“Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The command to add a "cord of blue" to the tassels wasn't just about decoration; it was meant to draw the eye and serve as a constant, visible reminder of God's law, keeping them from being led astray by their own desires. This detail highlights that God's instructions often use tangible elements to anchor spiritual truths in our everyday lives.
“Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This instruction comes at a pivotal moment as Israel stands on the brink of entering the Promised Land, just after receiving laws about inheritance and sacrifices. God commands Israel to wear tassels with a blue cord on the edges of their garments, a visible reminder to obey all His commandments and to remember their identity as a people set apart for Him, especially in light of the recent rebellion and pronouncements of judgment. This ordinance is meant to be a perpetual practice, distinguishing them throughout their generations.
Why would God command His people to wear something as seemingly small as a tassel with a blue cord? It wasn't about fashion; it was about remembrance.
God's instruction for tassels, or fringes, on the corners of their garments, with a blue cord, served as a constant, visible reminder.
A Visual Aid for the Forgetful
Ancient garments, particularly the outer robe, had four corners. These tassels, often called 'tzitzit' in Hebrew, were literal extensions of the fabric. The blue cord was woven into or attached to these tassels.
More Than Just Decoration
As Numbers 15:39 explains, the purpose was deeply spiritual: 'And it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them.' These weren't just decorations; they were tangible cues designed to keep God's Word at the forefront of their minds throughout the day. In a time before widespread literacy, such visual aids were crucial for reinforcing religious and moral obligations.
The blue cord wasn't accidental. It added a layer of meaning, connecting the earthly reminder to heavenly truths.
The inclusion of a blue cord (sometimes described as a thread of blue or violet) woven into the tassels was significant.
A Heavenly Connection
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While the exact symbolism is debated, many scholars and Jewish tradition suggest the blue color represented the heavens, the sky, and by extension, God's throne or His divine presence. It served as a constant reminder that the commandments they were to remember and obey were not arbitrary rules, but emanated from God Himself.
Distinguishing and Remembering
This distinct color would have made the tassels more noticeable, drawing the eye and prompting remembrance. It elevated the tassel from a simple garment edge to a symbol that pointed towards God and His authority. It connected the daily life of the Israelite, grounded in the physical world, with the spiritual reality of God's rule.
God's commands often go beyond simple obedience; they aim to shape our inner desires and prevent spiritual wandering.
The tassels and blue cord were not merely about remembering God's Law, but also about actively guarding against straying from it.
Beyond External Ritual
Commentators like Calvin highlight that God desired more than just a ritualistic observance. The 'fringes' were a means to an end: 'that ye may remember... and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart, and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring.'
Guarding Against Internal Drift
This points to the danger of the 'heart and eyes' leading people astray into superstition, false worship, or simply following personal desires rather than God's will. The constant visual cue was meant to anchor their thoughts and affections, preventing them from drifting into disobedience or idolatry. It was a protection against the subtle ways our inner selves can lead us away from God, even while outwardly appearing religious.
Understand the original words
tsitsith · Hebrew Noun
Distinctive decorative fringes or tufts of thread attached to the corners of garments, serving as a visual and tactile reminder of God's covenantal requirements and the holiness of the people.
tekheleth · Hebrew Noun
A specific pigment often associated with the heavens and the priesthood, serving as a symbolic reminder of the Lord's majesty, the covenant, and the heavenly origin of the commandments.
This passage shows the practical spiritual impact of these tassels, as a woman sought healing simply by touching the fringe of Jesus' garment, highlighting their power as a tangible reminder of God.
Matthew 23:5This verse offers a stark contrast, showing how the Pharisees outwardly displayed piety by making their fringes large, but inwardly missed the true spiritual meaning of the commandment.
Deuteronomy 22:12This parallel passage reinforces the commandment, indicating that these fringes were to be placed on all four corners of their garments, a constant visual reminder.
Exodus 22:26-27This passage relates to the garment itself, showing how the poor would use their outer garment as a blanket, and the fringes served as a constant, visible sign of God's presence and law.
Jeremiah 48:44This prophetic passage uses imagery related to fringes and traps, suggesting that even outward religious practices can become a snare if they lack genuine heart devotion, echoing the warning in Numbers 15:39.
gillNumbers 15:38: "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:"
Speak unto the children of Israel,.... Whom it only concerned, and all of them, except women and children; for priests, Levites, Israelites, proselytes, and freed servants, were bound to wear the fringes, but not Gentiles; nor might the Gentiles make them, what were made by…
calvinNumbers 15:37-41: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
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:
Alloquere filios Israel, et dic eis ut faciant sibi fimbrias in angulis vestimentorum suorum, per generationes suas, et ponant in fimbria anguli filum hyacinthinum.
And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may lo…
The command to add a "cord of blue" to the tassels wasn't just about decoration; it was meant to draw the eye and serve as a constant, visible reminder of God's law, keeping them from being led astray by their own desires. This detail highlights that God's instructions often use tangible elements to anchor spiritual truths in our everyday lives.
This instruction comes at a pivotal moment as Israel stands on the brink of entering the Promised Land, just after receiving laws about inheritance and sacrifices. God commands Israel to wear tassels with a blue cord on the edges of their garments, a visible reminder to obey all His commandments and to remember their identity as a people set apart for Him, especially in light of the recent rebellion and pronouncements of judgment. This ordinance is meant to be a perpetual practice, distinguishing them throughout their generations.
This instruction comes at a pivotal moment as Israel stands on the brink of entering the Promised Land, just after receiving laws about inheritance and sacrifices. God commands Israel to wear tassels with a blue cord on the edges of their garments, a visible reminder to obey all His commandments and to remember their identity as a people set apart for Him, especially in light of the recent rebellion and pronouncements of judgment. This ordinance is meant to be a perpetual practice, distinguishing them throughout their generations.
"“Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner." — The command to add a "cord of blue" to the tassels wasn't just about decoration; it was meant to draw the eye and serve as a constant, visible reminder of God's law, keeping them from being led astra…
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Last reviewed October 2026