In biblical times, the "hem" refers to the fringe or border of a garment, often adorned with tassels or threads. This element of clothing held significant cultural and religious importance in ancient Israelite society, as prescribed in the Mosaic Law. The hem of a garment was not merely a decorative feature but carried symbolic meaning, often representing authority, identity, and piety.

Biblical References

1. The Law of Tassels: The commandment regarding the hem is found in the Torah, where the Israelites were instructed to attach tassels to the corners of their garments. Numbers 15:38-39 states, "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. You will have these tassels to look at so that you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes."

2. Symbol of Authority and Identity: The hem of a garment could signify the authority and status of the wearer. In 1 Samuel 24:4-5 , David secretly cuts off a corner of Saul's robe, symbolizing his potential to usurp Saul's authority, yet he later regrets this act as a sign of disrespect towards the Lord's anointed.

3. Healing and Faith: The hem of a garment is also associated with miraculous healing in the New Testament. In Matthew 9:20-21 , a woman suffering from a bleeding disorder for twelve years approaches Jesus, believing, "If I only touch His cloak, I will be healed." Her faith in touching the hem of Jesus' garment results in her immediate healing, demonstrating the power and authority of Jesus.

4. Cultural Significance: The hem served as a visual reminder of the covenant between God and His people. It was a daily, tangible expression of their commitment to follow God's commandments and live a life set apart for Him. The blue thread in the tassels was particularly significant, symbolizing the divine and heavenly nature of God's law.

Theological Implications

The hem of a garment, as described in the Bible, underscores the importance of obedience to God's commandments and the recognition of divine authority. It serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people, emphasizing the need for holiness and dedication to God's laws. The act of touching the hem of Jesus' garment in faith highlights the belief in His divine power and the accessibility of His healing and grace to those who seek Him earnestly.

In summary, the hem in biblical context is a multifaceted symbol that conveys themes of authority, identity, faith, and covenantal relationship with God. It reflects the deep spiritual truths embedded in the everyday lives of the Israelites and the transformative power of faith in the New Testament.Of a garment, the fringe of a garment. The Jews attached much importance to these, because of the regulations in Numbers 15:38, 39. 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; Luke 8:44). 1. (pron.) Them

2. (interj.) An onomatopoetic word used as an expression of hesitation, doubt, etc. It is often a sort of voluntary half cough, loud or subdued, and would perhaps be better expressed by hm.

3. (n.) An utterance or sound of the voice, hem or hm, often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention.

4. (v. i.) To make the sound expressed by the word hem; hence, to hesitate in speaking.

5. (n.) The edge or border of a garment or cloth, doubled over and sewed, to strengthen raveling.

6. (n.) Border; edge; margin.

7. (n.) A border made on sheet-metal ware by doubling over the edge of the sheet, to stiffen it and remove the sharp edge.

8. (v. t.) To form a hem or border to; to fold and sew down the edge of.

9. (v. t.) To border; to edge

HEM

(kraspedon): The classic instance of the use of "hem" in the New Testament is Matthew 9:20 the King James Version (compare Matthew 14:36), where the woman "touched the hem of his (Christ's) garment." The reference is to the fringe or tassel with its traditional blue thread which the faithful Israelite was directed to wear on the corners of the outer garment (Numbers 15:37 Deuteronomy 22:12). Great importance came to be attached to it, the ostentatious Pharisees making it very broad or large (Matthew 23:5). Here the woman clearly thought there might be peculiar virtue in touching the tassel or fringe of Jesus' garment. Elsewhere the word is rendered BORDER (which see).

See also DRESS; FRINGES.

George B. Eager

2899. kraspedon -- a border, tassel
... 2899 -- the hem (border, trim) of a garment. ... border, fringe, tassel. Of uncertain
derivation; a margin, ie (specially), a fringe or tassel -- border, hem. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2899.htm - 6k

4912. sunecho -- to hold together, to hold fast, pass. to be ...
... Word Usage afflicted (1), controls (1), covered (1), crowding (1), devoting...
completely (1), distressed (1), gripped (1), hard-pressed (1), hem (1), holding ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4912.htm - 7k

5432. phroureo -- to guard
... From a compound of pro and horao; to be a watcher in advance, ie To mount guard
as a sentinel (post spies at gates); figuratively, to hem in, protect -- keep ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5432.htm - 7k

4729. stenochoreo -- to be made narrow, to compress
... cramp, confine. From the same as stenochoria; to hem in closely, ie (figuratively)
cramp -- distress, straiten. see GREEK stenochoria. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4729.htm - 7k

1991. hem -- perhaps a moaning, wailing, wealth
... 1990, 1991. hem. 1992 . perhaps a moaning, wailing, wealth. Transliteration:
hem Phonetic Spelling: (haym) Short Definition: wealth. ... 1990, 1991. hem. 1992 ...
/hebrew/1991.htm - 6k

1992a. hem -- they
hem or hemmah. 1992, 1992a. hem or hemmah. 1992b . they. Transliteration:
hem or hemmah Short Definition: those. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1992a.htm - 5k

