Coming back to the tallit. It is interesting to note that during the First Century, a tradition associated with the
tallit is that the tzitzit of the Messiah had healing powers. This was taken from Mal 4:2: ―The Sun of
righteousness arise with healing in his wings‖.
What does ―his wings‖ represent?
The same word used in Num 15:38 for ―border‖ is used in Mal 4:2 for ―wings‖. With this understanding in
mind, an ancient Jew who was under the prayer shawl could be said to be dwelling in the secret place of the
Most High and under His wings (Psalm 91:1-4). The Hebrew word for ―wings‖ used in this passage is
kanaph, which is a word that specifically means the fringe-like feathers or edges of a bird's wing, not the
whole wing. All of us have seen an eagle or a hawk circling in the summer sky and have seen these fringe-
like feathers. This word, therefore, had two meanings and could be translated wings, or tzitzit.
When one realises the significance of this concept to the First Century Hebraic mind, it becomes clear why
this woman was instantly healed. She was expressing her faith in Y‘shua the Messiah as the Sun of
Righteousness with healing in His wings and declaring her faith in YHWH's prophetic Word. She must have
remembered this Messianic promise from the scroll of Malachi and thought, ―if I am to be healed, then will it
be found in his wings‖... his tzitzit? By faith, she reached out, touching the fringes and was healed.
It is interesting that all though the Tanach, the Hebrew word for wings in most passages is kanaph of the
Lord; i.e., under His word and His authority!
In a different passage, some time later Y‘shua arrived at the town of Genessaret—also on the shores of the
Sea of Galilee. The men of the town recognised Y‘shua and sent the word out so that many people brought
their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the tzitzit of his garment. The Bible reports:
―(53) And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. (54)
And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, (55) And ran through that whole
region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. (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‖. (Mark 6:53-56)
These people were not healed simply by touching the fringes of Y‘shua‘s garment in a crowd. They were
healed when their faith touched the power of YHWH Who is the one who could heal their infirmities. It was
their point of contact to release their faith to receive a touch from Y‘shua.
As said, the woman must have known the Scripture; and in faith, she touched the wings of His garment
showing she believed Y‘shua is the Messiah!
END OF Section III - Messiah's Miracles