The Hem of His Garment

Kanap: Origin Hebrew
NAS exhausted concordance:
Definition: wing, extremity
NASB Translation
bird* (1), corner (1), corners (4), covering (1), each other (1), edge (5), edges (1), ends (3), fold (2), garment (1), kind (3), skirt (3), skirts (1), sorts (1), wing (14), winged (5), wings (58), wings were each other (1), wingspan (1).

In Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, and Luke 8:43-48 we see the parallel accounts of the bleeding woman. We have often heard it taught that her faith was so strong that if she simply touched the hem of his garment she would be healed. Was that “hem” so insignificant after all? Let us look at how the word is used in other parts of scripture.
Kanap is used multiple times in the Bible. In Numbers 15:38-39 “38 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:39 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:” and in Deuteronomy 22:12 “12 Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself.” Kanap is describing the tassels Jewish men were to wear to remind them of God’s law. We see Mark 5:25-34 refer to the same tassels when the bleeding woman touched Jesus. Mark was specifically referring to the tassels that Jesus wore, which were commanded in Numbers and Deuterononmy.
Mark 5:25-34 “25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” The Hebrew word used for “garment” in this passage is Kanap. Furthermore this passage can be compared to the Messianic passage in Malachi 4:2 “2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” Kanap is the Hebrew word translated “wings” in this verse.
Kanap is also used for the word “skirt” in Ruth 3:7-10 “7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. 10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.” Ruth is not asking him to have physical relations with her. She is not attempting to seduce him into giving her what she wants. She is instead referencing Ezekiel 16:8 “8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine.” God is describing his role as husband to Israel. Ruth is asking Boaz to marry her and he understood that.

As it can be seen this “hem” was used in very significant ways throughout scripture. It was used as a reminder of God’s Law, as healing wings, and as a picture of marriage. It is amazing to see a more complete picture of this word. Only the Holy Spirit could divinely place a word so perfectly, to bring such a more meaningful interpretation to scripture.