Ecclesiastes 12:11

12:11 The words of the sages are like prods, ¹ 

and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails;

they are given by one shepherd.

Isaiah 22:23-25

22:23 I will fasten him like a peg into a solid place; ²  he will bring honor and respect to his father’s family. ³  22:24 His father’s family will gain increasing prominence because of him, ⁴  including the offspring and the offshoots. ⁵  All the small containers, including the bowls and all the jars will hang from this peg.’ ⁶ 

22:25 “At that time,” ⁷  says the Lord who commands armies, “the peg fastened into a solid place will come loose. It will be cut off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off.” ⁸  Indeed, ⁹  the Lord has spoken.

Zechariah 10:4

10:4 From him will come the cornerstone, ¹⁰  the wall peg, ¹¹  the battle bow, and every ruler. ¹² 

¹ tn Or “goads”; NCV “sharp sticks used to guide animals.” For further information see M. A. Fishbane, Biblical Interpretation, 29–32.

² sn The metaphor depicts how secure his position will be.

³ tn Heb “and he will become a glorious throne for the house of his father.”

⁴ tn Heb “and all the glory of the house of his father they will hang on him.” The Lord returns to the peg metaphor of v. 23a. Eliakim’s secure position of honor will bring benefits and jobs to many others in the family.

⁵ tn The precise meaning and derivation of this word are uncertain. Cf. KJV, ASV, NRSV “the issue”; CEV “relatives.”

⁶ tn Heb “all the small vessels, from the vessels that are bowls to all the vessels that are jars.” The picture is that of a single peg holding the weight of all kinds of containers hung from it.

⁷ tn Or “In that day” (KJV).

⁸ sn Eliakim’s authority, though seemingly secure, will eventually be removed, and with it his family’s prominence.

⁹ tn Or “for” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV).

¹⁰ sn On the NT use of the image of the cornerstone, see Luke 20:17; Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:6.

¹¹ sn The metaphor of the wall peg (Heb. יָתֵד, yated), together with the others in this list, describes the remarkable change that will take place at the inauguration of God’s eschatological kingdom. Israel, formerly sheep-like, will be turned into a mighty warhorse. The peg refers to a wall hook (although frequently translated “tent peg,” but cf. ASV “nail”; TWOT 1:419) from which tools and weapons were suspended, but figuratively also to the promise of God upon which all of Israel’s hopes were hung (cf. Isa 22:15-25; Ezra 9:8).

¹² tn This is not the usual word to describe a king of Israel or Judah (such as מֶלֶךְ, melekh, or נָשִׂיא, nasi’), but נוֹגֵשׂ, noges, “dictator” (cf. KJV “oppressor”). The author is asserting by this choice of wording that in the messianic age God’s rule will be by force.