What Does The Bible Say About Tattoos?

What does the Bible say about tattoos? Is it ok for Christians to get a tattoo? Pastors Josh and Katie Walters explain what the Bible says about tattoos.

[get_established]

God surely does not judge your outward appearance but your inner appearance and your walk with him... Your relationship with Christ Jesus is what matters and living your life accordingly to God's word.

[nehemiahobongono]

Why is the word tattoo used directly in Leviticus? But not in the scripture you used in Revelations? Do you think that may have been a stretch to say the Lord has a name *tattooed* on His thigh? I’m not necessarily against or for tattoos I’m quite in the middle about it, like I want one but I’m also determined to know the truth about them according to the word of God

[grantgallie]

Ok my friends: The reason we are allowed to get a tattoo today in 2024 if we want to is because you can't take the verse they quoted from the old testament and directly apply it to your life, and you can't apply it to someone else's life today and say they are breaking a commandment because we are not in the context of why it was given to the Israelites because it was to do with worship of idols not to do with getting a mark on your body. And for the person who wrote " it is written well and clear that we shouldn't mark our bodies" is misguided in the way she is applying that scripture she is putting herself in the place of the Israelites back then and imagining that God is speaking to her in the same context, this is a faulty way of applying that scripture for us today. Also the reason it's not sin to get their grandparents names tattooed on them is because there is no verse forbidding tattoos so it's Christians free will to get one if they want or not... Do we serve a God who likes art do we serve a God who likes creative stuff? Wouldn't a tattoo with a cross on your arm be glorification to God? Wouldn't you be able to reach more people if you had a Christian tattoo on your arm as a way of a starting point of a conversation about God if someone asked you what is the meaning of that tattoo?

[samuelshlomo]

Here is the scripture where it is found in the Torah.
NKJ Leviticus 19:28 `You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD (Lev. 19:28 NKJ)

1. Cuttings - ‎ In Hebrew שֶׂ֣רֶט (Lev. 19:28) pronounced Sa’ret. Meaning incision or scratch drawing of blood. Make gashes in oneself (a pagan mourning ritual) inflict a wound on oneself (KBL), injure oneself grievously, badly

2. Tattoo- In Hebrew ‎ קַֽעֲקַ֔ע (Lev. 19:28) pronounced ka’ahka. Meaning incision drawing blood, and imprintment.This word only occurs once in the whole of the Tanach (Old Testament),


3. Marks In Hebrew כּתֹ֫בֶת (Lev. 19:28) pronounced k’tovet. Meaning writing, inscription (mark or sign)


When we read the Scriptures we switch our biased thoughts off. We enter reading the scriptures in neutral mode. We do not force our biased opinions and prejudice on the Scriptures. To change an error in our thinking is the hardest thing to do. But to live our life in a lie destroys you and negatively impacts and destroys other innocent people who interact with you. So choose life in Him and follow His way, not your way. If we cannot do the smallest things for Elohim (God) and our Mashiach (Messiah) how can you do the largest things for Him! The largest things are made up of the smallest things. So if you fail at the smallest things you will never be able to do the large things for Him. If you fail the First Commandment - which you shall Love Him with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might/willpower you will never be able to keep the rest; and your understanding of His words become corrupted with arrogance and prideful understanding and not His. We must never place our will, our understanding, and our interpretation of the scriptures above YaHVaH Elohim (God) and our Mashiach( Messiah).
Shalom
Samuel

[DrGreg]

The word tattoo comes from Polynesian word "Tattau" and it means tap. They used to use a tapping technique for tattooing

[con_boy]

Even tattooists think certain things curse you. Like if you ask for your partners name they will usually refuse as it's "bad luck"

[ranganaiernestvembo-zzor]

God made us perfect and He said it was good

[joelperez]

I'm still a little confused. Wouldn't having your grandparent's names tatted be a sin? I'm genuinely curious.

[justanorton]

If there is not a commandment for doing it, why would you want too? Why even tempt to walk through muddy water? If it’s not clear just abstain, but don’t judge others.

[PeterBornAgain]

*Leviticus 19:28*

*You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.*

[lalhmelthra]

Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Proverbs 30:5‭-‬6 KJV

[jamesdodson]

But are they not things of this world which we are to separate ourselves from being like and if the pagans were doing this why was the example still carried out to this day . Our bodies are fine the way they are as God created, is this signifying what he created wasn’t good enough. I guess this is where and why we have free will to make choices and create emotional decisions to fit our agendas to justify in our own eyes what is correct even is the Bible says different

[kate]

That is your interpretation. But in all sense it is written well and clear that you shouldn't put any mark on your bodies. It is the dwelling place of the holy spirit. It is the house of the Lord.. if you encrypt any markings on your body, that's not going to make God glad about it. Obedience that is what we should do not when it is convenient for most people. In the end you can justify anything

[bm.]

God revealed to me himself that it’s wrong to get a tattoo. Also just read properly. It clearly states on his word….. 1.Do not make any cuts for the dead 2.OR tattoo yourselves. It doesn’t say it’s only as long as it not an idol🤦🏾‍♂️

[CreatingWithTheCreator]

i really want a reminder one on my wrist or finger that says Gods greater than the highs and lows so i can always look down and remember it but i also dont want to do anything to harm my body like that

[augustinerynthathiang]

If tattoo is a sin
What about ears GOD didn't make any holes on it but we spoils it by making holes and permanent marking

[PBerning]

My husband is a Bible scholar who works in the original languages. Here is the information on Leviticus 19:

Leviticus 19:28 (NASB) says, "28 You shall not make any cuts in your [a] body for the [b] dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord."
Footnotes:
a) Leviticus 19:28 Lit flesh
b) Leviticus 19:28 Lit soul

The Septuagint is the OT in Greek, which Jesus and all the New Testament writers quoted. In the Septuagint, the word for "cuts" has the definitions of "incisions, gashes".

The alternate word that the NASB notes for "dead" is soul. This is because in both Biblical Hebrew and Greek, the word used here actually describes Adam coming to life in Genesis 2, where it says Adam became a living soul. So even though the Old King James translated it as "dead, " and some translations have followed this, it cannot properly be translated as "dead" for none of the words for dead in the original languages are used here. Therefore, it says specifically do NOT cut your flesh as part of your life.

Other alternate words for it are "breath, life, spirit, soul, hear"

The words "tattoo marks" come from two words. One meaning "that which is drawn" and the other meaning "punctured." This describes tattoos precisely from that time and in these times. They are images drawn and punctured INTO the skin.

Tattoos: images drawn and punctured into the skin are forbidden.
Cuts: Incision, gashes, into the skin/flesh are forbidden. The Bible says that the life is in the blood.

[nicolajane]

I had a spiritual tatoltoo that means of inner strength that God gives me.

[Diana-xmdm]

Exodus 20:4
New King James Version

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth

Marantha

[vwdnhrx]

what if you have a tattoo representing god or depicting his will