King James Bible Dictionary

Of a garment, the fringe of a garment. The Jews attached much importance to these, because of the regulations in Numbers 15:38, 39. These borders or fringes were in process of time enlarged so as to attract special notice (Matthew 23:5). The hem of Christ's garment touched (9:20; 14:36; Luke 8:44).

HEM, noun

1. The border of a garment, doubled and sewed to strengthen it and prevent the raveling of the threads.

2. Edge; border. Matthew 9:20.

3. A particular sound of the human voice, expressed by the word hem

HEM, verb transitive To form a hem or border; to fold and sew down the edge of cloth to strengthen it.

1. To border; to edge.

All the skirt about

Was hemm'd with golden fringe.

To hem in, to inclose and confine; to surround; to environ. The troops were hemmed in by the enemy. Sometimes perhaps to hem about or round, may be used in a like sense.

HEM, verb intransitive To make the sound expressed by the word hem