Tattoos were forbidden in Leviticus 19:28 primarily to set the Israelites apart from neighboring pagan nations, specifically prohibiting rituals associated with mourning, idolatry, and marking oneself as a servant to false gods. The law aimed to keep the body holy and, to some scholars, prohibited marks signifying ownership or allegiance to other deities or past slavery in Egypt.
There is a verse in the Old Testament law that forbade the Israelites from getting tattoos and piercings in Leviticus 19:28. The reason was that the pagan nations were doing it to honor false gods and idols and God wanted His own people to be different and stand out.
Sometimes people read a statement about tattoos in the Old Testament and wonder if it applies today. The Mosaic covenant has been terminated with the death of Christ, and we are now under the new covenant. Therefore, this law from the Mosaic covenant is not directly binding on us today.
Where in the Bible does it say you are not allowed to have tattoos?
The pertinent passage is Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.” Let's look at this passage in context, both its immediate and broader context.
Since the word tattoo did not come into the English language until the 18th century, the literal translation of the Bible does not write tattoo at any point.
John MacArthur - What does the Bible say about Tattoos? Is it a sin to get a tattoo?
Does the Bible say Jesus had a tattoo?
So when we understand that Jesus was a faithful Jewish man, we can know that he probably didn't have a tattoo actually on his thigh and he won't when he comes as John saw in revelation 19.
Second Corinthians 5:21 tells us, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” So, we don't have to depend on abstaining from tattoos for our purity anymore. Getting a tattoo is not a sin.
2 Chronicles 36:8 has led certain commentators throughout history to believe that Jehoiakim was actually tattooed. The famous 11th-century Jewish commentator Rashi (known for his pithy commentary on the Hebrew Bible), writes simply: “'Which was found on him': A tattooed writing.”
Isaiah 44:5 describes the children of Jacob committing themselves to God: “One shall say, 'I am the LORD's'… Another shall mark his arm 'of the LORD. '” Here a tattoo appears to be allowable as a sign of submission, not to a human master but to God.
According to Galatians 3:13, as Christians, we are no longer bound by the demands of the Old Testament law and are instead free to pursue righteousness because of the atoning blood of Christ. This includes Leviticus 11:7.
The Bible was written in specific cultural and historical context, some verses like this one were addressing specific practices of that time. Marking one's body back then was often associated with pagan rituals or mourning the dead or worshipping false gods.
It comes down to your heart. Leviticus 19:28 says You shall not make any cuts on your body [in mourning] for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves; I am the Lord. In other scriptures, God punished the Israelites for wearing earrings because they were doing it at a feast to the idol, Baal.
Tattoos can transform how you perceive and present yourself to the world. Many people report feeling more confident and comfortable in their own skin after getting meaningful artwork permanently added to their bodies. This confidence boost stems from the sense of ownership and personal expression that tattoos provide.
It was simply obvious that Christians shouldn't get tattoos because it directly contradicted Scripture. The Old Testament book of Leviticus clearly says, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD." (Lev. 19:28 NIV) For many Christians, that ends the discussion.
A: If you are looking for Bible verses that have personal significance, consider verses such as "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13), "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10), "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31), "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the ...
What is the significance of putting a hand under the thigh in the Bible?
In Genesis 24:2–9 Abraham has his servant Eliezer put his hand under the Patriarch's thigh to swear “by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth” that the servant will not arrange a marriage for Abraham's son Isaac with a Canaanite woman.
Christianity. Some Christians take issue with tattooing, upholding the Hebrew prohibition. The Hebrew prohibition is based on interpreting Leviticus 19:28—"Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you"—so as to prohibit tattoos.
It is an expression of deep gratitude and devotion to the One who bore our sins and opened the gates of Heaven. Spiritually, kissing the crucifix is also a form of reparation—an act of sorrow for our sins and for the sins of the world.
The process of getting a tattoo breaks the skin. That means skin infections and other health problems can develop afterward. The risks include: Allergic reactions.
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have been hostile to the use of tattoos, but many religions, in particular Buddhism and Hinduism, make extensive use of them. This article examines their use as tools for protection and devotion.
