Numbers 15:38 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: Bid them that they make them fringes. These were narrow strips, in a wing-like form, wrapped over the shoulders, and on various parts of the attire. 'Fringe,' however, is the English rendering of two distinct Hebrew words-the one meaning a narrow lappet or edging, called the 'hem or border' (Matthew 23:5; Luke 8:44) which, in order to make it more attractive to the eye, and consequently more serviceable to the purpose described, was covered with a ribbon of a blue, or rather purple colour; the other term signifies strings with tassels at the end, fastened to the corners of the garment. Both of these are seen on the Egyptian (Rawlinson's 'Herodotus,' b. 2:, ch. 81:; Wilkinson's 'Ancient Egypt.,' vol. 3:, ch. 9:, p. 141) and Assyrian frocks; and as the Jewish people were commanded by express and repeated ordinances to have them, the fashion was rendered subservient, in their case, to awaken high and religious associations-to keep them in habitual remembrance of the divine commandments.