feminine of צִיץ; a floral or wing-like projection, i.e. a forelock of hair, a tassel; fringe, lock.
Transliteration:tsîytsith
Pronunciation:tsee-tseeth'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term צִיצִת (tsîytsith), Strong's number `{{H6734}}`, is a feminine noun derived from the root צִיץ (tsîyts), `{{H6731}}`. The base definition provided indicates a "floral or wing-like projection," which expands to mean a "forelock of hair" or, most commonly in biblical usage, a "tassel" or "fringe." The underlying sense of צִיץ (tsîyts) includes "flower," "blossom," "plate," or "wing," suggesting something that protrudes, extends, or blooms forth. This etymological connection highlights the physical nature of tsîytsith as an outward extension or appendage. While it can refer to a literal "lock" of hair, its predominant theological and legal significance in the Hebrew Bible pertains to the ritual fringes worn on garments.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word צִיצִת appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, but its occurrences are highly significant:
1. **Numbers 15:38-39**: "Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. So it shall be for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and to do them, and not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which lead you to prostitution." Here, צִיצִת is explicitly commanded as a physical marker on garments. The context is legislative, detailing a perpetual ordinance for the Israelites. The blue cord (תְּכֵלֶת, tekhelet) is a crucial detail, often associated with the heavens or divine glory. The primary stated purpose is mnemonic and behavioral: to serve as a visual aid for remembering and obeying God's commandments, thereby preventing spiritual deviation.
2. **Deuteronomy 22:12**: "You shall make tassels on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself." This verse reiterates the command found in Numbers, reinforcing its importance within the Deuteronomic law code. While less detailed than the Numbers passage, it confirms the practical application of צִיצִת to the "four corners" (כְּנָפַיִם, kenafayim – literally "wings" or "corners") of the garment.
3. **Ezekiel 8:3**: "He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court, which faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy." In this unique context, צִיצִת refers to a "lock" or "forelock" of Ezekiel's hair. This usage aligns with the broader semantic range of "projection" and demonstrates the word's capacity to describe a physical appendage, whether on a garment or a person. This is the only instance where it does not refer to a garment fringe.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of צִיצִת is enriched by its connections to several related words and concepts:
* **צִיץ (tsîyts)** `{{H6731}}`: The root word meaning "flower," "blossom," "plate," or "wing." This connection underscores the "projecting" or "outward" nature of the tsîytsith.
* **מִצְוֹת (mitzvot)**: "Commandments." The צִיצִת are directly linked to the remembrance and performance of God's commandments ([[Numbers 15:39]]). They serve as a constant, tangible reminder of divine law.
* **בֶּגֶד (beged)** `{{H899}}`: "Garment" or "clothing." The צִיצִת are specifically attached to the "corners of their garments" ([[Numbers 15:38]], [[Deuteronomy 22:12]]), making them an integral part of Israelite attire.
* **כָּנָף (kanaph)** `{{H3671}}`: "Wing" or "corner." This word is used for the "corners" of the garment where the צִיצִת are placed ([[Numbers 15:38]], [[Deuteronomy 22:12]]). The dual meaning of "wing" further resonates with the "wing-like projection" aspect of צִיצִת.
* **תְּכֵלֶת (tekhelet)** `{{H8504}}`: "Blue" or "violet-blue." The specific inclusion of a "cord of blue" in the צִיצִת ([[Numbers 15:38]]) is significant, often symbolizing the heavens, God's throne, or divine glory, thereby elevating the fringe beyond a mere decorative item.
* **זָכַר (zakhar)** `{{H2142}}`: "To remember." The explicit purpose of the צִיצִת is "that you may look at it and remember" ([[Numbers 15:39]]), highlighting its role as a mnemonic device for covenant fidelity.
### Theological Significance
The צִיצִת holds profound theological significance within the biblical narrative:
* **Covenantal Reminder:** Its primary role is to serve as a physical, ever-present reminder of God's covenant with Israel and His divine commandments. By looking at the צִיצִת, the Israelite was meant to recall their obligations to Yahweh, fostering a life of obedience and devotion.
* **Holiness and Distinction:** The command to wear צִיצִת was part of the broader call for Israel to be a holy nation, set apart from the surrounding peoples. This distinctive attire visually marked them as God's chosen people, bound by His unique laws. It reinforced their identity as a people committed to a distinct way of life.
* **Safeguard Against Sin:** Numbers 15:39 explicitly states that the צִיצִת were to prevent Israelites from "following after your own heart and your own eyes, which lead you to prostitution." This suggests a spiritual safeguard, a constant visual prompt designed to curb sinful desires and idolatry by redirecting attention to divine law.
* **Symbol of Authority and Presence:** While not explicitly stated in the Old Testament, later Jewish tradition and the New Testament (e.g., the woman touching Jesus' garment in [[Matthew 9:20]] and [[Luke 8:44]], where the Greek κράσπεδον, kraspedon, translates as "fringe" or "hem," echoing the Septuagint's use for צִיצִת) suggest an association with divine power and healing emanating from one who embodies God's law. The צִיצִת became a symbol of the authority and presence of God's word.
* **Pedagogical Tool:** The צִיצִת functioned as a tangible teaching aid, an object lesson woven into daily life, continually impressing upon the wearer and observers the importance of God's precepts.
### Summary
The Hebrew word צִיצִת (tsîytsith), `{{H6734}}`, fundamentally denotes a "tassel" or "fringe," deriving from a root signifying a "projection" or "flower." While it appears once as a "lock of hair" in [[Ezekiel 8:3]], its most significant biblical usage is as the commanded tassels on the corners of Israelite garments. Prescribed in [[Numbers 15:38-39]] and reiterated in [[Deuteronomy 22:12]], the צִיצִת served as a perpetual, visual reminder for the Israelites to remember and obey all of God's commandments. Adorned with a blue cord, these fringes were a powerful symbol of Israel's covenantal identity, their call to holiness and distinction, and a spiritual safeguard against following their own sinful desires. The צִיצִת thus stands as a profound theological emblem of divine instruction and human obedience.
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