Can a Christian Wear a Tallit?

Absolutely! In fact, it is a remarkable, supernatural tool available to Believers. It carries much biblical significance. The problem is, unfortunately, that most Churches don’t teach about the tallit, its spiritual symbolism, or how it relates to the Jewish roots of the Christian faith.

In recent years Curt Landry has spent time studying and teaching about the tallit and tzitzit. He and Ron Phillips from Abba’s House met, and Curt taught a series about the tallit.

Understanding what the tallit represents can transform your faith as you begin to see your Savior in new and intimate ways.

Origins of the tallit and tzitzit

The fringed prayer shawl is traditionally trimmed with either blue or black stripes. Historically worn by men or boys, it is a reminder of given instruction.

Today, many Believers, specifically women, are seeking their faith roots and find power and intimacy as they cover themselves with a tallit during personal devotion time.

The true significance of the tallit is what it represents. It is a point of contact where we engage all of our senses and connect to the spiritual realm of Heaven. It is a place of togetherness with God.

The biblical significance of the tallit

Fringe garments are found all throughout history. God took this otherwise ordinary article and gave it to Israel with new significance, authority, and power.

The tassels…

The tzitzit or fringe was part of the hem of garments. The hem was associated with the wearer’s authority. A fringe-hemmed garment was worn by royalty.

Take the story of David finding Saul in the cave and cutting off a corner of Saul’s robe.

“Then the men of David said to him, ‘This is the day of which the Lord said to you, “Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.  Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.”

—1 Samuel 24:4-5

David understood the significance of the robe, as well as dishonoring God’s appointed. Though David would become Israel’s leader in time, he was to honor Saul’s place of authority.

The colors…

The colors were also important. The colors for the tallit and fringes were white and blue. The color combination, as well as purple, points to noble royalty as well.

Here are some verses that depict the images of royalty through colors and fabrics…

• “Who were clothed in purple, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.”—Ezekiel 23:6
• “There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars…”—Esther 1:6
• “So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple…”—Esther 8:15
• “Then they shall put on it a covering of badger skins, and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue; and they shall insert its poles.”—Numbers 4:6
• “You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim.”—Exodus 26:31
• “You shall make a screen for the door of the tabernacle, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver.”—Exodus 26:36

From these verses, you can see how God viewed the richness of color in both clothing and in the Tabernacle—His dwelling place.

Operating under your personal tent of meeting with the Lord

Using the tallit in prayer and devotion is not about legalism. It is all done in faith. It is simply a garment with rich meaning and history that we, as Believers, can use to grasp a better understanding of how the forefathers of our faith communed with God.

Taking your faith’s history, think of the tallit as your tent of meeting with the Lord. You can simply take the tallit and drape it over your head.

Then take the tzitzit and weave it through your fingers on both hands. It’s a representation of declaration. When you aren’t strong enough to hold on to God, He holds on to you.  Finally, submit yourself to God in prayer.

The tallit is a picture of God’s protection…

“He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.”

—Psalm 91:4

…and a declaration of God’s beautiful dwelling place!

“How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel!”

—Numbers 24:5

“How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts!”

—Psalm 84:1

Wrapped in His Glory

The Lord uses the natural world to speak to us in supernatural ways. His Word declares over and over the importance of what we put on. He provides for our every need. One of those needs is clothing.

He doesn’t want you to be clothed in filthy rags, but in splendor and righteousness, because He loves you! He understands that we often express our identity in the clothes we wear. He gave us a beautiful garment in Christ.

Around the edges of the tallits that we at Curt Landry Ministries use, is written in gold in Hebrew…

“Blessed are you Lord God, King of the Universe who commanded us to wear the tzitzit.”

What does this mean? It means for Believers, you wear, or put on, the Robe of Righteousness you have through Christ. You are to wrap yourself in your identity in Him.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

—Isaiah 61:10

What does the tallit have to do with my faith in Christ?

It’s about intentional connection. Connection to your Father and the history and family you have been grafted into. If you are a Believer, you have Jewish roots. Your faith flows from a cultivated olive tree. You are partakers in the inheritance of God’s promises.

But if you don’t know the history of your inheritance, how then can you claim it? You must hunger to know the fullness of His promise, which is revealed through Israel’s history.

When Jesus prayed for Believers, He prayed that “they all may become one.” He prayed for unity, within the Church and between Jew and Gentile. His great desire was, with Him, both Jew and Gentile are woven together like the three-stranded cord.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

—John 17:20-23

Just as there is one God, Jesus prayed for oneness between all who believe in Him.