Hem
What Was the Hem?
The biblical "hem" (Hebrew tsitsit, Greek kraspedon) was not merely the edge of a garment but a distinctive religious article: a tasseled fringe attached to the four corners of an Israelite's outer cloak or robe (Deuteronomy 22:12). Each tassel included a cord of blue or violet thread, creating a visible marker of Jewish identity and covenant faithfulness. These fringes were worn in obedience to God's command in Numbers 15:37-41, which instructed Israelites to make them "throughout their generations" as continual reminders to follow God's commandments.
The Command and Its Purpose
God's instruction regarding the fringes appears in Numbers 15:37-41, given shortly after the incident with the Sabbath-breaker. The command served multiple purposes: as a visual reminder of God's laws, a deterrent against following "the lusts of your own heart and your own eyes," and a tangible symbol of Israel's holy status as God's chosen people. The inclusion of the blue thread (tekhelet) was particularly significant, as this rare and expensive dye was associated with royalty, priesthood, and heaven itself, connecting daily life with divine reality.
Development and Misuse in Jewish Tradition
By the Second Temple period, wearing these fringes had become a well-established practice among observant Jews. However, as Jesus noted in Matthew 23:5, some religious leaders had distorted their purpose: "They make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long." This criticism targeted the Pharisees who enlarged their tassels not as genuine devotion but as public displays of piety to gain social honor. The hem had shifted from a personal reminder of covenant faithfulness to an instrument of religious ostentation.
The Hem in Jesus' Ministry
The most famous biblical reference to the hem occurs in the Gospels, where a woman suffering from chronic bleeding touches "the fringe of his garment" (Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48). Her action demonstrated remarkable faith, as she believed even contact with Jesus' tassel could bring healing. Jesus confirmed this faith, telling her, "Your faith has made you well." Later, in Matthew 14:34-36, many in Gennesaret brought their sick to touch "the fringe of his garment," and "as many as touched it were made well." These incidents show how Jesus' clothing—specifically the covenant-signifying fringes—became a point of contact for divine power operating through faith.
Symbolic and Theological Significance
The hem's transformation in the New Testament narratives carries profound theological meaning. What began as a marker of Jewish covenant identity became, through Jesus, a point of access to God's healing power for all who approached in faith—including a ritually unclean woman. This shift illustrates how Jesus fulfills and transforms Old Testament symbols: the tassels that once reminded Israel of God's law now channel God's mercy through the Messiah. The woman's healing through touching the hem demonstrates that authentic faith, not ritual observance alone, connects people to God's power.
Biblical Context
The hem appears primarily in three biblical contexts: as a covenant symbol in the Torah (Numbers 15:37-41; Deuteronomy 22:12), as an example of religious hypocrisy in Jesus' teaching (Matthew 23:5), and as an instrument of healing in Jesus' ministry (Matthew 9:20-22; 14:34-36; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48). In the Old Testament, the fringes function as identity markers and memory aids for God's commandments. In the Gospels, they become points of contact between Jesus' divine power and human faith, particularly in healing narratives.
Theological Significance
The hem illustrates the relationship between outward symbols and inward faith. Originally designed as a physical reminder of covenant obligations, it became distorted into empty ritualism before being transformed through Jesus into a conduit for grace accessed by faith. The healing stories demonstrate that God's power operates through faith rather than magical objects, while still honoring tangible expressions of that faith. The progression from Old Testament command to New Testament fulfillment shows how Jesus embodies and transforms Israel's covenant symbols, extending God's mercy beyond ritual boundaries to all who approach in faith.
Historical Background
Archaeological and historical evidence confirms that tasseled garments were common throughout the ancient Near East, but Israel's version was distinctive in its religious significance. The blue dye (tekhelet) came from the murex snail, making it expensive and associated with nobility. Rabbinic literature (Mishnah Menachot 4:1) details precise requirements for making the fringes, indicating their ongoing importance in Jewish practice. First-century Jewish historian Josephus notes that the fringes served as identifying markers of Jewish men. The Dura-Europos synagogue paintings (3rd century CE) depict biblical figures with fringed garments, confirming the practice's longevity. Jesus' criticism of enlarged fringes aligns with broader critiques of religious showmanship found in contemporary Jewish texts.