Numbers 15:38-40
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What's often missed is that these aren't just decorative tassels; they are a tangible reminder, a visual cue. The cord of blue wasn't just for aesthetics; it was meant to make the tassels — and by extension, God's commands — more noticeable, drawing the eye and awakening the heart to obedience.
“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. And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God gives a detailed instruction to Moses for the Israelites, commanding them to wear distinctive tassels with a blue cord on the corners of their garments. This practice is to be observed for all generations and serves as a constant visual reminder to obey all of God's commandments, preventing them from straying after their own desires. The command is rooted in God's act of bringing them out of Egypt to be their God, highlighting the importance of holiness and obedience in their relationship with Him.
Why would God command something as seemingly small as a tassel on a garment? It turns out, this wasn't just about fashion; it was a profound spiritual tool.
God commanded the Israelites to put fringes, specifically with a blue cord, on the corners of their garments. This wasn't just for show.
A Constant Prompt
The primary purpose, as explained in Numbers 15:39, was to serve as a visual reminder. In a world without readily available scriptures or regular sermons, these fringes acted as tangible prompts. Every time an Israelite looked down, they would be reminded of God's commandments.
More Than Just Remembering
But it wasn't just about rote memorization. The goal was to do them. This external reminder was meant to stir internal obedience, helping them to walk in a way that honored God and set them apart.
What's so special about a 'cord of blue'? This specific detail in the command likely carried deep symbolic meaning for the Israelites.
The instruction to add a 'cord of blue' to the fringes is particularly interesting. While the exact interpretation is debated, many scholars suggest this color held significant meaning.
A Symbol of the Divine
Blue, in ancient Israelite culture, was often associated with the heavens, the divine, and God's throne. It evoked the vastness of the sky and the presence of God above.
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Connecting Earth and Heaven
By incorporating this blue cord into the fringes, the Israelites were visually connecting their daily lives and actions (represented by the garment's corners) to the divine realm. It was a constant, subtle reminder that their lives were meant to be lived under God's authority and in pursuit of His holiness.
Did these fringes actually make people holy? Or was there something more to it?
It's crucial to understand that the fringes themselves didn't possess inherent power or magically make someone holy. God's intention here was deeper.
Avoiding Empty Ritual
Commentators like Calvin warn against seeing the fringes as mere external show or empty ritual. God wasn't interested in a performance; He desired genuine obedience stemming from the heart. The fringes were a means to an end, not the end itself.
The Heart of Obedience
When the text says 'that ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God,' it highlights the ultimate goal: a transformed life. The reminder was meant to lead to active obedience, a conscious choice to follow God's ways rather than their own desires ('seek not after your own heart, and your own eyes'). True holiness comes from a surrendered heart, not just outward adornments.
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.
mitsvah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the revealed will and statutes of God given to His people; they are the authoritative directives that govern the life, ethics, and worship of the covenant community.
zanah · Hebrew Verb
A metaphorical term describing spiritual unfaithfulness or idolatry, where the people turn away from their covenantal devotion to God to pursue desires or gods that compete for His place in their hearts.
qadosh · Hebrew Adjective
Meaning 'set apart,' it signifies being dedicated exclusively to God’s service and bearing His character. It is the status of being distinct from the secular world because one belongs to the living God.
This commandment to wear tassels on garments was given during the wilderness wanderings, meant to be a constant, tangible reminder of God's Law for the Israelites as they journeyed toward the Promised Land and for generations to follow. It highlights God's desire for His people to integrate His commands into the very fabric of their daily lives, not just in ritual moments.
~1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. This event is the foundational act of redemption and establishes God's covenant relationship with them.
~1400 BC
The Law Given at Sinai
God established His covenant and gave the Law to the Israelites, including detailed instructions for worship, daily life, and holiness.
~1400 BC— this verse
Command for Tassels Given
God instructs Moses to command the Israelites to make tassels (fringes) on the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. This is to serve as a visual reminder of His commandments.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
The Babylonians conquered Jerusalem and exiled many Israelites, leading to a period where adherence to the Law was tested outside the promised land.
c. 516 BC
Return from Exile
A remnant of Israelites returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the Temple, re-establishing their religious practices and community life.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Ministry
Jesus walked the earth, interacting with people and teaching about the Law. He himself wore garments with fringes, as did the Pharisees, sometimes to show off their piety.
This passage directly parallels the command for fringes, referring to them as 'tassels on the four corners of any cloak you wear.' It reinforces the consistent practice and importance of these visible reminders of God's law.
Matthew 9:20This New Testament account shows the practical and spiritual significance attributed to these fringes, as the woman in the crowd touched Jesus' fringe believing it would heal her. It highlights how the tassels were seen as connected to divine power and presence.
Matthew 23:5Jesus critiques the Pharisees for making their fringes excessively large. This shows that the practice continued into Jesus' day, but also warns against outward displays of piety that lack inner sincerity, contrasting with the intended purpose of the tassels.
Psalm 119:105While not mentioning fringes directly, this psalm speaks of God's word as a 'lamp to my feet and a light on my path.' This aligns with the purpose of the fringes – to serve as a constant reminder to keep God's commandments and walk in His ways.
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…
What's often missed is that these aren't just decorative tassels; they are a tangible reminder, a visual cue. The cord of blue wasn't just for aesthetics; it was meant to make the tassels — and by extension, God's commands — more noticeable, drawing the eye and awakening the heart to obedience.
God gives a detailed instruction to Moses for the Israelites, commanding them to wear distinctive tassels with a blue cord on the corners of their garments. This practice is to be observed for all generations and serves as a constant visual reminder to obey all of God's commandments, preventing them from straying after their own desires. The command is rooted in God's act of bringing them out of Egypt to be their God, highlighting the importance of holiness and obedience in their relationship with Him.
God gives a detailed instruction to Moses for the Israelites, commanding them to wear distinctive tassels with a blue cord on the corners of their garments. This practice is to be observed for all generations and serves as a constant visual reminder to obey all of God's commandments, preventing them from straying after their own desires. The command is rooted in God's act of bringing them out of Egypt to be their God, highlighting the importance of holiness and obedience in their relationship with Him.
"“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. And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember a…" — What's often missed is that these aren't just decorative tassels; they are a tangible reminder, a visual cue. The cord of blue wasn't just for aesthetics; it was meant to make the tassels — and by ex…
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Last reviewed October 2026
