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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
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.
Why are tattoos forbidden in the Bible? ›
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. This law was given to Israel to separate them from the other nations; cuttings and marks were culturally associated with death and idolatry.
Why are tattoos no longer considered deviant? ›
Mainstream Self-Expression
Instead of viewing tattoos as merely symbols of association in a group or as deviance markers, many studies conclude that tattoos are now regarded as a method of individual self-expression or as an art form (Pitts 2003; Williams 2003; Koch et al., 2005; Fenske 2007).
Are tattoos against any religion? ›
Tattoos have been used for thousands of years as important tools in ritual and tradition. 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.
Does the Bible say judge not? ›
7. [1] Judge not, that ye be not judged. [2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Is it OK for Christians to get 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. Interpretations of the passage vary, however.
Did Jesus say tattoos are a sin? ›
Whatever your perspective is on the subject of tattoos is, we should all agree that there is no clear evidence in scripture on the topic. The Bible doesn't encourage it per se, but it certainly doesn't call it “sin” or “evil” or “demonic” etc.
What percentage of people regret tattoos? ›
According to a national survey by Advanced Dermatology in Illinois, tattoo regret builds over time. Six months to a year after getting one, 15% of those asked said they regret getting body art. After two years, that number jumps to 51%.
How many people regret tattoos later in life? ›
Are you happy with your tattoo(s) or do you regret the decision to get it/them?
| Characteristic | Share of respondents |
|---|
| I'm happy with it/them | 88% |
| I regret the decision | 12% |
Feb 2, 2024
The most common reason for regret was 'not liking the tattoo anymore'. The most common motivations for having tattoos were 'to feel independent', 'to feel better about himself/herself' and 'to look good'. Women had higher scores than men regarding tattoo motivations of 'to be an individual' and 'to have a beauty mark'.
There is only one unforgivable sin: to deny the Holy Spirit's inner witness about Jesus. This is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Also, having a tattoo isn't a sin. Even if tattoos were sinful it would be getting the tattoo that was sinful, not merely having one from the past.
What does the New Testament say about tattoos? ›
There is no mention of body modifications or tattoos written in the New Testament at all. Since there is not an explicit command against the modern-day concept of tattoos, it would mean that it is not a sin to get one. What are the common Christian inspired tattoos?
Can you pray with tattoos? ›
You do not have to remove tattoos to pray or fast or to perform Hajj.
Did Jesus ever judge anyone? ›
In 8,15 Jesus states that "I judge no one ", a fair statement in light of the fact that he is himself being judged by others (see 7,32.45-52).
What does the Bible say about throwing stones? ›
That painful experience helped her gain a new compassion for others and greater understanding of Christ's words: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone” (John 8:7). Jesus was teaching in the temple courts when He made that statement.
Have we not prophesied in your name? ›
Matthew 7:22-29 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? ' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
Does the Bible say not to tattoo your body? ›
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.” However, just because society approves of something does not make it right in the eyes of God.
What is a good Bible verse for a tattoo? ›
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 ...
Why is it bad to have tattoos? ›
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.
Is it a sin to have a piercing? ›
The Bible does not explicitly forbid body piercing, but it does caution against excessive adornment and emphasizes inner beauty over outward appearance. 1 Peter 3:3-4 encourages women to focus on inner beauty rather than outward adornment.
