The Meaning of Numbers 15:39 Explained

Numbers 15:39

KJV: 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:

YLT: and it hath been to you for a fringe, and ye have seen it, and have remembered all the commands of Jehovah, and have done them, and ye search not after your heart, and after your eyes, after which ye are going a-whoring;

Darby: and it shall be unto you for a tassel, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of Jehovah, and do them; and that ye seek not after the lusts of your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye go a whoring;

ASV: and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of Jehovah, and do them; and that ye follow not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to play the harlot;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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: 

What does Numbers 15:39 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 15:27-41 - Exemplary Punishment For Sabbath-Breaking
This chapter resembles a sweet flute-like melody inserted between two fierce strains. It reminds us that in the middle of wrath God remembers mercy. The stranger-whether pilgrim, emigrant or slave-was to be included in burned-offerings and sacrifices; a prevision of the time when all holy souls shall be reckoned in the household of God, Ephesians 2:19.
Sins of ignorance may be forgiven, Numbers 15:22-29. They are sins. Debts of shortcoming need pardon equally as do trespasses. But, as Paul teaches us, we may confidently count on forgiveness for evil things done unwittingly. See 1 Timothy 1:12-14; Hebrews 5:2. It is quite otherwise with sins of presumption, Numbers 15:30-36. If persisted in, these induce death. See 1 John 5:16.
We have something better than the memorial fringe, in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, John 14:26. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 15

1  The law of the meat offering, and the drink offering
14  The stranger is under the same law
17  The law of the first of the dough
22  The sacrifice for sins of ignorance
30  The punishment of presumption
32  He who violated the Sabbath is stoned
37  The law of tassels

What do the individual words in Numbers 15:39 mean?

And shall have you the tassel that you may look upon it and remember - all the commandments of Yahweh and do them and not that you [may] follow after your own heart and your own eyes to which are inclined you to prostitute yourselves after
וְהָיָ֣ה לָכֶם֮ לְצִיצִת֒ וּרְאִיתֶ֣ם אֹת֗וֹ וּזְכַרְתֶּם֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ מִצְוֺ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם וְלֹֽא־ תָתֻ֜רוּ אַחֲרֵ֤י לְבַבְכֶם֙ וְאַחֲרֵ֣י עֵֽינֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־ אַתֶּ֥ם זֹנִ֖ים אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם

וְהָיָ֣ה  And  shall  have 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְצִיצִת֒  the  tassel 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִיצִת  
Sense: fringe, tassel, lock.
וּרְאִיתֶ֣ם  that  you  may  look  upon 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וּזְכַרְתֶּם֙  and  remember 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מִצְוֺ֣ת  the  commandments 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: מִצְוָה  
Sense: commandment.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם  and  do 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
וְלֹֽא־  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תָתֻ֜רוּ  that  you  [may]  follow 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: תּוּר  
Sense: to seek, search out, spy out, explore.
אַחֲרֵ֤י  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
לְבַבְכֶם֙  your  own  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
עֵֽינֵיכֶ֔ם  your  own  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, second person masculine plural
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
אֲשֶׁר־  to  which  are  inclined 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
זֹנִ֖ים  to  prostitute  yourselves 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: זָנָה 
Sense: to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot.
אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם  after 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).