THE COMMANDMENT TO REMEMBER THE COMMANDMENTS
THE INSTRUCTION OF THE TZITZITS
The commandment of the tzitzits, given by God through Moses during the 40 years of wandering, instructs the children of Israel—whether native-born or Gentiles—to make fringes (tzitzits [ציצת], meaning threads, fringes, tassels) on the edges of their garments and to include a blue thread among the fringes.
This physical symbol serves to distinguish God’s followers, acting as a constant reminder of their identity and commitment to His commandments.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BLUE THREAD
The inclusion of the blue thread—a color often associated with the heavens and divinity—emphasizes the holiness and significance of this reminder. This commandment is declared to be followed “throughout your generations,” indicating that it is not restricted to a specific time period but is meant to be observed continuously:
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them: Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue thread on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so 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. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.’” (Numbers 15:37-40)
TZITZIT AS A SACRED TOOL
The tzitzit is not merely decorative; it is a sacred tool to guide God’s people toward obedience. Its purpose is clear: to prevent believers from following their own desires and to lead them to a life of holiness before God.
By wearing the tzitzits, followers of the Lord demonstrate their dedication to His commandments and remind themselves daily of their covenant with Him.
FOR MEN ONLY OR FOR EVERYONE?
THE HEBREW TERMINOLOGY
One of the most common questions regarding this commandment is whether it applies exclusively to men or to everyone. The answer lies in the Hebrew term used in this verse, Bnei Yisrael (בני ישראל), meaning “sons of Israel” (masculine).
In other verses, however, where God gives instructions to the whole community, the phrase Kol-Kahal Yisrael (כל-קהל ישראל), meaning “assembly of Israel,” is used, clearly referring to the entire community (see Joshua 8:35; Deuteronomy 31:11; 2 Chronicles 34:23).
There are also cases where the general population is addressed using the word am (עַם), which simply means “people” and is clearly gender-neutral. For example, when God gave the Ten Commandments: “So Moses went down to the people (עַם) and told them” (Exodus 19:25).
The choice of words for the commandment about the tzitzit in the original Hebrew indicates that it was specifically directed to the sons (“men”) of Israel.
PRACTICE AMONG WOMEN TODAY
While some modern Jewish women and Messianic Gentile women enjoy adorning their clothing with what they call tzitzits, there is no indication that this commandment was intended to apply to both genders.
HOW TO WEAR TZITZITS
The tzitzits should be attached to clothing: two at the front and two at the back, except during bathing (naturally). Some consider wearing them while sleeping optional. Those who do not wear them while sleeping follow the logic that the purpose of the tzitzits is to be a visual reminder, which is ineffective when one is asleep.
The pronunciation of tzitzits is (zitzit), and the plural forms are tzitzitot (zitziôt) or simply tzitzits.
THE COLOR OF THE THREADS
NO SPECIFIC SHADE OF BLUE REQUIRED
It is important to note that the passage does not specify the exact shade of blue (or purple) for the thread. In modern Judaism, many opt not to include the blue thread, arguing that the exact shade is unknown and instead use only white threads in their tzitzits. However, if the specific shade were crucial, God would undoubtedly have provided clarity.
The essence of the commandment lies in obedience and the constant reminder of God’s commandments, not in the precise hue of the color.
SYMBOLISM OF THE BLUE THREAD
Some believe the blue thread symbolizes the Messiah, though there is no scriptural support for this interpretation, despite its appealing nature.
Others take advantage of the lack of restriction regarding the colors of the other threads—aside from the requirement that one must be blue—to create elaborate tzitzits with multiple colors. This is not advisable, as it demonstrates a casualness toward God’s commandments that is not constructive.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF COLORS
During biblical times, dyeing threads was expensive, so it is almost certain that the original tzitzits were made in the natural colors of wool from sheep, goats, or camels, most likely ranging from white to beige. We recommend adhering to these natural tones.
THE NUMBER OF THREADS
SCRIPTURAL INSTRUCTIONS ON THREADS
The Scriptures do not specify how many threads each tzitzit should have. The only requirement is that one of the threads must be blue.
In modern Judaism, tzitzits are typically made with four threads doubled over to form eight threads in total. They also incorporate knots, which are considered mandatory. However, this practice of using eight threads and knots is a rabbinic tradition with no scriptural basis.
SUGGESTED NUMBERS: FIVE OR TEN THREADS
For our purposes, we suggest using either five or ten threads for each tzitzit. This number is chosen because, if the purpose of the tzitzits is to remind us of God’s commandments, it is fitting for the number of threads to align with the Ten Commandments.
