Tattoos and Body Piercing
know this next topic will be a very sensitive one for many in this day and age. As you all know, many people like to get different types of tattoos and body piercing put on the different parts of their bodies.
You will see people getting tattoos on just about any part of the human anatomy, even on their most intimate, personal, and private parts. The same goes with the different types of body piercing. You have people getting piercing on their noses, navels, eyelids, nipples, tongues, and genitalia.
For those of you who are really wanting to know what the Lord may think about this issue, I would challenge each and everyone of you to go before Him in prayer and ask for His direct opinion on this matter. I know there is a bit of a rift in the Body on this issue right now.
On the one side are those who believe that God’s command back to the Jewish people in the Book of Leviticus no longer applies to any of us in this day and age since we are now operating under a New Covenant with Jesus and we are now no longer under the law, but under grace. On the other side are those who believe that this command still applies to everyone in this day and age, and that God has not changed His mind on this issue.
For what is worth, we are going to give you our opinion on this subject. In addition to the verse from Leviticus, I believe there are several other verses that you have to match up with that one to get what God’s opinion may really be on this issue.
Again, we do not want to get dogmatic on this issue. This is just our own personal interpretation of what we feel God may be trying to tell us in these specific verses. You are each responsible for getting your own answers from the Lord on this issue.
For the record, we do not believe the Lord wants any of His people getting any kinds of tattoos or body piercing put on any parts of their body.
The Scripture Verses
I believe there are 5 key Scripture verses that need to be grouped together to get what God’s opinion may really be on this issue. I will go ahead and run them all together, and then comment on how I feel they may be shedding some light on this very controversial issue.
- “You shall not make ANY CUTTINGS IN YOUR FLESH for the dead, nor TATTOO ANY MARKS on you: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:28)
- “Do NOT think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did NOT come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:17-18)
- “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
- “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
- “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)
I believe that when you put all 5 of these verses together, one right next to the other, and then study what the Lord is trying to tell you in these verses, I believe it is possible to pick up what God’s opinion may be on this very controversial issue.
Commentary
1. The very first verse is from the Book of Leviticus back in the Old Testament. God was telling His chosen people what they could and could not do in their personal relationship and interaction with Him. As we all know, God gave them quite a bit of rules, regulations, and commandments that He wanted them to abide by. This one particular command was one of them.
Notice this verse specifically isolates not only tattoos, but any “cuttings on the flesh,” which I believe relates to all of the different types of body piercing people are now getting these days.
Also note that God was referring to them making any kinds of tattoos or cuttings in their flesh “for the dead.” Back in those days, many people had the practice of marking up their bodies with tattoos and different types of cuttings as a way of mourning and paying respect for those who had just passed on.
God the Father was flat out telling His own people that they were not to engage in this type of activity. Notice that God uses the word “any” tattoos and “any” cuttings” in their flesh. He was not cutting them any slack on this issue – and He was wanting absolutely no cuttings or tattoos of any kind, shape, or form put anywhere on their bodies.
If God was telling them that He was not wanting any kinds of tattoos or body piercing put on their bodies as a way of mourning for the dead, then I also believe that you can extrapolate off this command and assume that God did not want them doing this for any other possible reason, whether it be for the dead or not.
The wording is just too strong in this verse to think that God was only referring to doing this as a way of mourning for the dead. I believe the tone and intensity of these words are showing us that God did not want His chosen people to be doing this for any reason whatsoever.
These people were being called to be God’s special chosen people. They were being called to become separate from the things and ways of this world – especially from some of the pagan practices of many of the people who were still inhabiting parts of their Promised Land.
If God the Father did not want His special chosen people back in the Old Testament to be putting on any kinds of tattoos and cuttings in their flesh, does He still have that same opinion today with all of His New Testament believers? I believe that He does, and this will now lead us into the second verse above.
2. In this second verse above, Jesus Himself is telling us that He did not come to do away with the laws of His Father and the prophets. He says that these laws and commandments are still in effect until “all is fulfilled,” which I believe refers to when we get the New Heaven and New Earth after the 1000 Year Millennium Kingdom has passed.
Notice that Jesus says “till heaven and earth pass way.” These words perfectly describe what will happen when we get the New Heaven and the New Earth as described in the Book of Revelation. It says that our earth and heaven as we know it now will pass away, and in its place we will be getting a new heaven and a new earth. Until this glorious, final event actually occurs, Jesus is telling us that all of the laws and commandments of His Father are still in full play.
