In this prophetic age, a great restoration is underway. Across the world, hearts are stirring—not toward a new religion, but toward the original, Torah-rooted faith of Yeshua and his disciples: Nazarene Judaism. This movement, once nearly erased from history, is being reborn. As part of this restoration, we are recovering not only the ancient texts but also the mitzvot (commandments) that defined the walk of Yeshua.
Among these mitzvot is the commandment of Tzitzit—fringes worn on the four corners (kanafot) of our garments, including a thread of tekhelet, the blue dye of royalty and priesthood. The Torah gives this commandment twice:
“Speak unto the children of Yisra’el and bid them, that they make them throughout their generations, tzitzit in the corners of their garments, and that they put with the tzitzit of each corner, a thread of tekhelet…” (Numbers 15:38)
“You shall make twisted cords upon the four corners of your covering, with which you cover yourself.” (Deuteronomy 22:12)
This commandment is not optional. It is a sign of our identity as a covenant people—a reminder to keep the commandments of YHWH and not stray after our own eyes and hearts.
Tekhelet: Not Just “Blue”
One critical element of this mitzvah is often misunderstood or neglected: the command to include a thread of tekhelet in each fringe. Tekhelet is not merely “blue.” It is a specific dye, historically obtained from a sea creature known in tradition as the hillazon. According to the Talmud:
“The hillazon resembles the sea in its color and a fish in its shape. It appears once in seventy years, and with its blood one dyes the blue thread.” (b.Menahot 44a)
Though the exact identity of the hillazon was lost for centuries, many now believe it has been rediscovered, often identified with the Murex trunculus. Some disagree. And that’s okay. Within Nazarene Judaism, we recognize room for conscience and conviction. But we must be clear: wearing tzitzit without tekhelet is not the fullness of the commandment.
Yeshua and the Halacha of Tzitzit
The importance of Tzitzit is evident in the life of the Messiah himself. Consider this passage from the Gospel according to the Hebrews:
“And behold, a woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, approached behind Him, and touched the tzitzit of His garment…” (Matthew 9:20–22, HRV)
This woman—identified in the Nazarene Gospel as Miriam—was not merely seeking a touch. She was acting on prophecy:
“But unto you that fear My Name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings (kanfot).” (Malachi 4:2)
The Hebrew word kanfot can mean both wings and corners. She reached for the corner of his garment—the tzitzit—believing it carried the healing power prophesied for the righteous Messiah. And she was healed.
A Restoration in Our Time
This same imagery appears in Zechariah:
“In those days… ten men… shall take hold of the kanaf of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that Elohim is with you.” (Zechariah 8:23)
The kanaf—the corner with tzitzit—is a sign of spiritual authority and identity. This prophecy speaks of the Ten Tribes of Ephraim, reaching out to reconnect with their covenant heritage—not by adopting later traditions, but by grasping hold of Torah, and the Messiah who embodies it.
Intersecting Restoration Projects
As I’ve labored to restore both Nazarene Halacha and the original Hebrew text of the so-called “New Testament,” I’ve been struck by how deeply these projects intertwine. Take Matthew 23:5, where Yeshua criticizes certain hypocrites:
In the KJV, it reads:
“They enlarge the borders of their garments to be seen of men.”
But what did the original Hebrew or Aramaic actually say?
- DuTillet Hebrew Matthew:
וגדילו כנפות כסויותיהם
“And they enlarge the corners of their garments.” - Shem Tob Hebrew Matthew:
ולובשים מלבושים יקרים וציציות
“And they wear expensive clothes and tzitzit.” - Old Syriac & Peshitta Aramaic:
ומורכין תכלתא דמרטוטיהון
“And they lengthen the tekhelet of their mantles.”
These are not minor differences—they are radical departures. The Aramaic version offers remarkable insight. It suggests Yeshua wasn’t condemning tzitzit, or even long tzitzit per se, but the exaggerated lengthening of the tekhelet thread—the expensive dyed thread used to signal wealth or prestige.
In ancient times, tekhelet was costly and often worn by the elite. Making the tekhelet visibly longer than the white threads could have been a display of self-righteousness or social superiority.
Halachic Clarifications
- Tzitzit must be attached to a four-cornered garment (not belt loops).
- The mitzvah is to include both white threads and a thread of tekhelet.
- The tekhelet should not be longer than the other threads (Matthew 23:5).
- All-white tzitzit are not “complete”. They are a compromise due to historical loss. If a reliable tekhelet source is available, it should be used.
- Tzitzit must be visible (Num. 15:39). But this visibility is subject to pikuach nefesh (preservation of life). If visibility creates danger, one may conceal them.
- Women may wear tzitzit if done modestly and not “as a man’s garment.” They are not obligated, but may voluntarily fulfill the mitzvah.
See the compete Nazarene Halacha concerning Tzitzit by clicking here.
Be Like Miriam—Take Hold of the Tzitzit
We live in days of prophetic fulfillment. As hearts awaken across the nations, as the House of Ephraim is grafted back into the Olive Tree of Israel, the ancient commandment of tzitzit becomes newly relevant. This is not about legalism—it’s about identity. It’s about remembering to walk in the commandments of YHWH and to follow Yeshua, the Torah-observant Messiah.
“That you may look upon it and remember all My commandments, and do them…” (Numbers 15:39)
Miriam understood. She reached for the fringe. Take hold. Return to the covenant. Let the tzitzit remind you who you are—and whose you are.
🙏 Help Us Keep This Work Going – We Need Your Support Today
Friend,
If this teaching has blessed you—if the restoration of the commandments, the words of Yeshua in their original context, and the reviving of Nazarene Judaism has stirred your heart—we need your help right now.
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This ministry is not backed by institutions or wealthy sponsors. It continues only through the faithful support of those who believe in what we’re doing—restoring the original faith once delivered to the saints, publishing critical halachic teachings, preserving ancient texts, and bringing light to scattered Nazarene believers across the world.
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For the Restoration of Nazarene Judaism
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