צִיצִת

From the study of Ezekiel 8:3

Range of meaning

A tuft, fringe or tassel. It is used of the tassels on garment corners (Numbers 15:38–39, three times) and, only here, of a lock or forelock of hair.

Against the English

KJV and WEB 'a lock of my head' is precise. BSB 'the hair of my head' is natural English but loses the picture of a single tuft grasped in the hand.

Used elsewhere in the period

The scene is imitated in the Greek addition to Daniel, Bel and the Dragon (v. 36): an angel takes Habakkuk 'by the crown of his head' and carries him 'by the hair of his head' to Babylon. This is probably a literary echo of Ezekiel 8:3.

From the study of Numbers 15:38

Range of meaning

A tassel or lock: a bunch of loose strands hanging down. Besides the tassel law (Numbers 15:38–39), the only other biblical use is Ezekiel 8:3, where the prophet is lifted "by a lock (ṣîṣit) of my head". It is most likely linked to ṣîṣ, meaning "blossom, flower" or a flower-shaped ornament. The same word ṣîṣ names the gold "flower" or plate on the high priest's turban (Exodus 28:36).

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT have "fringe(s)". BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB and NLT have "tassels". "Fringe" suggests a row of short threads running along the whole edge of a cloth. The Hebrew points to a bunch of hanging threads, like a lock of hair, at particular points: the corners, which Deuteronomy 22:12 counts as four.

How it drifted

In 1611 "fringe" could mean a tassel or a bordering of threads. Today it calls up decorative edging on a rug, a lampshade or a cowboy jacket, which is the wrong shape.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament made before Jesus' time) renders it κράσπεδα (kraspeda), the word the Gospels use for the "edge/tassel" of Jesus' cloak (Matthew 9:20; 14:36; Mark 6:56; Luke 8:44) and for the tassels some Pharisees made longer (Matthew 23:5). Deuteronomy 22:12 gives the same law with a different word, gədilim ("twisted threads"), "on the four corners of your covering". Woolen tassels identified as tsitsit have been found in caves from the Bar Kokhba revolt (2nd century AD). Rabbinic law (Mishnah Menahot 4:1; Sifre Numbers) treats the tsitsit as white threads together with blue-violet threads.

From the study of Numbers 15:39

Range of meaning

A tassel, tuft or lock. Outside Numbers 15 it appears only in Ezekiel 8:3, where the prophet is lifted 'by a lock (tsitsit) of my head'. It is probably related to tsits, 'blossom, flower', which suggests a flower-like spray of threads. Deuteronomy 22:12 gives the same command with a different word, gedilim ('twisted cords'), placed 'on the four corners (kanfot) of your covering'.

Against the English

KJV and WEB say 'fringe', which a modern reader pictures as a decorative edge running along the whole hem. The Hebrew means separate tassels hanging at the corners (v. 38: 'on the corners of their garments'). BSB, ESV and NIV say 'tassels', which is closer.

How it drifted

'Fringe' in older English could mean a tassel or an edging. Today it almost only means edging, and the later image of a prayer shawl with fringed ends adds to the confusion.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ancient Near Eastern art (Mesopotamian, Syrian, Egyptian depictions of Asiatics) often shows men of rank in garments with elaborate tasselled or fringed hems. In Akkadian texts the hem (sissiktu) of a garment stood for its owner and could be pressed into clay or cut in legal acts; compare David cutting the 'corner' (kanaf) of Saul's robe in 1 Samuel 24. The Greek Septuagint translates tsitsit with kraspedon, the word used of Jesus' garment in Matthew 9:20 and 14:36 and of the Pharisees' 'lengthened tassels' in Matthew 23:5. Wool tassels, some dyed blue, have been recovered from Judean desert caves of the Bar Kokhba period (2nd century AD).