In biblical terms, the concept of "fringe" refers primarily to the tassels or borders on garments that were commanded by God to be worn by the Israelites. This practice is rooted in the Mosaic Law and holds significant spiritual and symbolic meaning.

Biblical References:

1. Numbers 15:37-41 : "The LORD also said to Moses, 'Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come, they are to make tassels for the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. These will serve as reminders that you are to obey all My commandments and will be holy to your God. I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.'"

2. Deuteronomy 22:12 : "You are to make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear."

Purpose and Symbolism:

The fringes, or tassels, served as a physical reminder for the Israelites to keep the commandments of God. The blue cord interwoven in the tassels symbolized the heavenly origin of the Law and the holiness to which the people were called. The fringes were a daily, visible reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people, emphasizing obedience and dedication to His statutes.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, clothing often held symbolic significance, and the Israelites were no exception. The command to wear fringes was unique to the Israelites and set them apart from surrounding nations. This distinctiveness was a constant reminder of their identity as God's chosen people and their obligation to live according to His laws.

New Testament References:

The practice of wearing fringes continued into the New Testament period, as evidenced by references to Jesus and others wearing garments with fringes:

1. Matthew 9:20 : "Just then a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak."

2. Matthew 23:5 : "All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels."

In these passages, the fringes are associated with piety and religious observance. However, Jesus criticized the Pharisees for their ostentatious display of religious symbols, including the lengthening of their tassels, as a means to gain human admiration rather than genuine devotion to God.

Theological Implications:

The fringes on garments serve as a tangible expression of the call to holiness and obedience. They remind believers of the importance of living a life set apart for God, adhering to His commandments, and maintaining a visible testimony of faith. The fringes symbolize the continuity of God's covenant and the enduring nature of His laws, which are to be internalized and reflected in the daily lives of His people.1. (n.) An ornamental appendage to the border of a piece of stuff, originally consisting of the ends of the warp, projecting beyond the woven fabric; but more commonly made separate and sewed on, consisting sometimes of projecting ends, twisted or plaited together, and sometimes of loose threads of wool, silk, or linen, or narrow strips of leather, or the like.

2. (n.) Something resembling in any respect a fringe; a line of objects along a border or edge; a border; an edging; a margin; a confine.

3. (n.) One of a number of light or dark bands, produced by the interference of light; a diffraction band; -- called also interference fringe.

4. (n.) The peristome or fringelike appendage of the capsules of most mosses. See Peristome.

5. (v. t.) To adorn the edge of with a fringe or as with a fringe.

2899. kraspedon -- a border, tassel
... a border, tassel. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: kraspedon Phonetic
Spelling: (kras'-ped-on) Short Definition: the fringe, edge Definition: the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2899.htm - 6k1434. gedil -- twisted threads
... fringe, wreath. From gadal (in the sense of twisting); thread, ie A tassel or festoon --
fringe, wreath. see HEBREW gadal. 1433, 1434. gedil. 1435 . ...
/hebrew/1434.htm - 6k

6734. tsitsith -- a tassel, lock
... fringe, lock. Feminine of tsiyts; a floral or wing-like projection, ie A forelock
of hair, a tassel -- fringe, lock. see HEBREW tsiyts. 6733, 6734. ...
/hebrew/6734.htm - 6k

An Appeal to the Married Women.
... at any mention of (the name of) God, continue uncovered; (who) even when about to
spend time in prayer itself, with the utmost readiness place a fringe, or a ...
/.../tertullian/on the veiling of virgins/chapter xvii an appeal to the.htm

Ambition in Service.
... Roundabout every church is a fringe of deep, sometimes a deep fringe and broad,
of those practically untouched by the warm message of Jesus; and around every ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/ambition in service.htm

Quaker City Excursion
... How gaily they were decked out with scarlet cloth and fringe hanging over the sides
almost touching the water; each boat was rowed by twelve men dressed in ...
/.../griswold/sixty years with plymouth church/quaker city excursion.htm

Unpossessed Possessions
... The settlers huddle together upon the fringe of barren sand by the salt water,
and never dream of pressing forward into the heart of the land. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/unpossessed possessions.htm

The Avenging of the Saviour.
... He set free; and another woman, named Veronica, who suffered twelve years from an
issue of blood, and came up to Him behind, and touched the fringe of His ...
/.../unknown/the avenging of the saviour/the avenging of the saviour.htm

Third Tractate. Problems of the Soul (1).
... They are one soul by the fact that they do not belong unreservedly to any particular
being; they meet, so to speak, fringe to fringe; they strike out here and ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/third tractate problems of the.htm

Sermon.
... It was an ordained thing. "And ye shall look upon this fringe," it is said in a
noble passage of the book of Numbers, "it shall be to you for a fringe, and ye ...
//christianbookshelf.org/wright/is the young man absalom safe/sermon.htm

First Greek Form.
... And when Jesus passed by, she mysteriously received strength through his overshadowing
her; and she took hold of his fringe behind, and immediately in the same ...
/.../the report of pilate concerning our lord jesus christ/first greek form.htm

Second Greek Form.
... hope, and had not cleansed her, for there was not in her a single hope of health:
once, then, as Jesus was passing by, she took hold of the fringe of his ...
/.../the report of pilate concerning our lord jesus christ/second greek form.htm

Joseph the Dreamer.
... his special love for Joseph by making him a coat of many colours"a long tunic with
stripes of red, green, blue, and yellow, having a coloured fringe at the ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/joseph the dreamer.htm

Fringe (7 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Something resembling in any respect a fringe; a line of objects along
a border or edge; a border; an edging; a margin; a confine. ...
/f/fringe.htm - 9k

Touched (96 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:20 Behold, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind
him, and touched the fringe of his garment; (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS ...
/t/touched.htm - 36k

Garment (143 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:20 Behold, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind
him, and touched the fringe of his garment; (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). ...
/g/garment.htm - 37k

Touch (82 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:20 Behold, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind
him, and touched the fringe of his garment; (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY ...
/t/touch.htm - 35k

Fringes (4 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/f/fringes.htm - 10k

Cloak (73 Occurrences)
... Matthew 14:36 and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his
garment. As many as touched it were made whole. (See NAS NIV). ...
/c/cloak.htm - 30k

Hem (14 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Of a garment, the fringe of a garment. The Jews attached
much importance to these, because of the regulations in Numbers 15:38, 39. ...
/h/hem.htm - 12k

Pearl (5 Occurrences)
... pearls of various sizes. Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A fringe or border.
2. (vt) To fringe; to border. 3. (n.) A shelly concretion ...
/p/pearl.htm - 10k

Bleeding (9 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:20 Behold, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came
behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; (See NIV). ...
/b/bleeding.htm - 9k

Begged (71 Occurrences)
... (WEB DBY RSV). Matthew 14:36 and they begged him that they might just touch the
fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole. (WEB NIV). ...
/b/begged.htm - 26k

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