The significance of the hem of a Hebrew man=s robe is lost on our culture today. We do not wear such garments in Western society. I have read that in Biblical times the genealogy of the man wearing a robe was frequently embroidered into the hem. The hem of the garment could be used as a seal by pressing it into clay or wax.
The hem of a man's garment is used in reference to marriage several times in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 22:30 speaks of dishonoring your father by marrying his wife (not your mother). The Hebrew phrase says literally, "uncover the hem of his father's garment." In Ezekiel chapter sixteen the Lord uses the metaphor of an unfaithful wife in describing Israel and Jerusalem. (The Children of Israel were to be the bride at Mount Sinai, but committed spiritual adultery with the Golden Calf.) The Lord symbolically covers the young girl (Israel) with the hem of His robe. (Ezekiel 16:8) He was thereby indicating making Israel part of His lineage. At the threshing floor on Pentecost night, Ruth asked Boaz to cover her with the hem of his robe. (Ruth 3:9) Again, this was symbolic of marriage, and Boaz married Ruth shortly thereafter. Ruth became part of the family and lineage of Boaz, not to mention becoming a Gentile ancestor of Jesus. (Matthew 1:5)
The significance of the hem explains the deeper meaning of David secretly cutting off a portion of the robe of King Saul while Saul stood near him in a cave. (I Samuel 24:4) Saul was pursuing David to kill him, and David could have killed Saul, thereby ending Saul's lineage. David made it clear to Saul that he was not trying to kill the king. Before this event, the prophet Samuel told Saul that the Lord had rejected his kingship. (I Samuel 15:27) As Samuel turned to leave, Saul grasped at the hem of his robe, tearing it. Samuel told Saul that the Lord had torn the kingdom (and symbolically his lineage) from him.
When you mention "the Hem of His garment" the first thing that springs to mind is the story of the woman with a long-time illness who simply touched the hem of the robe of Jesus. She believed she would be healed if all she did was to touch the very hem of his garment. (Matthew 9:20-22) Jesus sensed that touch in the middle of a crowd of people and told her that her faith had healed her.
The most glorious use of this picture of the lineage found in the hem of a man’s robe is found in Isaiah chapter six. The prophet had a vision of the Lord on His throne. Isaiah says the train, or hem, of His robe filled the entire Temple. Here is a picture of the lineage of God. There are so many people in the Lord’s family named in “the Hem of His robe” that it filled the entire Temple! (Isaiah 6:1) What a blessing to be part of the family of God. Praise His name, always!