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Tattoos have been around for millennia. People got them at least five thousand years ago. Today they’re common everywhere from Maori communities in New Zealand to office parks in Ohio. But in the ancient Middle East, the writers of the Hebrew Bible forbade tattooing. Per Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.”
Historically, scholars have often understood this as a warning against pagan practices of mourning. But language scholar John Huehnergard and ancient-Israel expert Harold Liebowitzargue that tattooing was understood differently in ancient times.
Huehnergard and Liebowitz note that the appearance of the ban on incisions—or tattoos—comes right after words clearly related to mourning, perhaps confirming the original theory. And yet, looking at what’s known about death rituals in ancient Mesopotamia, Syria, Israel, and Egypt, they find no references to marking the skin as a sign of mourning. They also note that there are other examples in Leviticus and Exodus where two halves of a verse address different issues. So that could be the case here, too.
What tattoos were apparently often used for in ancient Mesopotamia was marking enslaved people (and, in Egypt, as decorations for women of all social classes). Egyptian captives were branded with the name of a god, marking them as belongings of the priests or pharaoh. But devotees might also be branded with the name of the god they worshiped.
Huehnergard and Liebowitz suggest that, given the key role of the escape from Egyptian bondage in ancient Jewish law, the Torah originally banned tattooing because it was “the symbol of servitude.” Interestingly, though, they write that there’s one other apparent reference to tattooing in the Hebrew Bible. 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.
Ancient rabbinic debates produced a variety of different theories about the meaning of the prohibition on tattooing. Some authorities believed that tattoos were only disallowed if they had certain messages, such as the name of God, the phrase “I am the Lord,” or the name of a pagan deity. Talmudic law developed around 200 CE says that a tattoo is only disallowed if it is done “for the purpose of idolatry”—but not if it’s intended to mark a person’s enslaved status.
The meaning of the prohibition on tattooing may have shifted over time, of course. But in ancient times, it might never have been about mourning practices at all.
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Resources
JSTOR is a digital library for scholars, researchers, and students. JSTOR Daily readers can access the original research behind our articles for free on JSTOR.
By: John Huehnergard and Harold Liebowitz
Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 63, Fasc. 1 (2013), pp. 59-77
Brill
FAQs
But in the ancient Middle East, the writers of the Hebrew Bible forbade tattooing. Per Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.” Historically, scholars have often understood this as a warning against pagan practices of mourning.
Where in the Bible does it say we should not get a tattoo? ›
The Bible warns against tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 (Amplified) which says, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”
Why do Christians not allow tattoos? ›
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.
Did Apostle Paul have a tattoo? ›
Paul's body was marked (tattooed) against his will, He wrote in Galatians: “I bear in my body the marks of Jesus.” How did he get them?
Are tattoos blasphemy? ›
Although these expressions of appreciation may be done with good intentions, for most religions, tattoos are considered forms of blasphemy rather than respect. The Christian Bible reads in Leviticus 19:28: “Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos.
What are the best Bible verses for tattoos? ›
The most popular verses used in tattoo designs include John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son"), Philippians 4:13 ("I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"), Proverbs 3:5-6 ("Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding"), and Isaiah 41:10 ("Fear ...
Can you not pray with a tattoo? ›
If a tattoo is located in a place that can be covered, it is recommended to keep it concealed during prayer as a sign of respect and modesty. This practice aligns with the broader Islamic principle of covering the body appropriately in acts of worship.
What does the Bible say about touching yourself? ›
Like we mentioned above, the Bible never specifically mentions pleasuring yourself. It does, however, contain plenty of counsel and advice about how believers are meant to live a chaste and virtuous life, to strive to be like the Savior, Jesus Christ, and do what He would do.
Does the Bible say anything about cremation? ›
According to most Biblical study websites, there is no explicit scriptural command for or against cremation. There are no passages that forbid cremation, according to most Biblical scholars. However, some passages describe standard death practices during these times.
Is it against God to get a tattoo? ›
It depends on who you ask. There are some Christians who believe it is a sin. The verse in the Bible that most Christians make reference to is Leviticus 19:28, which says,"You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord." So, why is this verse in the Bible?
Christian tattoos represent the collectors Christian faith. Symbols that represent this are the cross or a Biblical scene, especially depicting Jesus Christ or angels. Crosses can be small and plac…
Is having a piercing a sin? ›
The Bible does not explicitly address body piercings. Some Christian interpretations suggest that body piercings may be seen as sinful based on Leviticus 19:28. Others argue that body piercings are a form of personal expression and not inherently sinful.
Who has a tattoo of Jesus on their calf? ›
Justin Bieber Gets Jesus' Face Tattooed On His Tiny Calf -- Here's Your Daily Gossip. Julianne Hough shows off her bikini bod in St. Barts with Ryan Seacrest.
Who originally had tattoos? ›
In 2018, the oldest figurative tattoos in the world were discovered on two mummies from Egypt which are dated between 3351 and 3017 BCE. Ancient tattooing was widely practiced among the Austronesian people.
Did Romans get tattoos? ›
In Western culture, tattoos find roots in the Roman Empire. Roman soldiers were tattooed with permanent dots—the mark of SPQR, or Senatus Populusque Romanus—and used as a means of identification and membership in a certain unit.
Are piercings a sin? ›
The Bible does not explicitly address body piercings. Some Christian interpretations suggest that body piercings may be seen as sinful based on Leviticus 19:28. Others argue that body piercings are a form of personal expression and not inherently sinful.
Do not tattoo Bible verse NKJv? ›
You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD. 'Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry, and the land become full of wickedness.
What does the Bible say about makeup? ›
When we put on makeup, we need to careful that it doesn't become an idol. Scripture warns us that we should never focus so much on the outside appearance at the cost of neglecting our insides. When we do—it leads to more believe more lies, creates self-worth issues, and more sin.