While there are certainly more than ten commandments in God’s Law, the two tablets of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 have long been regarded as a symbol of the entirety of God’s Law.
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SYMBOLISM OF THREAD COUNTS
In this case:
- Ten threads could represent the Ten Commandments in each tzitzit.
- Five threads could symbolize five commandments per tablet, though it is not definitively known how the commandments were divided between the two tablets.
Many speculate (without evidence) that one tablet contained four commandments related to our relationship with God and the other six related to our relationship with others.
Regardless, choosing five or ten threads is merely a suggestion, as God did not provide this detail to Moses.
“THAT YOU MAY LOOK UPON IT AND REMEMBER”
A VISUAL TOOL FOR OBEDIENCE
The tzitzit, with its blue thread, serves as a visual tool to help God’s servants remember and fulfill all His commandments. The verse emphasizes the importance of not following the desires of the heart or the eyes, which can lead to sin. Instead, God’s followers are to focus on obeying His commandments.
A TIMELESS PRINCIPLE
This principle is timeless, applying to both the ancient Israelites and today’s Christians, who are called to remain faithful to God’s commandments and avoid the temptations of the world. Whenever God instructs us to remember something, it is because He knows we are prone to forget.
A BARRIER AGAINST SIN
This “forgetting” does not merely mean failing to recall the commandments but also failing to act upon them. When a person is about to commit a sin and looks down at their tzitzits, they are reminded that there is a God who has given them commandments. If these commandments are not obeyed, there will be consequences.
In this sense, the tzitzit serves as a barrier against sin, helping believers remain mindful of their obligations and steadfast in their faithfulness to God.
“ALL MY COMMANDMENTS”
A CALL TO COMPLETE OBEDIENCE
Observing all of God’s commandments is essential for maintaining holiness and faithfulness to Him. The tzitzits on garments serve as a tangible symbol to remind God’s servants of their responsibility to live a holy and obedient life.
Being holy—set apart for God—is a central theme throughout the Bible, and this specific commandment provides a way for God’s servants to remain mindful of their obligation to obey.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “ALL” COMMANDMENTS
It is important to note the use of the Hebrew noun kōl (כֹּל), meaning “all,” which emphasizes the necessity of obeying not just some commandments—as is the practice in nearly every church worldwide—but the entire “package” of commandments given to us.
God’s commandments are, in fact, instructions that must be faithfully followed if we desire to please Him. By doing so, we are positioned to be sent to Jesus and to receive forgiveness for our sins through His atoning sacrifice.
THE PROCESS THAT LEADS TO SALVATION
PLEASING THE FATHER THROUGH OBEDIENCE
Jesus made it clear that the path to salvation begins with an individual pleasing the Father through their conduct (Psalm 18:22-24). Once the Father examines the heart of the person and confirms their inclination toward obedience, the Holy Spirit guides that person to observe all of His holy commandments.
THE FATHER’S ROLE IN LEADING TO JESUS
The Father then sends, or “gifts,” this person to Jesus:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:44).
And also:
“This is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given me, but raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39).
THE TZITZITS AS A DAILY REMINDER
The tzitzits, as a visual and physical reminder, play a vital role in this process, serving as a daily aid for God’s servants to remain steadfast in obedience and holiness.
This continual awareness of all His commandments is not optional but a fundamental aspect of a life devoted to God and aligned with His will.
JESUS AND THE TZITZIT
Jesus Christ, in His life, demonstrated the importance of fulfilling God’s commandments, including wearing tzitzits on His garments. When we read the original Greek term [kraspedon (κράσπεδον), meaning tzitzits, threads, tassels, fringes], it becomes clear that this is what the woman with the issue of blood touched to receive healing:
“Just then, a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the tassels of His cloak” (Matthew 9:20). Similarly, in the Gospel of Mark, we see that many sought to touch Jesus’ tzitzits, recognizing that they symbolized the powerful commandments of God, which bring blessings and healing: “Wherever He went—into villages, towns, or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged Him to let them touch even the tassels of His cloak, and all who touched it were healed” (Mark 6:56).
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TZITZITS IN JESUS’ LIFE
These accounts highlight that Jesus faithfully observed the commandment of wearing tzitzits as instructed in the Torah. The tzitzits were not just decorative elements but profound symbols of God’s commandments, which Jesus embodied and upheld. The people’s recognition of the tzitzits as a point of connection with divine power underscores the role of obedience to God’s Law in bringing blessings and miracles.
Jesus’ adherence to this commandment demonstrates His complete submission to God’s Law and provides a powerful example for His followers to do likewise; not only for the tzitzits, but to all His Father’s commandments, such as the Sabbath, circumcision, hair and beard and forbidden meats.
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