Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 9:20

"And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:" — Matthew 9:20 (ASV)

Behold, a woman... — The "issue of blood" was probably of the kind that brought with it ceremonial uncleanness (Leviticus 15:26), and this accounts for the sense of shame that made her shrink from applying to the Healer openly and from confessing afterwards what she had done. It is significant that the period of her suffering coincided with the age of the ruler’s daughter. His sorrow was sudden after twelve years of joyful hope; hers had brought with it, through twelve long years, the sickness of hope deferred. St. Mark and St. Luke add (though in the latter, some manuscripts omit the words) that she had spent all her substance on physicians, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. The former also states (what is, of course, obvious) that she came because she had heard of the things concerning Jesus.

Touched the hem of his garment — This incidental detail is interesting, as it makes up, together with Matthew 14:36 and John 19:23, all that we know about our Lord’s outward clothing. First, nearest the body, was the coat or tunic (χίτων), which was without a seam, woven from the top throughout. Over that was the garment or cloak (ίμάτιον), flowing loosely in the Eastern style. This cloak had its border or fringe, probably of a bright blue mixed with white. This was a feature the scribes and Pharisees emphasized as being in accordance with the Law (Numbers 15:38), which they therefore wore with an ostentatious width (Matthew 23:5). Later tradition defined the very number of the threads or tassels of the fringe, so that they might represent the 613 precepts of the Law.