1992. hem -- they
... 1991, 1992. hem. 1992a . they. Transliteration: hem Phonetic Spelling: (haym)
Short Definition: like. like, how, the same, so, such, ... 1991, 1992. hem. 1992a ...
/hebrew/1992.htm - 5k

7757. shul -- skirt (of a robe)
... 7756, 7757. shul. 7758 . skirt (of a robe). Transliteration: shul Phonetic
Spelling: (shool) Short Definition: hem. ... hem, skirt, train. ...
/hebrew/7757.htm - 6k

1998. hemyah -- a sound, music
... 1997, 1998. hemyah. 1999 . a sound, music. Transliteration: hemyah Phonetic
Spelling: (hem-yaw') Short Definition: music. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1998.htm - 6k

5473. sug -- to fence about
... set about. A primitive root (probably rather identical with cuwg through the idea
of shrinking from a hedge; compare suwg); to hem in, ie Bind -- set about. ...
/hebrew/5473.htm - 6k

5910. Akko -- a city in Asher
... Acco. Apparently from an unused root meaning to hem in; Akko (from its situation
on a bay) -- Accho. 5909, 5910. Akko. 5911 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5910.htm - 5k

581. innun -- they, those
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to hem Definition they, those NASB Word Usage
those (1). they, them, these. ... see HEBREW hem. 580, 581. innun. 582 . ...
/hebrew/581.htm - 6k

1994. himmo -- they
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to hem Definition they NASB Word Usage these
(1). them, those. ... see HEBREW hem. 1993, 1994. himmo or himmon. 1995 . ...
/hebrew/1994.htm - 6k

Of the Raising of the Daughter of the Ruler of the Synagogue, and ...
... Chapter XXVIII."Of the Raising of the Daughter of the Ruler of the Synagogue, and
of the Woman Who Touched the Hem of His Garment; Of the Question, Also, as ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxviii of the raising of.htm

Articuli Arminiani Sive Remonstrantia.
... het leven niet sien, maer de toorne Gods blyft op hem,' ende andere plaetsen der
schrifturen meer. Cui alia quoque Scriptur?? dicta respondent. ...
/.../articuli arminiani sive remonstrantia.htm

A Sight of the Crowned Christ
... "The Lord Christ passed my humble cot: I knew him, yet I knew him not; But as I
oft had done before, I hurried through my narrow door To touch His garment's hem ...
/.../quiet talks on the crowned christ of revelation/iii a sight of the crowned.htm

The Touch of Faith and the Touch of Christ
... And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years,
came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment: 21. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the touch of faith and.htm

Futility of the Arguments Adduced to Demonstrate the Sufferings of ...
... For the woman suffered during twelve years, and through touching the hem of the
Saviour's garment she was made whole by that power which went forth from the ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xx futility of the arguments.htm

Matt. xiv. 23, 24
... of Him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto Him all
that were diseased; and besought Him that they might touch the hem of His ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily l matt xiv 23.htm

The Child Samuel.
... The little child clung to his mother's dark-red robe as he stood with naked feet
before the old man, the hem of his sleeveless tunic scarce reaching to his ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/the child samuel.htm

Whether the Miracles which Christ Worked were a Sufficient Proof ...
... He entered, into towns or into villages or into cities, they laid the sick in the
streets, and besought Him that they might touch but the hem of His garment ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the miracles which christ.htm

Full Redemption
... He began to oppress the people, but the more he oppressed hem, the more they
increased. He made their lives bitter with hard bondage. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/full redemption.htm

God the Holy Spirit the Love which Dwells in the Heart.
... is poured out upon the head and runs down the flowing robe of the high priest, its
all-pervading fragrance is found the next morning in the trailing hem of the ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xx god the holy spirit.htm

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

Bell (3 Occurrences)
... The bells first mentioned in Scripture are the small golden bells attached
to the hem of the high priest's ephod (Exodus 28:33, 34, 35). ...
/b/bell.htm - 10k

Robe (142 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and
of scarlet, around its hem; and bells of gold between and around them: (See NIV ...
/r/robe.htm - 37k

Yarn (37 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and
of scarlet, around its hem; and bells of gold between and around them: (See NIV ...
/y/yarn.htm - 18k

Flux (26 Occurrences)
... Flux (26 Occurrences). Matthew 9:20 And behold, a woman, who had had a bloody flux
for twelve years, came behind and touched the hem of his garment; (DBY). ...
/f/flux.htm - 16k

Material (61 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and
of scarlet, around its hem; and bells of gold between and around them: (See NAS ...
/m/material.htm - 24k

Pomegranates (20 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and
of scarlet, around its hem; and bells of gold between and around them: (WEB KJV ...
/p/pomegranates.htm - 13k

Bells (6 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and
of scarlet, around its hem; and bells of gold between and around them: (WEB KJV ...
/b/bells.htm - 8k

Beneath (73 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:33 And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue,
and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold ...
/b/beneath.htm - 29k

Tarsus (5 Occurrences)
... 5. Tarsus in the Roman Empire: About 104 BC part of Cilicia became a Hem province,
and after the Mithridatic Wars, during which Tarsus fell temporarily into ...
/t/tarsus.htm - 30k

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