Fringes
One of the early laws we learn (and often times one of the most downplayed and kept incorrectly, if at all) is fringes. Some say it is a “carnal” ordinance and no longer needed to be kept. It is a light thing. Others say it is kept by having a tassel hanging on the four corners of your garment. But let us get a better understanding of the word and history so we can teach and apply what is sound doctrine.
Numbers 15:37-40 KJVS
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, [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: [39] And it shall be unto you for a fringe, 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, after which ye use to go a whoring: [40] That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
We must first understand that this ordinance was something that YHWH told Moses to tell the people. This was not something man came up with to look cool or try to impress The Most High God. But rather what God said he wanted HIS people (the children of Isreal) to do throughout their generations.
Matthew 5:18 KJV
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Revelation 22:19 KJV
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Last I checked heaven and earth are still here. We can look up and see the heavens and look down and see we are standing on earth. And if anyone takes their time and reads the scriptures, you will see ALL has NOT yet been fulfilled. So you have no right or authority to mitigate or downplay the wearing of fringes as a “carnal” ordinance that no longer needs to be applied. On the contrary, the Bible speaks against removing or omitting any words written. When you begin to teach we don’t need to do something God said do, or downplay it’s significance without substantial scriptures that condone such a point, you fall in jeopardy of adding or taking away “thus saith the Lord”. And transform yourself into a false prophet. Not knowing, if that one thing could be the thing The Most High could highly count against you and cost you your salvation.
Numbers 15:39-40 KJVS
[39] And it shall be unto you for a fringe, 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, after which ye use to go a whoring: [40] That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
Remember, the whole purpose of why the fringes were implemented was to be a physical reminder to apply all of the laws and commandments that God gave us and avoid leaning to our own understanding. Yet, in this very thing, that is exactly what people have decided to do. Omit this law and lean to their own understanding. Often times, when people are falling away from the truth and losing understanding due to little sins the fringes are one of the top things that they leave off from doing. Ironically, the fringes are one of the major identifying factors that is a sign that one is at least remotely righteous and trying to follow The Most High’s laws statue and commandments.
Numbers 15:37-38 KJVS
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, [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:
Keep in mind this law was deliberately given to the children of Israel. For us to follow. It said, “Speak unto the children of ISRAEL, and bid THEM that THEY make THEM fringes in the borders of THEIR garments THROUGHOUT THEIR GENERATIONS,” Well, last I checked Israel is still here and will be here in the last days. So we still fall under this law and are physical descendants of these people; hence, part of the generations of Israel. Seeing the generations of Israel have not stopped. That would also mean the application and wearing of fringes should not stop either. They run in tandem, or rather parallel with one another; they go hand in hand. To remove or invalidate one is to remove or invalidate the other.
Jeremiah 31:35-37 KJVS
Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name: [36] If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. [37] Thus saith the Lord ; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.
The Most High even gave us signs that he made the sun, the moon, and the stars, yet, if those ordinances cease to exist, then the seed of Israel will also cease to exist from being a nation before him forever. Last I checked, all of those ordinances are still here. Which means we are still here as Israel in the flesh and still have current generations that should be following the law concerning the application of Fringes.
Matthew 9:20 KJVS
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
Let us look at hem in the Strong’s Concordance:
Strong's Number
G2899
Original Word
κράσπεδον
Transliterated Word
kraspedon
Phonetic Spelling
kras'-ped-on
Parts of Speech
Noun Neuter
Strong's Definition
Of uncertain derivation; a margin that is (specifically) a fringe or tassel: - border hem.
A woman that had a disease, particularly of blood for twelve years believed that if she could touch Christ she could be healed. And she did, and was. But the portion of him she touched was the border of his garment where his fringes were. One may argue, if it were literally one tassel hanging that she grabbed to support the wearing of Tzitzit fringes. However, this is unlikely from this context as fringes are generally a gathering of many tassels that go around the border of a garment. Which are much easier to grab especially, given you are in a crowd of people rather than trying to grab a single corner. But things like this will be subject to reasoning and interpretation and can be argued back and forth. But where does this understanding of literally four tassels come from?
Deuteronomy 22:12 KJVS
Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself.
Quarter
Strong's Number
H3671
Original Word
כּנף
Transliterated Word
kânâph
Phonetic Spelling
kaw-nawf'
Parts of Speech
Noun Feminine
Strong's Definition
From H3670; an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a {wing} (of a garment or bed clothing) a {flap} (of the earth) a {quarter} (of a building) a pinnacle: - + {bird} {border} {corner} {end} feather {[-ed]} X {flying} + (one an-) {other} {overspreading} X {quarters} {skirt} X {sort} uttermost {part} wing ([-ed]).
One looks at four quarters and believes this to be literal. However, if you look at a garment need it be modern day or ancient. Most garments are not made with corners. They have a round circumference. But let’s look at a similar case where The Most High through the word uses a similar understanding.
Isaiah 11:12 KJV
And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Let us look at corner using the Strong’s Concordance:
Strong's Number
H3671
Original Word
כּנף
Transliterated Word
kânâph
Phonetic Spelling
kaw-nawf'
Parts of Speech
Noun Feminine
Strong's Definition
From H3670; an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a {wing} (of a garment or bed clothing) a {flap} (of the earth) a {quarter} (of a building) a pinnacle: - + {bird} {border} {corner} {end} feather {[-ed]} X {flying} + (one an-) {other} {overspreading} X {quarters} {skirt} X {sort} uttermost {part} wing ([-ed]).
Notice quarter and corner in relation to the earth and a garment gives us the same Strong’s Concordance number and link back to the same Hebrew word used. Why? Because the context is the same! Us being scattered to the four corners of the earth and us putting fringes upon the four quarters of our garments are contextually telling us the same thing. Neither have corners but rather we are dealing with the whole circumference or area. Which is why you get overspread or uttermost parts. Which is also why you get edges or extremity. We were scattered to the further most parts of the earth. Where likewise we would apply fringes to the furthermost parts of our garments.
Now, “the nail in the coffin” so to speak is this; research ancient Israelites and see what they wore. Even look at many of our Native American people, who although somewhat removed from the wholistic application retained parts of the law and you will see how they wore fringes as well. If you choose to wear something outside of those examples you are either being prideful or willfully ignorant.
Images are taken from The British Museum black limestone obelisk of Shalmaneser III; glorifies achievements of king and minister; inscription; illustrations shows tribute.
Psalm 111:10 KJV
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
