📖 Biblical Definition
Tzitzit (צִיצִית) — "fringes, tassels" — were the cords the Israelites were commanded to wear on the corners of their garments, with a thread of blue running through, as a visible reminder to keep the commandments of the LORD: "that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes" (Numbers 15:38-40; cf. Deuteronomy 22:12). The woman with the issue of blood touched the tzitzit of Jesus’ garment in the press of the crowd and was healed (Matthew 9:20). Christ wore the tzitzit; He kept the commandments; and the very fringes of His obedience brought healing to those who touched them.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Commanded tassels; reminder to keep YHWH's commandments.
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The tassels (fringes) Israelites were commanded to wear on the corners of their garments, with a single thread of blue, as a visible reminder to keep the LORD's commandments and to refuse following after their own hearts and eyes (Num 15:38-39). Jesus wore them; the woman with the issue of blood touched His tzitzit (Matt 9:20 — "the hem of his garment").
📖 Key Scripture
Numbers 15:38-39 — "Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD."
Matthew 9:20 — "And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment."
Malachi 4:2 — "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings (literally: in his tzitzit)."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Largely forgotten in Christian Bible reading; the visible-reminder theology of tzitzit gets lost, including its connection to Jesus' clothing.
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Most Christians read past the "hem of his garment" without realizing the woman touched a commanded ritual object. The tzitzit was a Mosaic-law mnemonic — visible thread to remind the wearer to obey. The Greek kraspedon in Matt 9:20 is the LXX's word for tzitzit.
Recover the connection: Jesus kept the law, including its visible reminders. The healing power flowed not from the cloth but from the One who wore the cloth. Malachi 4:2's "healing in his wings" may pun on the same word.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew tzitzit; Greek kraspedon.
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['Hebrew', 'H6734', 'tzitzit', 'tassel, fringe']
['Greek', 'G2899', 'kraspedon', 'tassel, fringe']
Usage
"Tzitzit are commanded reminders."
"Jesus wore them; the bleeding woman touched them."
"Malachi may pun: healing in His wings/tzitzit."