This means that all 10 of the commandments are still in effect, along with all of the commands on engaging with any parts of the occult and homosexuality. Unless the New Testament specifically does away with some of these specific laws and commands back from the Old Testament, I believe that we have to assume that God still wants all of us to abide by them. And this command that we are not to tattoo or cut into any part of our flesh still applies to everyone in this day and age.
The Bible says that God does not change, that He is the same today as He was yesterday. If God the Father is telling us that homosexuality and anything to do with the occult are abominations in His sight back in the Old Testament, then He is not going to be changing His mind just because we are in New Testament times.
Granted, we are no longer under the law, but under grace in our New Covenant with Jesus. But this does not mean we can start engaging in activities that were expressly forbidden by His Father back in the Old Testament. As Jesus has stated in the above verse, all of the moral laws from His Father have not been done away with at this time, and they will not all be done away with until we get our New Heaven and New Earth. And until that even happens, I believe God wants all of us to do our best to abide by them.
So if God the Father was not wanting His chosen people back in the Old Testament to be putting on any types of tattoos or cutting into any parts of their flesh, does this same command still apply to all of us in this day and age? I believe that it does, and these next three verses will tell us why.
3. The last three verses listed above are all telling us that our bodies have now become the temple of God’s Holy Spirit. Notice that God is specifically telling us that it is our human physical bodies that have now become the temple of His Holy Spirit.
Think of the ramifications of this statement – that since our human physical bodies are now literally carrying the Holy Spirit Himself on the inside of us once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, that God is now telling us that our physical bodies have now become the actual “temple” of His Holy Spirit.
Notice in the last verse that God is using the words “defiles the temple of God,” and that anyone who attempts to defile His holy temple will be destroyed. God then ends this statement with talking about our physical bodies being the temple of His Holy Spirit. In other words, God does not want our temples, which are our physical bodies, to be defiled in any way, shape, and form. Is putting any kind of tattoo or body piercing on our physical bodies a form of defilement with the Lord? I believe that it may be.
Also consider this fact. The Jewish people did not have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of them back in the OT. Jesus had not yet come to die for all of our sins, so the Holy Spirit was not living on the inside of the Jewish people like He is now doing with all New Testament believers. This means that the physical bodies of the Jewish people back in those days were not considered to be actual temples of the Lord since they did not have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of them.
So if God the Father is telling His chosen people that He did not want them tattooing or putting any kinds of cuttings into their flesh – and their bodies were not even considered to be the temple of His Holy Spirit back in those Old Testament times – then how much more seriously should this command be taken by all New Testament believers, since all of our bodies are now considered to be the actual temple of the Holy Spirit?
As the above verses are telling us, our bodies have now become the temple of the Lord Himself. We are no longer our own. As a result, we should be doing everything we can to glorify our God – which includes glorifying Him in our bodies as the second last verse above is telling us to do. Marking up our bodies with the different kinds of tattoos and body piercing may not be what the Lord had in mind when He is telling us to glorify Him in both our bodies and our spirits.
Again, you will each have to get your own interpretation as to what all of these verses are trying to tell us.
Conclusion
As I said at the top of this article, each Christian will be responsible for getting their own direct answer from the Lord on this very controversial issue. I believe that when you put all 5 of the above Scripture verses together side by side, the answer might be in the correct interpretation of these verses.
Without question, the last three verses listed above are telling us that our physical bodies are now considered to be the temple of our living God since we now carry His Holy Spirit on the inside of us.
I believe that our physical bodies are now more sacred, more precious, and more special in the Lord’s eyes than the four physical walls of any church may be since God is now calling our bodies His actual temple.
And just as we would never consider marking up or defacing any parts of an actual Christian Church building – in the same way I do not believe that our Lord wants us defacing or marking up any parts of our physical bodies. This is why I believe God made sure to put this specific command in His Word.
When God is using the words “any” tattoos and “any” kinds of cuttings in the flesh, He is not making any exceptions with this kind of activity. I personally believe that God is letting all of us know, loud and clear, that He does not want any of us marking up our bodies with these kinds of defilement.
As a side note, I will leave you with a personal testimony from a good close friend who went to God after she had got her navel pierced. When she first called me up to tell me what she had done, I told her about the above verses. However, I told her not to take my word or opinion about this. I told her to go direct to God the Father to get His direct opinion on the matter.
