The story of the woman with a bleeding issue often gets overlooked in English translations of the Bible.
Matthew 9:20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment.
Matthew 9:21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
The English word “hem” translates from a Greek term that means a tassel made of twisted wool. These tassels are attached to the corners of the prayer shawl and are still worn by observant Jews today as a way to follow the biblical commandments outlined in the Book of Numbers.
Numbers 15:37 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:
Numbers 15:38 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
Numbers 15:39 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
They serve as powerful reminders of the divine commandments of God.
The Hebrew word translated as ‘border’ or ‘corner’ can also mean ‘wings.’
In Jesus’ time, Jewish men wore simple tunics, covering them with a large rectangular cloth that draped over one shoulder and fell to their ankles.
This cloth was called a tallit and served as protection from cold and rain. Hanging from the end of each of its four corners, “wings” were a tassel in obedience to the biblical command.
The woman knew from the prophet Malachi that when Jesus the Messiah came, he would have healing power in these tassels at the corners of His garment.
Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Not only did the woman with the issue of blood twelve years know the scriptures in Malichi, but the people in the land of Gennesaret knew as well.
By trusting in the word of God, these people knew Jesus was the Messiah, and the hem of his garment represented his wings. If you touched it, you were promised to be healed.
Matthew 14:34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
Matthew 14:35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
Matthew 14:36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Mark 6:56 A great many were brought to him and besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment, and as many as touched were made thoroughly well.
Mark 6:56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
Luke 8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
Luke 8:44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
Luke 8:45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
Luke 8:46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
Luke 8:47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
Luke 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
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