That Bible text is taken out of context. It is a rule for the Jews, not for us. Jesus Christ fulfilled the law. And this text is about tattoos because of a deceased person.
I agree with Tijmen, it's out of context, it is about making marks for "the dead" or "other gods", and trying to apply it now is slightly akin to the argument that the Jews were having with the Gentiles over circumcision. According to the old testament, you MUST be circumcised in order to be considered "the Lord's". In the new testament, Paul declares many times that there are "laws" in the old testament that were physical examples pointing to spiritual things, pointing to and displayed in Christ, and nailed to the cross. On top of that, if one believes, for example, the physical circumcision still applies to believers today, then they must adhere to the entire old law to be consistent with themselves, because if part of it still applies, then all of it does. Does anyone here eat shrimp or pork, or any meat with the blood still in it? Also, taken out of context in this way, this section of the old law forbids even "drawing" on your skin for any reason, and it makes no mention of how permanent it is.
Now, that being said, I do believe tattoos very typically are a pretty selfish waste of money which could be far better spent or donated, and also a big indicator of vanity and pride. Those spiritual conditions are far worse than just drawing marks on your skin. However, not everyone who has a tattoo considered those conditions or gets a tattoo with that attitude, many that get tattoos are "innocent" or "ignorant", and I do not believe their heart or motives should be judged by us because of ink in their skin, and I don't think there is any biblical precedent to do so.
Anyway, while I don't think tattoos are necessarily sinful, I would still tell people not to do it, and I will definitely not do it, but for other reasons than the ones listed in Leviticus, although, I do think the real intention behind the warnings about tattoos for "the dead" or "other gods" in Leviticus was to point out that it's the REASON for the marks, it's the MOTIVATION behind getting the tattoos that is the real heart problem.
Here is the context of it all...Leviticus 19 (KJV)
19 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.
3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.
4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God.
5 And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the Lord, ye shall offer it at your own will.
6 It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if ought remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire.
7 And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable; it shall not be accepted.
8 Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the Lord: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.
11 Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.
13 Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the Lord.
15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the Lord.
17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.
20 And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.
22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.
23 And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.
24 But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the Lord withal.
25 And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the Lord your God.
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.
29 Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a w-h-o-r-e; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.
30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.
31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.
33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.
36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.
37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the Lord.
*** Might wanna read the chapter to get Whole Context and Lord have Mercy...like IWA is self appointed to settle waht ???...Thats a Hoot !!!...:ROFL:...X <>< O
Many bible verses, TC. I referred to all the times Paul spoke against the pharisees trying to place the gentiles under the old laws. I don't think I need to list them all. We're agreed that markings for the dead or for other gods should obviously be avoided, but not every tattoo in the world is for those things, so where are your verses that ban every tattoo? And it will probably need to be a new testament verse unless you plan to follow every letter of the Jewish law. Read the context of what GJ posted:
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.
29 Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a w-h-o-r-e; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.
30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.
Where are the posts condemning people eating meat that has blood still in it? Rounding the corners of their heads or beard? How many keep the Sabbaths? Or even just "The Sabbath"? How many here eat bacon or other unclean meats or seafood? If you wish to place us under the old Levitical law, then do so, but you had better be willing to follow through with all of it yourself.
These verses clearly state that the old law was only until the time of Jesus, and then it was nailed to His cross.
Gal 3:19: �What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made.�
Colossians 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.
Apart from all the discourse by Paul on the old covenant law, the apostles held a little council to determine what from the old law should still apply to Christians.
Acts 15
"15 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
The apostles are saying there that none of the old law, which includes the bits about tattoos, the ordinances which were against them, none of them still applied except for a few summaries. So, in context, and with the support of the apostles, I do not think that tattoos are sinful unless they're done in service/worship to the dead or other gods. For myself and my own conscience, I will never get a tattoo, for multiple reasons. However, I do not know the hearts of everyone, perhaps they do it to remind them of a favorite bible verse or a family event, etc. Will you condemn them for that while you're eating your bacon? Sounds a little hypocritical. So if you're free to eat your bacon, etc, then they are free to tattoo their favorite bible verse.
And for the record, I could go into a little "boosting in the flesh" rant here like Paul did in his letter to the Ephesians, but I won't, because I know that I am a great sinner, and I need a great savior, and I don't think I'm a better christian because I don't get tattoos. If you can find a new testament verse banning all tattoos, then I'll gladly recant, because I think we'd all be better off without them, but until then, lay no greater burden on the believers than those necessary things.
For those that still wish to place us under the old law, here is a site for you:
And still, the verse posted is out of context, I don't even know why I went thru all that trying to convince you guys. I hope you hear how you sound, "will settle it for those that wish to honor the Lord".
Everybody else, make sure you read the bible for yourself, specifically Acts and the writings of Paul, and then compare all of that new testament material to the single verse about making marks on your body for the dead. Get all the facts, and then do whatever you must to let your own conscience be clear before God, don't let a few people place you under condemnation with a misapplied bible verse about heathen practices.
Ezekiel 9:4
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.
So I guess marks on your body for God are ok then?
Deuteronomy 14:1
Ye are the sons of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead.
I shave my head, but I don't do it for the dead, is it still wrong?
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.
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 ?
Clearly, there it is. "Ye shall not. . .print any marks upon you"
A lot of Christians when confronted with , 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 and . 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 ? The verse immediately AFTER the "it�s not for me" ?
Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a w.h.o.r.e; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.
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.
Matthew Henry�s Commentary at the beginning of explains that most of (such as verse ) 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, )
"IT�S ONLY "FOR THE DEAD"
But by far the Christian tattooers favorite excuse for disobeying 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.
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 :
"In 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 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.
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. . .
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 :
"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, )
"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, )
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 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
"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, )
James M. Freeman in his excellent book, The New Manners & Customs of the Bible, says of :
"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 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, )
Charles R. Erdman in his commentary on 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, ;28" (Nave's Topical Bible, p. 1312)
