Heroines of the Faith: Remembering Ribbons: The Biblical Blue Ribbon

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Remembering Ribbons: The Biblical Blue Ribbon

Healing in His Wings by Marybeth Stafford (Source)

Remembering Ribbons Series

~ Biblical Times

This story of ribbons actually starts where all good stories start,

in the Scriptures, in the beginning…

The birth in the Bible of the "ribband" is introduced in the
fourth book of the sacred writings in "Numbers".

Once upon a time,
God chose a people to serve Him and said to the leader, Moses:

"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:

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:

That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God."

~ Numbers 15:38-40

Redeemed Crown Necklace

How beautiful!

We read that the blue ribbon in the Bible is a tool

for remembering God's commandments!

We notice that one of the earlier spellings of the modern day word "ribbon" is "ribband". Though the style of "ribband" spoken of in Scripture is not the ribbon you will find in stores today, the concept is similar. “Rib-band” in Hebrew is “pathiyl” which means twine; bound lace; line; and/or thread.

Many Jewish people still honor these verses by wearing the "tallit", the fringed prayer shawl. The blue stripes in the flag of Israel are also said to symbolize the "blue ribbon" spoken of in Numbers 15:38-40.

Healing in His Wings by Marybeth Stafford (Source)

It is interesting to note that some have suggested that the woman with the issue of blood who touched the hem of the garment of Jesus, in order to be healed, actually made contact with His prayer shawl featuring the "blue ribband" (though there is no proof of this but it is something to ponder, see depiction above in painting).

"When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said,“Who touched My clothes?”

But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”

And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”