She did, and shortly thereafter God came through loud and clear for her. He told her that He did not approve of it and that He wanted it removed. The revelation she received back from Him was that He was looking at this piercing like a smudge mark or dirt mark on her physical body.
When she called me back up and told me what she had received, I received an immediate vision in my mind’s eye of a young 5 year old boy coming back into his parent’s house. He had just fallen into a mud hole and he had mud caked all of over his face.
I then saw the mother have an immediate and instinctive reaction to want to go and get a wash cloth to wash all of the mud off his face. Can you imagine a mother just sitting there letting her child have all of that mud remain on his face for the rest of the day? I believe that God may be having the same kind of reaction to many of His own when they start putting tattoos and different kinds of body piercing on various parts of their bodies.
Again, this testimony is a personal and private testimony. You will each have to get your own witness on it, as well as getting your own interpretation on the above verses from our Bible.
I will leave you with one last challenge on this issue:
For those of you who have a good ability to pick up an inner witness from the Holy Spirit on many different matters in your life, simply tap in and see what kind of inner witness you get from Him once you entertain the thought of wanting to put any kind of tattoo on your body, or make an attempt to want to put any kind of body piercing in your navel, tongue, eyelids, or to any parts of your genitalia – knowing full well that you carry His presence right there on the inside of your physical body.
What kind of witness do you get from the Holy Spirit when you tap in to see what His opinion may really be on this kind of a matter?
My own inner witness tells me that He does not want us getting any kinds of tattoos or cuttings done on our bodies – and that if we do, it is a form of defilement since our bodies are now His Holy Temple.
We have had quite a few people write in asking our opinion on this matter since this is still such a popular trend and fad in our society. For what it is worth, all of the above is our own personal opinion on this matter and the biblical reasons as to why we feel this way.
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Michael Bradley
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Well thought-out article.
I think how we carry out Old Testament commandments today needs to be re-examined however. Some commandments that were to set the Israelites apart, some were for protection, some were moral laws, and many were some type of combination of the three. This needs to be further examined to better support your arguments.
I just finished a detailed study on it here.
http://www.quickenme.com/can-christians-get-tattoos-according-to-the-bible/
Also, the Israelites were commanded to pierce the ear of a bondservant who wanted to stay a slave for life (Ex 21:6). The Israelite where also commanded to be circumcised of course. Both these are cutting of the flesh.
well i dont want to see you eating any fast food. that will destroy your body fast. Now since were going old school cant have chees burgers either. you cant pick what parts you want to enforce mand its all or nothing.
Defilement? ok lets take all the paintings and pics out of churches. i decorate my body with tattoos not defile it. you article is biased on your opinion. i work out not to be sexy at 38 but to stay healthy and weight loss is a side effect of that. not you testimony you left us with aboutthe navel ring? maybe she got it for the wrong reasons, to be sexy, or maybe she idlolized it..maybe that vision was for her not everyone.
so does your familiy have earings? did your kids fall and get scars? does you have a surgey scar? that, according to the “vision” is a blemish. Id much rather have a tatoo that get circumsized with a knife, thats a big juicy scar. Were not jews and that is a Jew custom. Nowadays its a medical concern so its done everyday.
i get looks from folks when they see im a Rev Marc Bz, cause they think i should be wearing Kakis and a polo shirt every day. is there a Jesus dress code? or was it come as you are? I have an outreach to the homless should i make them bath first? where would Jesus be if he came today, in fancy churches or in the bars and streets with those hurtin?
You gotta look past social stigmas and teach folks how to have a relationship with Christ..
there are things the Bibles says we can do but if it aint good for us we have to stop it. Drinking is one of those, if done in excess and it controls you then dont. But i wont drink in front of a brother and make him fall if is recoving. We can eat all things as it was revealed to Peter and so does that me we can pig out? no.
SO are Tattoos bad in general or when taken to an extreme? and then what is extreme. all i know is that my body is healed after 2 weeks and is fine. its not destroyed. Now my mo says “u can get Hep C or worse and die” Man i can get sick eating chicken from Wendys and have 6 inches of colon removed like my sisters friend did from salmonella.
Truth is i reach the group that God uses me to and by looking the way i do it actually gets thier attentions quicker and they heed waht i say casue they can relate. I can reach folks you cant. and you can reach folks that would shut down when i walked in. But inthe end were all getting folks saved..
Marc bz said it perfectly. Lots of things destroy our temples. Tattoos are just looked down upon as the mark of satan. What about religious tattoos? I had a friend who saw a demon until he got his cross tattoo and now he leaves him alone.
I know plenty of godly men and women with tattoos and piercings. Is God going to turn them down because they got a tattoo? I don’t think so. I think the motivation for getting the piece could come into play here but I guess I think that God loves all people. If a person gets a tattoo it is between them and God. The rest of the world and so called Christians do not need to sit and judge them for what they chose to do. What if they got them before they turned to God? Does that mean they are marked and forever going to be rejected by God because of it?
Overall, this is a well thought out artical, I just do not agree.
Great guidance scriptures.
I don’t see why this topic has to be discussed so much. Scriptures clearly show that god does not want his ppl to mark their skins wit tattoos. Its not a question of christians being judgemental. True christians know that there is only one judge.As for those persons who got their tattoos before they were saved, we all know that once we accept christ, repent for all our sins,and go down into water baptism,all of our sins are washed away and we become a new person in christ. As for those who are claiming to be christians and contemplating getting a tattoo, u need to check yourself and re-evaluate your relationship with god. After all, if god says, NO MARKINS WHATSOEVER, who are u to try to analyse and compramise on God’s word which is the same yesterday, today and forever more.And for all of those mis-informed ppl out there,i would like to say that christianity is not a religion its a way of life and a life which tries to mirror christ as much as possible.I should think that Jesus would never even contemplate getting a tattoo. As far as opinions go, god give us all a choice.Personally i prefer to go with god’s written and documented word. I’ll not defile my temple or encourage any one around me to do so with tattoos
Good article, in depth. and I do agree with what you’re saying – that the law does not change, that christ did not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it.
but seriously, if we’re going to take leviticus 19:28 right out of the chapter – stick it next to a few verses from the new testament , etc and say that it is still relavent to us today, therefore don’t get tattoos and piercings
THEN
by our own declarations we should also be taking the rest of leviticus 19 and applying that directly as has been done in this article with verse 28. Somehow I don’t think it lines up when we look at that chapter in full.
verse 19 for example…
“Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.”
“Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.”
verse 27…
“Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard”
I don’t see how we can say that verse 28 by its self must be taken as direct law to us in this day and age, yet ignore the other verses.
I wanted to read up on the subject of piercings from a biblical perspective because I’m planning on getting my tragus pierced tomorrow. Normally I would agree with an article like this, but I don’t think we can make exceptions for things like earlobes if we’re going to say no to other parts of the ear or body. Sure, certain private places on our bodies really shouldn’t be pierced or tattooed by other people because they’re sacred in general, but I would have to say that a piercing is no worse than a shot as far as the pain, and no worse than a piece of removable jewelry as far as appearances.
However I will always respect and revere the teachings of the Bible; this just so happens to be my interpretation of the text.
Hello everyone. I am a believer who has been pierced many times and have about 10 hours worth of tattoo work on my body. I need to give you my testimony. Firstly, why did we get tattoos and piercings in the first place? For me personally, it was because I enjoyed going through the pain and then seeing that their was something beautiful that came out of it. I would look back on my tattoos and piercings as a sign of accomplishment and it was beautiful to me. One day at my old job, a lady told me about what the bible says about tattoos and piercings and I just blew her off because she loved to gossip and I didn’t see her walking with the Lord. Still, God’s Word is God’s Word.
Let me ask you this. Can you imagine Jesus having a tattoo or piercing? Why would he ever get one? He KNEW His body was a temple of the Holy Ghost, just like us. I believe Jesus treated His body with respect and reverence for God the Father.
This started to disturb me in my walk. There were a lot of things I was lukewarm about. I was living with my boyfriend at the time, who is now my husband. I still drank on occasion and smoked cigarettes in moderation and I was a proud advocate of marijuana and smoked on a daily basis. Marijuana clouded my thinking on a lot of things, and it wasn’t until Jesus delivered me from my marijuana addiction (mental addiction, not a physical one) was I able to truly see I was not living for the Lord. I loved Him and I prayed when I was afraid, or when I was thankful, and sometimes I would pick up my guitar and sing praises. Every time I would sing to Him, I felt this overwhelming guilt. I gave up marijuana and cigarettes and drinking to get drunk. Then my husband and I were married. Lots of deliverance from fear and anxiety happened once these took place, but their was still something I couldn’t put my finger on.
My son and I were wrestling around one day and he caught his hand in my earring, an industrial piercing. For those who do not know, it is a bar that goes through the cartilage in the ear and takes up a large amount of space. It was painful and got infected and I had to take it out. I noticed after that, my dreams were more pleasant at night and I didn’t have nearly as much demonic mind attack when I went to sleep. I asked the Lord what happened and He said, “Take your others out.” I had my tragus pierced and I really did not want to part with it for I loved that piercing. I asked God for the strength and desire to take it out, and when I did, I felt an IMMEDIATE lifting of something dark. It was on my shoulders, I will never forget. It was something with both hands on my shoulders holding me down. I remember after that feeling much more free in sharing my love for Jesus to others. I used to be afraid and would sometimes “crack jokes” that would make people laugh. Sometimes they would be PG-13, having something sexual to them, but nothing horrendous. I completely stopped doing that. I have also since then have been memorizing the battle verses on this website for deliverance from my past. I never read this article until today, and I still had just three piercings left, all in my ears. The ones I had when I was a baby, and one other one I had on my ear lobe. I didn’t want to take these out and again had to ask the Lord to put it in my heart because I don’t want to be selfish anymore.
He gave me the peace to take them all out, and His peace just covered me and I felt like He was cradling me. I said, “God what about all my tattoos?? What do I do?” He said, “What satan has for evil, I can turn it around for good.”
I had my labre, tragus, industrial, 8 other ear piercings, tongue and belly button, and of course my 10 hours of tattoos.
God really took me on a journey and part of my deliverance has been to get these out. I really feel like God was wanting to take them out ever since I put them in. What really makes me happy is how much it pleased my Father to take them all out. It has taken me years, slowly. Today I took out the last 3, and He held me and said, “Thank you daughter”
I would like to point out Ezekiel 16:12… As well as Genesis 24:22. God gave Israel a nose ring as a sign of submission. I honestly believe its about the heart, where the heart lies in wanting the piercing. If it is out of rebellion, anger, bitterness, conceit, or hostility, then no. It should not be done. If its done with humility, submission, or as a symbol of commitment to God (or her husband)… If her heart is pure… How and why would it be a sin?
you sit here and say that piercings and tattoos are not right but what about the part in revelations 19:16 where is says that Jesus comes back bearing a tattoo on high thigh that says king of kings?!
TATTOOS & THE BIBLE
WHAT ABOUT LEVITICUS 19:28?
Leviticus 19:28 is the Christian (or so-called Christian?) tattooist and tattoo-bearer’s worst nightmare. The Lord plainly, clearly, strongly, and without a doubt – condemns the tattoo.
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:28
Could that be any more clear?
“Ye shall not. . .print any marks upon you. . .”
Simple. . . Straightforward. . .Settled. . .
God Said It. . . I Believe It. . . That Settles It. . .
Right. . .?
Not hardly. . .
The clear statement from the word of God does not settle anything for this generation of disobedient, carnal, worldy, tolerant, non-judgmental, Christians. Rather than obey God, they run miles and miles and miles to “justify” their open disobedience to the Word of God.
How do they get around Leviticus 19:28?
Clearly, there it is. “Ye shall not. . .print any marks upon you. . .”
A lot of Christians when confronted with Leviticus 19:28, scream, “Hey dude, that’s not for today. Man, that’s the Old Testament. I’m under the New Testament”.
Did you know that “bestiality” (sicko, perverted, sex with an animal) was ONLY forbidden in the Old Testament Levitical Law? Only in Leviticus 18:23 and Leviticus 20:15-16. Dude, only in the Old Testament Law. Does that mean a Holy God NOW – under the New Testament, approves of bestiality?
By the way, have you ever read Leviticus 19:29? The verse immediately AFTER the “it’s not for me” Leviticus 19:28?
Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.
Leviticus 19:29
This is the only place in the Bible that God directly forbids someone to prostitute their daughter. And since, it’s ONLY in the Old Testament Levitical Law (and “hey, dude, we’re NOT under the law”) – it MUST be ok by the Lord for a parent to cause their daughter to prostitute.
Same sick, perverted, wicked, line of reasoning as the “it’s ONLY in the Old Testament-tattoo-bearer-wearer”. Same reasoning. . . Same disobedience. . . Same perversion of the Word of God.
There are many other “moral laws’ that are ONLY forbidden in the Old Testament, such as the human sacrifice of children. No where in the New Testament is this forbidden. Does that mean that NOW under the New Testament, God Almighty endorses throwing babies into the fire as a human sacrifice?
And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:21
Matthew Henry’s Commentary at the beginning of Leviticus 19 explains that most of Leviticus 19 (such as verse 19:28) are moral commandments that applies not only for Israel but for the New Testament Christian today.
“Some ceremonial precepts there are in this chapter, but most of them are moral. . . Most of these precepts are binding on us, for they are expositions of most of the ten commandments.”
(Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Leviticus 19:28)
IT’S ONLY “FOR THE DEAD”
But by far the Christian tattooers favorite excuse for disobeying Leviticus 19:28 is the “that means nor print any marks upon you – for the DEAD”. It’s ok, as long it’s not for the dead”. See the “for the dead!!! . .for the dead!!!!”.
Is it ok to practice satanic bloodletting, self mutilation or cutting of the flesh as long as it’s not for the dead? It’s in the same verse. . . Hmmm. . .?
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:28
Notice also, the phrase “for the dead” is ONLY referencing the “cuttings in your flesh”. The condemnation of “nor print ANY marks upon you” is not qualified by the phrase “for the dead”. Also, if you’ll notice the verse clearly says “ANY marks” period.
Merrill F. Unger’s, very popular and authoritative, Unger’s Bible Dictionary under the definition for “Mark” includes the following reference for Leviticus 19:28:
“In Lev. 19:28 we find two prohibitions of an unnatural disfigurement of the body: ‘Ye shall not make any cutting in your flesh for the dead, nor any print any marks upon you.’ The latter (Heb. qa aqa, incision) refers to tattooing, and has no reference to idolatrous usages, but was intended to inculcate upon the Israelietes a proper reverence for God’s creation.”
(Merrill F. Unger, Unger’s Bible Dictionary, 1974 ed., p. 696)
Notice that Unger teaches that tattoos were forbidden without any reference to pagan, heathen, or idolatrous usages. In other words, the tattoo itself, regardless the reason, was forbidden. Amen. Brother Unger.
Wycliffe’s Bible Encyclopedia under the definition for TATTOOING distinctly says:
“While ‘cuttings in the flesh’ have reference here to mourning customs [for the dead], the tattooing does not appear to pertain to such practice.”
(Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia, 1975 ed., p. 1664)
The New American Commentary on Leviticus 19:28 writes the condemnation was for, “cutting the body either for the dead or with tattoo marks.” (Mark F. Rooker, The New American Commentary on Leviticus, 2000 ed., p. 262) Explicitly recognizing the tattoo was not “for the dead.”
Do you see how dishonest and disobedient this “it doesn’t apply to my New-Testament-Christian-marked-for-Jesus-tattoo” is? Find what you don’t like in the Word of God, cut it out (doesn’t apply to New Testament Christians) or misapply (it’s just for the DEAD, when it’s clearly NOT). Same tactics used by the satanic cults and heretics for years. You can prove anything and everything with such deceitful methods.
THE “FORBIDDEN” HAIRCUT
One of the silliest and childish arguments to justify the Christian tattoo is the: “Hey man, do you get a haircut or trim your beard? God condemned getting a haircut or trimming your beard in the verse before forbidding the tattoo. Dude, the tattoo is the same as getting a haircut.”
Believe it or not . . . this is a widely used argument.
Leviticus 19:26-28 is a clear condemnation of pagan, witchcraft and heathen practices. Look at the context. Verse 26 is plainly referring to “enchantment [spells or witchcraft] nor observe times [astrology]. . . Verse 28 is the pagan, demonic practice of bloodletting [cuttings in your flesh] and tattooing. Why would the Lord stick in the middle a verse that “condemns simply getting a haircut”? Of course, He wouldn’t. . . And He didn’t. . .
Leviticus 19:26-28 reads:
26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
The condemnation found in verse 27 of “rounding the corners of your head” or “mar the corners of thy beard” was the forbidding of a common pagan practice that cut the hair as worship and honor of the hosts of heaven.
Here’s how Matthew Henry’s and Coffman’s Commentaries reflect on the “forbidden haircut” of Leviticus 19:27:
“Those that worshipped the hosts of heaven, in honour of them, cut their hair so as that their heads might resemble the celestial globe; but, as the custom was foolish itself, so, being done with respect to their false gods, it was idolatrous.” (Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, Leviticus 19:27)
“Herodotus tells of the use of this type of haircut, forming what is called a tonsure, as the practice of pagan religious cults of ancient times who did so honoring one of their gods.”
(Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, Leviticus 19:27)
The fact is. . . Up until a few years ago, virtually everyone, including the most liberal Christian, KNEW the tattoo was clearly forbidden by the Word of God. And throughout history, the tattoo has ALWAYS been condemned by Bible Believing Christians. Always. Every historical resource ever written on tattoos clearly confirms this fact.
“Just as occurred in other cultures with tattoo traditions, when these pagan tribes were ‘converted’ to the Christian religion, their spiritual and cultural rites (which included tattooing, piercing and scarification) were outlawed. . .”
(Jean-Chris Miller, The Body Art Book : A Complete, Illustrated Guide to Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Body Modifications, p.9)
“Whenever missionaries encountered tattooing they eradicated it.”
(Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 101)
“While these and other body modifications continued to be practiced underground as a way for non-Christian people to identify each other, God forbid you got caught and your mark was revealed.”
(Jean-Chris Miller, The Body Art Book : A Complete, Illustrated Guide to Tattoos, Piercings, and Other Body Modifications, p.11)
Up until a few years, virtually every commentary written understood Leviticus 19:28 as an open condemnation of the tattoo. The Christian acceptance of a tattoo was not even considered for serious discussion.
Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary and Explanatory on the Whole Bible writes under Leviticus 19:28
“nor print any marks upon you–by tattooing, imprinting figures of flowers, leaves, stars, and other fanciful devices on various parts of their person. The impression was made sometimes by means of a hot iron, sometimes by ink or paint, as is done by the Arab females of the present day and the different castes of the Hindus. It it probable that a strong propensity to adopt such marks in honor of some idol gave occasion to the prohibition in this verse; and they were wisely forbidden, for they were signs of apostasy; and, when once made, they were insuperable obstacles to a return.”
(Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Leviticus 19:28)
James M. Freeman in his excellent book, The New Manners & Customs of the Bible, says of Leviticus 19:28:
“Tattooing Forbidden
Both cutting and tattooing were done by the heathens, and so God forbade His people from doing so in imitation of them.”
(James M. Freeman, The New Manners & Customs of the Bible, 1998 edition, p. 157)
Coffman’s Commentary on the Old and New Testament under Leviticus 19:18 says:
“The cutting of one’s flesh also characterized pagan worship as attested by the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel in the contest with Elijah. Tattooing was also a device of paganism. . . Christians generally disapprove of tattooing, despite the fact of the widespread use of it by many even today. In the light of what God says here, and in view of the history of it, it seems strange that anyone would pay someone else to tattoo him.”
(Coffman’s Commentaries on the Old and New Testament, Leviticus 19:28)
Charles R. Erdman in his commentary on Leviticus 19:28 writes:
“The custom of tattooing was forbidden, while among all the nations of antiquity it was common.” (Charles R. Erdman, The Book of Leviticus, 1951 ed., p.93)
But Naves famous Topical Bible puts it best. Under the topic “Tattooing”, Nave’s simply and bluntly writes: “TATTOOING, forbidden, Lev. 19;28″ (Nave’s Topical Bible, p. 1312)
BUT WHAT ABOUT ISAIAH 44:5 & EZEKIEL 9:4?
I’ve seen several references by Christian tattooers who claim Isaiah 44 and Ezekiel 9 are examples of God-ordained tattoos in the Bible.
And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Ezekiel 9:4
One shall say, I am the Lord’s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
Isaiah 44:5
The following excellent explanation of Isaiah 44:5 and Ezekiel 9:4 came from a Jewish web site:
1) In Leviticus 19:28 the term used is “k’thoveth qa’aqa.” “K’thoveth” means “writing or inscription.” “Qa’aqa” comes from a root whose meaning is “to insert or to stick in.” Together, “writing that is stuck in”(see Rashi’s commentary on the verse). Jewish oral tradition explains that the verse is talking about what we refer to today as tattoos, i.e. scratching or piercing the skin and filling it in with pigment.(see the tractate “Makoth” 21a).
2) Isaiah 44:5 uses the word “yichtov” which means “will write” without the word “qa’a'qa” “to insert or to stick in.” Isaiah is not talking about tattoos. What he is saying is “…and he will write with his hand to the L-rd…” like someone who signs a contract to express his utmost commitment and obligation(see Metzudath David’s commentary on the verse).
3) Ezekiel 9:4 uses the word “tav” which means “a mark or a sign.” The man clothed with linen is going to mark the foreheads of the righteous with ink, not tattoo them!
