Original Word: מַשְׂמְרָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: masmrah
Pronunciation: mas-may-RAH
Phonetic Spelling: (mas-mer-aw')
KJV: nail
Word Origin: [for H4548 (מַסמֵר מִסמֵר מַסמְרָה מִסמְרָה - nails) feminine]

1. a peg

nail

For macmer fem.; a peg -- nail.

see HEBREW macmer

Word Origin
the same as masmer, q.v.

Meaning and Imagery

מַשְׂמְרָה (Strong’s 4930) pictures a nail, peg, or pin that has been driven in so firmly it will not move. In Ecclesiastes 12:11 it is paired with “goads,” blending the ideas of prodding and anchoring: wise instruction both urges the hearer forward and fixes truth in place.

Biblical Usage

Ecclesiastes 12:11: “The words of the wise are like goads, and the collected sayings are like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd.”

The Teacher presents two metaphors for inspired wisdom. First, goads spur livestock toward the proper path; second, well-driven nails secure a structure so that it will withstand time and stress. The solitary occurrence of מַשְׂמְרָה therefore carries a dual emphasis on permanence and reliability.

Historical and Cultural Background

In the Ancient Near East nails were made of iron or bronze and used to fasten beams, hang valuables, and secure tent ropes. A tent peg that slipped endangered the whole household; a beam that loosened threatened collapse. By likening godly counsel to nails, the writer evokes everyday experiences of safety and endurance familiar to his audience.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Origin of Wisdom – The “one Shepherd” identifies God as the ultimate source of the sayings. Their stability rests on His character (Psalm 23:1; John 10:11).
2. Preservation of Revelation – Just as a nail fixes a plank, inspiration and providence fix God’s words across generations (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 24:35).
3. Formation of Character – Truth that is merely heard can be forgotten; truth driven deep shapes conduct (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; James 1:22-25).
4. Anticipation of Christ – The Shepherd language anticipates Jesus Christ, whose teaching carries the same unwavering authority and who Himself was literally fastened with nails, securing the redemption that anchors the soul (Hebrews 6:19-20).

Practical Ministry Insights

• Teaching and Preaching – Aim not only to stimulate but to lodge Scripture so firmly that listeners carry it into trials and temptations (Colossians 3:16).
• Counseling – Provide counsel that rests on unchanging biblical principles, not transient opinion (Proverbs 19:21).
• Discipleship – Memorization, meditation, and obedience act as the hammer that drives truth home (Joshua 1:8).
• Apologetics – Emphasize the coherency and durability of Scripture as evidence of its divine authorship (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Christological and Canonical Connections

The image of secure nails foreshadows the ultimate act whereby the Shepherd secures His flock—the crucifixion (Isaiah 22:23; Zechariah 10:4; John 19:18). Just as the sayings of the wise are immovable, so the cross establishes an unshakeable covenant (Hebrews 8:6).

Summary

מַשְׂמְרָה serves as a vivid reminder that God intends His Word to do more than momentarily prick the conscience; it is to be hammered into the life of His people, providing an enduring anchor amid a shifting world.

וּֽכְמַשְׂמְר֥וֹת וכמשמרות ū·ḵə·maś·mə·rō·wṯ uchemasmeRot ūḵəmaśmərōwṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts