Bible Dictionary: Fringes

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

FRINGES

frin'-jis (tsitsith, "tassel, lock" (Numbers 15:38, 39), gedhilim, "twisted threads," "festoons" (Deuteronomy 22:12)): Tassels worn by the Israelites on the four corners of their garments as reminders of "all the commandments of Yahweh," in accordance with the law set out in Numbers 15:37-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12. These tassels originally contained a thread of tekheleth, "violet." Jewish tradition, however, has failed to retain the tekheleth, because of doubt as to the exact meaning of the term, and instead dark blue lines were dyed on the borders of the Tallith or garment in which the fringes were placed. According to tradition any garment having four corners required the mnemonic fringes, the importance of which was weighed against "all the commandments of the Lord." In New Testament times such garments were still worn (compare Matthew 9:20; Matthew 14:36; Matthew 23:5). The later Jews, after adopting the garments of the Diaspora, in order to observe the tsitsith commandment began to use two extra four-cornered fringed garments: the large Tallith while at prayer, and the small Tallith, or 'arba` kanephoth, as an undergarment during the day. Their tradition prescribes the exact manner in which each tassel shall be made, and gives a symbolic meaning to the numbers of windings and knots, somewhat after the manner of the string-writing of several early civilizations (compare the Peruvian quipus). Thus in the tsitsith a long cord is wrapped around seven shorter cords first seven times, then eight, then eleven, and finally thirteen, each series being separated from the others by two knots. The numbers seven and eight constituting fifteen together suggest YH, and the number eleven, WH. Together they make up the holy name YaHWeH. The number thirteen stands for echadh, the letters of which taken as numerals equal thirteen. The sentence Yahweh 'echadh means "Yahweh is one." Many other suggestions, more or less fanciful, have been worked out, all tending to associate the fringes with the Law in the mind of the wearer.

See DRESS.

Ella Davis Isaacs

Strong's Hebrew

7098. qatsah -- an end
... Word Origin from qatsah Definition an end NASB Word Usage all (2), among (1), corners
(1), end (7), ends (19), fringes (1), outermost (1), outermost* (1 ...
/hebrew/7098.htm - 6k

Library

If this Queen Ye See Not, Now Rich Also with Royal Progeny. If She ...
... although she strike upon the eyes of them also that are without with the blaze of
the fame of her preachers, in diversity of tongues, as "in fringes of gold ...
/.../augustine/concerning faith of things not seen /6 if this queen ye.htm

Jesus' Last Public Discourse. Denunciation of Scribes and ...
... the leather case large, that their righteousness might be more conspicuous], and
enlarge the borders of their garments [These were the fringes mentioned in ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cx jesus last public discourse.htm

Marriage of the Blessed virgin to Joseph
... The lower hem ended in fringes and tassels, while the upper edge joined the white
neck-covering. ... The lower edge was ornamented with fringes and beads. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/vii marriage of the blessed.htm

But You Will Say, the Good Will of a Friend Towards Me, Although I ...
... people entreat. All the glory of that King's daughter is within, in fringes
of gold, with raiment of divers colors. There shall ...
/.../augustine/concerning faith of things not seen /5 but you will say.htm

Concerning the Garments of the Priests, and of the High Priest.
... To the bottom of which garment are hung fringes, in color like pomegranates, with
golden bells [13] by a curious and beautiful contrivance; so that between two ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 concerning the garments.htm

Among the People, and with the Pharisees
... their phylacteries," and "enlarged the borders of their garments." The latter
observance, at least so far as concerned the wearing of memorial fringes on the ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 13 among the people.htm

The Healing of the Woman - Christ's Personal Appearance - the ...
... Both the Goltha [2975] and the Tallith [2976] were provided, on the four borders,
with the so-called Tsitsith, or fringes.' These were attached to the four ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxvi the healing of.htm

The Coming of the Pharaoh
... Masts, rigging and oars were wrapped with lotus, roses and mimosa. Sails and
canopies were brilliant with dyes and undulant with fringes. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xiii the coming of.htm

The World, the Flesh, and the Devil
... matter to kindle against himself the wrath of the worst part of the female world,
but Chrysostom thought it his duty to attack the custom of wearing fringes. ...
/.../chapter xxxvii the world the.htm

On Clothes.
... by David, sings, "The daughters of kings made Thee glad by honour; the queen stood
at Thy right hand, clad in cloth of gold, girt with golden fringes," it is ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter xi name clothes.htm

Thesaurus

Fringes (4 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia FRINGES. frin'-jis (tsitsith, "tassel, lock"
(Numbers 15:38, 39), gedhilim, "twisted threads," "festoons ...
/f/fringes.htm - 10k

Fringe (7 Occurrences)
... Numbers 15:38 "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them that they should make
themselves fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their ...
/f/fringe.htm - 9k

Tassel (5 Occurrences)
... tas'-'l (tsitsith): This word occurs only in Numbers 15:38 (Revised Version margin),
which reads "tassels in the corners" for "fringes in the borders of their ...
/t/tassel.htm - 9k

Skirts (23 Occurrences)
... Numbers 15:38 Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, and they
have made for themselves fringes on the skirts of their garments, to their ...
/s/skirts.htm - 13k

Phylactery
... crude literalism of the phylacteries by making them obtrusively large, as they also
seek notoriety for their religiosity by the enlarged fringes, or "borders ...
/p/phylactery.htm - 13k

Hem (14 Occurrences)
... These borders or fringes were in process of time enlarged so as to attract special
notice (Matthew 23:5). The hem of Christ's garment touched (9:20; 14:36 ...
/h/hem.htm - 12k

Borders (104 Occurrences)
... Numbers 15:38 "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them that they should make
themselves fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their ...
/b/borders.htm - 40k

Libraries
... 8. Egyptian Period: The Egyptian period of Bible history begins with the immigration
of Jacob and his sons, but fringes back to the visit of Abram (Genesis 12 ...
/l/libraries.htm - 38k

Quarters (17 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Deuteronomy 22:12 Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters
of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself. (KJV WBS). ...
/q/quarters.htm - 11k

Vesture (10 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 22:12 Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of
thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself. (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/v/vesture.htm - 9k

Bible Concordance

Fringes (4 Occurrences)

Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,
(WEB YLT RSV)

Numbers 15:38 "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them that they should make themselves fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the fringe of each border a cord of blue:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Deuteronomy 22:12 You shall make yourselves fringes on the four borders of your cloak, with which you cover yourself.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Job 26:14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways. How small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?"
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Fringes

Fringes: Made Broad by the Pharisees

Fringes: Prescribed for the Vesture Worn by the Israelites

Related Terms

Fringe (7 Occurrences)

Tassel (5 Occurrences)

Skirts (23 Occurrences)

Phylactery

Hem (14 Occurrences)

Borders (104 Occurrences)

Libraries