Someone who read the verses (Isaiah 44:5 and Ezekiel 9:4) in the Hebrew original would never dream that they are referring to tattoos.
THE “TATTOOED” LORD JESUS CHRIST. . .
Some Christian tattooers go so far as claim that the Lord Jesus Christ has a tattoo!
Many Christian tattooers claim that when the Lord Jesus Christ returns in Revelation chapter 19 on a horse – He has a tattoo on his thigh!
Revelation 19:11-16 says:
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
I know you don’t believe Christians can be that deceived so here’s the proof:
“And what of Christ Himself? Twice in chapter 19, our Lord is depicted as having a name written on Him (verses 12 and 16). As unthinkable as it may be for some to picture our Lord Jesus as having a tattoo, the author of the Apocalypse had no problem with it.”
Revelation 19:16 clearly is referring to the “vesture his thigh” – “. . .he hath on his vesture and on his thigh. . .”
Can anyone with any spiritual discernment (and a brain) really believe the Lord Jesus Christ has a tattoo? Isn’t it amazing how spiritually blind someone becomes when they began to justify their disobedience to the Word of God?
But what really is frightening about this gross, perverted, wicked interpretation of a “tattooed” Jesus Christ in Revelation 19:16 – it makes the Lord Jesus Christ a SINNER!
It means the Lord Jesus CLEARLY disobeyed Leviticus 19:28! It means the Lord Jesus Christ was not Holy! He was not the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. He clearly was disobedient and broke the Leviticual Law of Leviticus 19:28!
And if the Lord Jesus Christ committed sin – everyone is either in hell or on the way to hell. There is no salvation without a sinless, spotless Lamb of God. It took a sinless, perfect, Saviour to pay for your sins.
And thank God – despite what these spiritually sicko, perverted, Christian tattooers “preach” – The Lord Jesus Christ was without sin – and without “tattoo”!
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 Peter 1:18-19
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1 Peter 2:21-22
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1 John 3:4-5
DEFILING THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD
Most Christians, even the most carnal and backslidden, would never desecrate or defile the local church building. Even among most lost people there is a reverence and sacredness to the church building.
But. . . Did you know?
If you are truly born again the Holy Spirit of God dwells within in (John 14:17, Romans 8:9, 11) and your body is the temple of God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 makes this very clear.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
And . . . Did you know?
The Lord warns several times of the seriousness of defiling the temple of God – your body! In 1 Corinthians 3, the Lord clearly and sternly warns against defiling your body – the temple of God. If any man defiles the temple of God – HIM SHALL GOD DESTROY!
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
My Christian friend, you’d better watch what you do with your body. It is the temple of a Holy God. You’d better not defile it with pagan, devil-worshipping tattoos!
“. . . If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. . .”
What God said – He meant!
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Numbers 23:19
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Galatians 6:7-8
Do you really believe the Lord Jesus Christ is pleased with a Christian wearing a pagan tattoo? Do you honestly believe God’s perfect will is for a Christian, any Christian, to be “marked” with a demonic tattoo?
With the unbiased documentation and Bible we’ve given (and we could supply much, much more) there is no question to the pagan and devil-worshipping source of the tattoo. Every tattoo historian I’ve read, traces the root of the tattoo to religious paganism. Every one.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 is another warning against the tattoo. Notice the warning against the “fellowshipping” and concord with Christ and Belial (the devil). Verse 16 is very interesting. . . As it relates the “fellowshipping” with your body – the temple of the living God.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 reads:
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
I realize in writing this, a lot of Christians (or so-called Christians?) could care less what God says. They’re gonna do what they want to do – despite heaven or hell. But there are many Christians who want to serve God more than anything – with ever fiber of their soul. I’ve talked to many, many Christians who were thinking about getting a tattoo. But after showing them the satanic origin of the tattoo they realized a tattoo was not the will of God. And it was for those “good and faithful servants” of the Lord Jesus Christ that this was written for.
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Matthew 25:23
Friend, God loves you and desires more than anything you love and obey Him. He desires first of all obedience unto salvation by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:12). And after salvation, His will for you is to serve and love Him with all you heart, body, mind and soul.
You won’t regret it!
It’ll be worth it one day!
If you are truly a Christian and still have doubts about whether the tattoo is the perfect will of God, go back through this article with an open Bible and an open heart. Prayerfully, look up the verses. And before you start, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to “guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:17-18