when in sorrow.











































