Numbers 15:39 - and it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look on it, and remember all Yahweh’s commandments, and do them; and that you don’ t follow your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to play the prostitute;
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What does "Numbers 15:39" mean?
Numbers 15:39 is part of the instructions for the Israelites regarding the wearing of fringes (tzitzit) on the corners of their garments. Let's break down its meaning phrase by phrase:
"and it shall be to you for a fringe": This establishes that the fringes (tzitzit) are the central focus.
"that you may look on it": The purpose of the fringes is to be a visual reminder.
"and remember all Yahweh’s commandments, and do them": The act of seeing the fringes should trigger a recollection of God's commandments and inspire obedience. It is a constant, visual prompt to be mindful of their covenant with God.
"and that you don’t follow your own heart and your own eyes": This gets to the core of why the reminder is necessary. "Your own heart" represents desires, impulses, and inclinations, while "your own eyes" represents visual temptations and distractions. The verse warns against being led astray by subjective feelings and outward appearances.
"after which you use to play the prostitute": This is the most striking and often misinterpreted part. In this context, "playing the prostitute" is not literally referring to sexual activity (although it can have literal interpretations in other places). Instead, it's a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness or idolatry. It means turning away from God and pursuing other "gods" or values, whether these are material possessions, social status, or even self-centered desires. This is a recurring metaphor in the Hebrew Bible; worshiping other gods is likened to a wife being unfaithful to her husband (God).
In essence, the verse is saying:
The fringes are a reminder to keep God's commandments. They are there to prevent you from being led astray by your own desires and the temptations you see around you, which would lead you to be unfaithful to God (like a prostitute is unfaithful to her husband).
Key takeaways:
Visual Reminder: The tzitzit are designed to be a constant visual reminder of God's commandments.
Combating Temptation: The aim is to counteract the pull of internal desires and external temptations that lead to disobedience.
Spiritual Faithfulness: "Playing the prostitute" is a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness, meaning turning away from God and pursuing other priorities or "gods."
Obedience: The ultimate goal is obedience to God's commandments.
The verse emphasizes the importance of actively remembering and obeying God's commandments to avoid being swayed by personal desires and worldly temptations, which are viewed as a form of spiritual infidelity.
Numbers 15:39 - and it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look on it, and remember all Yahweh’s commandments, and do them; and that you don’ t follow your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to play the prostitute;
What does "Numbers 15:39" mean?
Numbers 15:39 is part of the instructions for the Israelites regarding the wearing of fringes (tzitzit) on the corners of their garments. Let's break down its meaning phrase by phrase:
"and it shall be to you for a fringe": This establishes that the fringes (tzitzit) are the central focus.
"that you may look on it": The purpose of the fringes is to be a visual reminder.
"and remember all Yahweh’s commandments, and do them": The act of seeing the fringes should trigger a recollection of God's commandments and inspire obedience. It is a constant, visual prompt to be mindful of their covenant with God.
"and that you don’t follow your own heart and your own eyes": This gets to the core of why the reminder is necessary. "Your own heart" represents desires, impulses, and inclinations, while "your own eyes" represents visual temptations and distractions. The verse warns against being led astray by subjective feelings and outward appearances.
"after which you use to play the prostitute": This is the most striking and often misinterpreted part. In this context, "playing the prostitute" is not literally referring to sexual activity (although it can have literal interpretations in other places). Instead, it's a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness or idolatry. It means turning away from God and pursuing other "gods" or values, whether these are material possessions, social status, or even self-centered desires. This is a recurring metaphor in the Hebrew Bible; worshiping other gods is likened to a wife being unfaithful to her husband (God).
In essence, the verse is saying:
The fringes are a reminder to keep God's commandments. They are there to prevent you from being led astray by your own desires and the temptations you see around you, which would lead you to be unfaithful to God (like a prostitute is unfaithful to her husband).
Key takeaways:
Visual Reminder: The tzitzit are designed to be a constant visual reminder of God's commandments.
Combating Temptation: The aim is to counteract the pull of internal desires and external temptations that lead to disobedience.
Spiritual Faithfulness: "Playing the prostitute" is a metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness, meaning turning away from God and pursuing other priorities or "gods."
Obedience: The ultimate goal is obedience to God's commandments.
The verse emphasizes the importance of actively remembering and obeying God's commandments to avoid being swayed by personal desires and worldly temptations, which are viewed as a form of spiritual infidelity.