R. Eliezer says: "doing" (i.e., an action) is mentioned in respect to "head," and "doing" is mentioned in respect to "nails." Just as the "doing" in respect to head (i.e., shaving) is removing, so, the "doing" in respect to nails is removing (i.e., cutting).
R. Akiva says: "doing" (i.e., an action) is mentioned in respect to head, and "doing" is mentioned in respect to nails. Just as the "doing" in respect to head (i.e., shaving) makes her unsightly, so, the "doing" in respect to nails (must be something that) makes her unsightly (viz., letting them grow long.) A proof for this: (II Samuel 19:25) "And Mefibosheth the son of Saul came down towards the king. He had not done his feet and he had not done (i.e., trimmed) his mustache."
(דברים כא יב) וַהֲבֵאתָהּ אֶל תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ – וְלֹא לְבַיִת אַחֵר.
(Devarim 21:12): "then you shall bring her inside your house": and not that of another.
וְגִלְּחָה אֶת רֹאשָׁהּ וְעָשְׂתָה אֶת צִפָּרְנֶיהָ, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: תָּקוֹץ. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָה אוֹמֵר: תְּגַדֵּל.
"and she shall shave her head and she shall do her nails": R. Eliezer says: She shall cut them. R. Akiva says: She shall let them grow long.
אָמַר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: נֶאֶמְרָה עֲשִׂיָּה בָּרֹאשׁ וְנֶאֶמְרָה עֲשִׂיָּה בַּצִּפָּרְנַיִם, מָה עֲשִׂיָּה הָאֲמוּרָה בָּרֹאשׁ – הַעֲבָרָה, אַף עֲשִׂיָּה הָאֲמוּרָה בַּצִּפָּרְנַיִם – הַעֲבָרָה!
R. Eliezer says: "doing" (i.e., an action) is mentioned in respect to "head," and "doing" is mentioned in respect to "nails." Just as the "doing" in respect to head (i.e., shaving) is removing, so, the "doing" in respect to nails is removing (i.e., cutting).
רַבִּי עֲקִיבָה אוֹמֵר: נֶאֶמְרָה עֲשִׂיָּה בָּרֹאשׁ וְנֶאֶמְרָה עֲשִׂיָּה בַּצִּפָּרְנַיִם, מָה עֲשִׂיָּה הָאֲמוּרָה בָּרֹאשׁ – נִוּוּל, אַף עֲשִׂיָּה הָאֲמוּרָה בַּצִּפָּרְנַיִם – נִוּוּל. וּרְאָיָה לְדִבְרֵי רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר (שמואל ב יט כה): ״וּמְפִיבֹשֶׁת בֶּן שָׁאוּל יָרַד לִקְרַאת הַמֶּלֶךְ לֹא עָשָׂה רַגְלָיו וְלֹא עָשָׂה שְׂפָמוֹ״.
R. Akiva says: "doing" (i.e., an action) is mentioned in respect to head, and "doing" is mentioned in respect to nails. Just as the "doing" in respect to head (i.e., shaving) makes her unsightly, so, the "doing" in respect to nails (must be something that) makes her unsightly (viz., letting them grow long.) A proof for this: (II Samuel 19:25) "And Mefibosheth the son of Saul came down towards the king. He had not done his feet and he had not done (i.e., trimmed) his mustache."