In the book of Matthew, chapter 9, verses 20 and 21, we read a story concerning a woman who was suffering from a discharge of blood for twelve years. The woman thought to herself, “If I only touch His garment I will be whole”. English translations of the Bible unfortunately do not paint a complete, accurate, picture. There is more here that just touching the simple hem of his garment as most translations suggest. This is where understanding the Jewish/Hebraic viewpoint of the Scriptures completes our paint-by-number picture.

“Hem” in English, is a translation of the Greek kraspedon which literally means “a tassel of twisted wool”. Yeshua (Jesus), being a Torah observing Jew, would be wearing tzitzit (tassels) on the four corners of his tallit (prayer shawl). It is these tzitzit, for which the woman was reaching. Tzitzit are still worn by observant Jews (including spiritual Jews meaning believer’s such as myself and other “graftees” ) in fulfillment of the commandments found in Numbers 15:37-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12. Tzitzit are intended to remind the people of God s commandments.

I have several English texts (The Scriptures, Complete Jewish Bible, Messianic Renewed Covenant ) that stick to the to original context. Surprisingly, in my research of this passage, I found that the ISV does so as well.

“…touched the tassel of his garment” - ISV

In Numbers 15:38 the word translated “border” or “corner” is a Hebrew word kanaph. This word is also translated (seventy-six times) “wings” in Scripture. This is why the corners of the tallit (prayer shawl) are often called “wings”. Each tzitzit (tassel) consists of eight threads and five double knots. This gives a total of thirteen elements that make up each tzitzit. Added to six hundred, the Hebraic numerical value of the word “tzitzit”, we arrive at six hundred and thirteen; the number commandments in the Torah. (There are different methodologies among different sects)

The Tzitzit and Yeshua

At the time of Yeshua, Jewish men would cover their tunic with a large rectangular cloth which draped over the shoulder and fell to the ankles. This cloth, a tallit, served as protection from the elements. The tallit had on each of its four corners (”wings”), a tzitzit in obedience to the biblical command.

Under persecution, Jews were often forbidden to wear the tzitzit on the outside of their garments. During these times a small four-cornered tallit under their shirts was worn. Today the prayer shawl is called a tallit.

In Judaica, at the time, there was a tradition associated the Messiah’s tzitzit possessing healing powers. Another tradition was that the tzitzit were seen as an amulet or talisman. The roots of these traditions are most likely found in the prophecy of Malachi 4:2 where the Messiah is said to be coming “with healing in His wings”.

The Sun of Righteousness

The woman in this passage surely knew of these traditions, explaining why she sought to touch the corner (”wings”) of Yeshua’s tallit. Numbers 15:38 and Malachi 4:2 use the same word for corner; kanaph. With the Hebraic context intact, one wearing a tallit could be said to be dwelling “in the secret place of the Most High” and “under His wings” (Ps. 91:1-4). The picture painted with the original Jewish brush and Hebraic canvas becomes clearer concerning the woman’s healing of faith. Her faith was in Yeshua as the “Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings” and in God’s prophetic Word.

Compare Matthew 9:20

(ALT) And look! A woman suffering from chronic bleeding [for] twelve years, having approached Him from behind, touched the fringe of His cloak.

(ASV) And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:

(BBE) And a woman, who for twelve years had had a flow of blood, came after him, and put her hand on the edge of his robe:

(VW-Edition) And behold, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.

(CEV) A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and barely touched his clothes.

(Darby) And behold, a woman, who had had a bloody flux for twelve years, came behind and touched the hem of his garment;

(DRB) And behold a woman who was troubled with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment.

(EMTV) And behold, a woman hemorrhaging for twelve years, approaching from behind, touched the hem of His garment.

(ESV) And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,

(GNB) A woman who had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak.

(GW) Then a woman came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his clothes. She had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years.

(HCSB) Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for 12 years approached from behind and touched the tassel on His robe,

(HNV) Behold, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the tzitziyot of his garment;

(ISV) Just then a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel of his garment.

(KJV-1611) (And behold, a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelue yeeres, came behinde him, and touched the hemme of his garment.

(KJVA) And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

(KJVR) And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

(LITV) And behold, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came near behind Him, and touched the fringe of His robe.

(MKJV) And behold, a woman, who had a flow of blood for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the hem of His garment.

(MRC) And behold, a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the tzit-tzit of His garment;

(MSG) Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe.

(The Scriptures ‘98) And see, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the tzitzit of His garment.

(YLT) and lo, a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, having come to him behind, did touch the fringe of his garments,