Numbers 15 38

Numbers 15:38 kjv

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:

Numbers 15:38 nkjv

"Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners.

Numbers 15:38 niv

"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.

Numbers 15:38 esv

"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.

Numbers 15:38 nlt

"Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord.

Numbers 15 verses

Numbers 15 38 Meaning

Numbers 15:38 commands the Israelites to fashion tassels, known as tzitzit, on the corners of their outer garments. These tassels were to include a special blue cord. The purpose of this directive was to serve as a constant visual reminder for the people to look upon these fringes, recall all the commandments of the LORD, and obediently live by them, avoiding spiritual adultery and the sinful ways of their own hearts and eyes, so they might remain holy to their God. It was a perpetual, visible symbol of their unique covenant relationship and their call to holiness.

Numbers 15 38 Context

Numbers 15 outlines various laws given to Israel in the wilderness, many of which deal with offerings and purity. It notably contrasts unintentional sins, for which a sacrifice is prescribed (Num 15:22-29), with "high-handed" or defiant sins, for which there is no atonement but rather excommunication (Num 15:30-31). Immediately prior to verse 38, the chapter records a poignant example of such high-handed sin: a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath, who is subsequently put to death (Num 15:32-36). This harsh consequence underscores the gravity of disregarding God's commands.

The command to wear tzitzit (fringes/tassels) follows directly after this event, serving as God's merciful provision to help His people avoid such blatant disobedience in the future. It's a pragmatic and constant reminder, particularly to avert the spiritual amnesia that so often led Israel astray. Historically, ancient Near Eastern garments often had decorated borders or fringes, sometimes for aesthetic, superstitious, or hierarchical purposes. God's command uniquely recontextualizes this practice, making it solely a reminder of His divine laws and Israel's sacred identity, acting as a direct polemic against any pagan use or purely superficial adornment. It asserts God's exclusive claim over His people's identity and their external symbols.

Numbers 15 38 Word Analysis

• "Speak to" (dabbēr el-): This opening signifies a direct, authoritative command from God, communicated through Moses, intended for all Israel. It’s not an option but an instruction.
• "the Israelites" (bene Yisra'el): Refers to the entire nation, emphasizing the universal applicability of this command to all generations, men, women, and children within the covenant community.
• "tell them to make" (v'asu lahem): Implies an active responsibility; the people themselves must implement this, indicating personal accountability.
• "tassels" (tzitzit, singular: tzitzit):
  • Hebrew Root: The word tzitzit (צִיצִת) in Hebrew literally means a "fringe," "forelock," or "flower," stemming from a root associated with blossoming or projecting. This implies something visible, a prominent projection or decoration.
  • Significance: Not just an ornamental fringe, but specifically a prescribed and symbolically charged element of their clothing. It served as a distinct marker of identity for Israel, setting them apart.
• "on the corners" (al kanphei):
  • Hebrew Root: Kanaph (כָּנָף) means "wing," "edge," or "corner." In relation to garments, it refers to the four corners of a typically rectangular outer cloak or robe worn by people in ancient Israel.
  • Significance: Placement on the corners made the tassels visible and easily touched, reinforcing their role as a constant reminder. The number four often symbolizes universality or completion (four cardinal directions), perhaps signifying that obedience was required in all aspects of life.
• "of their garments" (bigdeihem): Refers to the ordinary outer cloak, the most common piece of clothing for everyone, ensuring that the tzitzit were part of their daily wear and visible during their routine activities.
• "throughout their generations" (l'dorotam):
  • Significance: This phrase indicates the perpetual nature of the command, spanning all time periods until the fulfillment of the Old Covenant in Christ. It's a foundational, enduring statute, not temporary.
• "and to put" (v'natnu): Another command for active placement, linking the specific action to the tassel itself.
• "a blue cord" (p'til t'khelet):
  • Hebrew: P'til (פְּתִיל) means "thread" or "cord." T'khelet (תְּכֵלֶת) specifically denotes a type of blue, a distinctive dye.
  • Significance: The tekhelet blue was a highly prized and costly dye, traditionally derived from a rare mollusk (murex snail). Its value underscored the importance and sacredness of the commandment.
  • Symbolism of Blue: In ancient Israelite culture and the Tabernacle context, tekhelet blue often symbolized heaven, divinity, God's glory, royalty, and purity (Exo 26, 28, 39). Its presence on the tzitzit connected the wearer to God's heavenly domain and His holy covenant, visually declaring that their lives were lived under the rule of their heavenly King. It was believed to remind the wearer of the sea, which reminded them of the sky, which reminded them of God's throne, thus elevating their thoughts to divine matters.

