Tassel

A bunch of threads or fibers attached to the edges of garments, often worn on the corners of Jewish clothing.

Fringes on a prayer shawl
Fringes on a prayer shawl (DRosenbach, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) Fringe, tassel

About Tassel

The border of a garment, or a “tassel.” Jewish men wore four fringes on their upper garments because God commanded them to do so (Deuteronomy 22:12). Those tassels were reminders of God's laws.

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The object itself Article

Form, use in ancient daily life, and how translators render the term.

Key References

Numbers 15:38

“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come they are to make for themselves tassels for the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.

Deuteronomy 22:12

You are to make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear.

Matthew 9:20

Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak.

All Scripture References (8)

Numbers (2)
Numbers 15:38

“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come they are to make for themselves tassels for the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.

Numbers 15:39

These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the commandments of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by following your own heart and your own eyes.

Ezekiel (1)
Ezekiel 8:3

He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and carried me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes jealousy was seated.

Matthew (3)
Matthew 9:20

Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak.

Matthew 14:36

and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

Matthew 23:5

All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

Mark (1)
Mark 6:56

And wherever He went—villages and towns and countrysides—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

Luke (1)
Luke 8:44

She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.