Bible Dictionary
CLAW
A claw is a hoof or nail-like part of an animal. In biblical usage, the term describes the divided hoof of clean animals, the hoofs of sheep, and the nails of Nebuchadnezzar in his humbled condition.
Definition
A claw is a hoof or nail-like part of an animal. In biblical usage the word may refer to a divided hoof, the hoofs of sheep, or the nails of a humbled human ruler described as bird claws.
Biblical Usage
The divided hoof or two claws marked animals permitted for food. The term also describes sheep’s hoofs and Nebuchadnezzar’s nails in his humbled condition.
Historical Background
The Revised Version often renders the word “hoof” or “hoofs” where the King James Version has “claw” or “claws.”
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>klo (parcah, literally, "hoof"): One of the marks of a "clean" animal is stated thus: "Every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, ye shall eat" (De 14:6 the King James Version; the Revised Version (British and American) "hath the hoof cloven in two"). See CHEW; CUD. the King James Version uses the word "claws" where the Revised Version (British and American) supplies "hoofs" in Zec 11:16, "and will tear their hoofs in pieces," as the sheep are being overdriven. In the only other passage containing the word (Da 4:33) there is no Hebrew equivalent in the original--"his nails like birds' (claws)."</p>