Words-Group Analysis

• "Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make tassels... and to put a blue cord on each tassel.": This sequence establishes a direct divine injunction, universally applicable to God's people, involving both a tangible garment modification and a specific symbolic inclusion (the blue cord). It highlights the practical, daily nature of God's desire for His people's remembrance and obedience.
• "on the corners of their garments throughout their generations": This phrase emphasizes the public and perpetual aspect of the commandment. The tassels were to be worn on visible parts of everyday attire, ensuring constant exposure and long-term adherence to the command across successive generations, serving as a constant testament to their identity and purpose.

Numbers 15 38 Bonus Section

The command for tzitzit in Numbers 15:38 laid the groundwork for a rich tradition within Judaism, where the wearing of tzitzit remains a daily practice for observant men. Over centuries, as clothing styles changed, the tzitzit migrated from the corners of outer garments to specialized garments like the tallit katan (small prayer shawl worn under clothing) and the tallit gadol (large prayer shawl worn during prayers).

The blue thread (tekhelet) specifically held deep significance, symbolizing divine revelation and holiness. Its exact hue and source have been subjects of debate and research for centuries, with many believing the original tekhelet dye was lost for a long period, only to be rediscovered or reidentified in modern times through advanced scientific analysis of marine mollusks. This scarcity and unique origin further emphasized the extraordinary nature of God's commands and His covenant with Israel.

Beyond its physical appearance, some traditions attribute numerical significance to the tzitzit through gematria, relating the numerical value of tzitzit (600) plus the 8 threads and 5 knots to the 613 commandments of the Torah (600+8+5=613). While not explicitly stated in the Bible, such interpretations demonstrate the profound intention to connect every detail of the tzitzit with the totality of God's law. This simple garment component, therefore, served as a powerful multi-sensory prompt – visible, tangible, and conceptually rich – against spiritual forgetfulness, a consistent vulnerability for humanity throughout salvation history.

Numbers 15 38 Commentary

Numbers 15:38 is more than a fashion dictate; it's a divine safeguard against forgetfulness and rebellion. Following the severe punishment for Sabbath-breaking, this command offers a proactive, daily, and visible aid to obedience. The tzitzit were designed to arrest the wandering eye and heart, calling them back to God's Word. The specific blue thread (tekhelet), reminiscent of the heavens and God's throne, elevated the mundane act of dressing into a sacred ritual of remembrance, urging Israel to lift their gaze from earthly desires to divine precepts.

This command underscores a crucial biblical principle: true spirituality is not abstract, but is often aided by tangible, even simple, physical prompts. While the outer symbol of the tzitzit was prone to abuse (as seen in the Pharisees broadening theirs for show in Matt 23:5), its original intent was pure: an external symbol fostering internal alignment with God's will. For the woman who touched Jesus' tzitzit, it represented the potent connection to the One who perfectly embodied the law and God's holiness (Mark 6:56). In essence, God wanted His people to "clothe themselves" with His commands, ensuring His truth permeated their lives and identity. The modern Christian counterpart lies not in literal fringes, but in habitually keeping Christ's teachings ever before our eyes and in our hearts, becoming "doers of the Word" (Jam 1:22).