Tzit study
In this study we will explore the significance of the tassle and determine for ourselves if we should wear them today.
We will begin the study by turning to Debarim (Deuteronomy) 22 and reading verses 1 through 12.
Deu 22:1 “When you see your brother’s ox or his sheep going straying away, you shall not hide yourself from them. Return them to your brother without fail.
2 “And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall be with you until your brother seeks it, then you shall return it to him.
3 “And so you do with his donkey, and so you do with his garment, and so you do with whatever your brother loses, which he has lost and you have found. You are not allowed to hide yourself.
4 “When you see your brother’s donkey or his ox fall down on the way, you shall not hide yourself from them. Help him raise them without fail.
5 “A woman does not wear that which pertains to a man, nor does a man put on a woman’s garment, for whoever does this is an abomination to YHWH your Elohim.
6 “When you come upon a bird’s nest along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young –
7 let the mother go without fail, and take the young for yourself, so that it might be well with you, and that you shall prolong your days.
8 “When you build a new house, then you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you do not bring blood-guilt on your house when one falls from it.
9 “Do not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled.
10 “Do not plough with an ox and a donkey together.
11 “Do not put on a garment of different kinds, of wool and linen together.
12 “Make tassels on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself.
Now that you have read these verses ask yourself these questions:
(1) Why do you think the people of Israel are told to wear tzit (tassles)?
(2) Do you think there is a reason why this is included with these other right rulings?
Let's continue the study by turning to Bemidbar (Numbers) 15 and read verses 32 through 41.
Num 15:32 And while the children of Yisra’ĕl were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Mosheh and to Aharon, and to all the congregation. 34 And they put him in under guard, because it had not been declared what should be done to him. 35 And YHWH said to Mosheh, “The man shall certainly be put to death, all the congregation stoning him with stones outside the camp.” 36 And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, as YHWH commanded Mosheh, and he died.
37 And YHWH spoke to Mosheh, saying, 38 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and you shall say to them to make tzitziyot on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue cord in the tzitzit of the corners. 39 “And it shall be to you for a tzitzit, and you shall see it, and shall remember All the commands of YHWH and shall do them, and not search after your own heart and your own eyes after which you went whoring,
40 so that you remember, and shall do All My commands, and be set-apart unto your Elohim.
41 “I am YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, to be your Elohim. I am YHWH your Elohim.”
Let's answer some questions based on these verses:
(1) What do you think the primary reason is that the children of Israel are given for wearing tzit?
(2) Read verses 39 & 40 then answer the following question: Do you think there is a reason why the command to wear the tzit comes directly after the account of the person who profaned the Sabbath? Write your reasoning for your answer.
(3) Read verse 37 and answer the following question: What color is the tzit to be?
(4) Why do you think the color of the tzit was to be blue?
(5) Is it commanded that the blue for the tzit to be made from a special type of dye?
(6) Do the verses tell you how to make the tzit in a certain way?
(7) Do you think it would be easier to see your own tzit or the tzit of those who wear them around you?
Facts about Tzittzit:
(1) The tzit are to be of a bluish coloring. (tekeleth)
The Strongs definitions for usage are:
1) violet, violet stuff
a) violet thread
b) violet stuff or fabric
2) blue (covering spectrum from brilliant red through deep purple)
It is implied that these colorings come from a certain source but is not verified. The ability to obtain this coloring by the general populace would be difficult and costly. Yes the people could have brought some from Mitsrayim (Egypt), but that would only last a certain amount of time, especially considering all of the Temple furnishings that were made from the same source.
(2) The blue thread or cord is to run through the tzits which are at the four corners of the garment. The common garments of the time were a drape style that naturally had four corners and could easily fulfill the right-ruling. The clothing of our day does not naturally have four corners, so we have two options. Change our current clothing style or adapt our clothing. Remember the intent of the right-ruling is that the tzit be seen. That is the primary goal for those who desire to please the Eternal. As a side note, there are those who tuck their tzit away, or wear garments under their clothing that do not allow the tzit to be seen. This is NOT fulfilling the right-ruling.
(3) The people at the time that this right-ruling was given, wore neutral colored clothing almost exclusively. The impact of this being that the blue cord in the tzits would stand out from the attire and attract the eyes of those around them. Thus, those seeing them would remember the commands of YHWH. The clothing people wear today is not modest and are designed to catch the eye. This presents a challenge to those who desire to keep this right-ruling. Wearing plain, neutral colored clothing will allow for the right-ruling to be effective. Another option is to use various colored threads along with the blue to contrast and stand out from the particular clothing you are wearing. Remember there is no command to use white cord or thread with the blue. This is an assumption, though the contrast it creates works with many types of clothing choices.
(4) The tzit are to be worn by the children of Israel and those who attach themselves to them "throughout their generation". This was not for a season, it is a perpetual ordinance. We should always desire to "Remember and DO the commands of the Father.
Suggested answers to previous questions:
(1) Why do you think the people of Israel are told to wear tzit (tassles)?
In Deuteronomy 22 the command to put tassels on the corners of the garment is given so that they are a visual reminder to the people to keep the right-rulings
(2) Do you think there is a reason why this is included with these other right rulings?
The command to wear the Tzit is out of place here. The significance is that the wearing of the Tzit is important to remembering to keep the commandments of YHWH.
(1) What do you think the primary reason is that the children of Israel are given for wearing tzit?
Verses 39 & 40 say it all - So that you Remember and DO, ALL of YHWHs commands!
(2) Read verses 39 & 40 then answer the following question: Do you think there is a reason why the command to wear the tzit comes directly after the account of the person who profaned the Sabbath? Write your reasoning for your answer.
The Tzit are there to help the wearer remember the commands of the Eternal so they do not stray from them and suffer the consequences of disobedience.
(3) Read verse 37 and answer the following question: What color is the tzit to be?
It is made of a blueish coloring.
(4) Why do you think the color of the tzit was to be blue?
Anciently purple and blue coloring was a sign of royalty. Generally only the very wealthy could afford to wear garments dyed in these extremely costly colors. These colors caught the eyes attention and directed the people thoughts to keeping the commandments. Also anciently the vast majority of garments were of a neutral coloring such as white, tan, etc. these neutral colors accentuated the vivid blue color. Which is very much unlike todays clothing which is designed in a myriad of colors to catch the eye of those seeing them.
(5) Is it commanded that the blue for the tzit to be made from a special type of dye?
There is no command for the Tzit to be made from a certain dye.
(6) Do the verses tell you how to make the tzit in a certain way?
There is no command for the Tzit to be made in a certain way.
(7) Do you think it would be easier to see your own tzit or the tzit of those who wear them around you?
We can see others Tzit much easier than our own. This is the intent. If we are all wearing them, then not only are we fulfilling the command to wear them, we are also indirectly helping to fulfill the command to love your neighbor (brothers & sisters) as yourself.
Shalom & Agape in YHWHs precious Name
Allen Spiker
