Tattoos have become a popular form of self-expression in modern society. People use body art to commemorate significant events, express their identity, or showcase artistic designs. However, for Christians, the question often arises: What does the Bible say about tattoos?
In Leviticus 19:28, the Bible states, "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord." Sounds pretty straightforward, right? But let’s take a closer look.
Ah, the age-old question about tattoos and the Bible. Let's dive into what Leviticus says and what it might mean for us today.
First, it’s important to understand the context. Leviticus is part of the Old Testament, and the Holiness Code given to the Israelites, outlining various laws and practices to distinguish them from neighboring pagan cultures. These laws were meant to set them apart from other nations, many of which practiced rituals involving tattoos and body markings as part of pagan worship or mourning rituals. So, this verse was likely addressing those specific practices.
In the context of ancient Israel, tattoos and body markings were often associated with pagan rituals and practices, including mourning rites and idolatry. The prohibition in Leviticus 19:28 was meant to prevent the Israelites from adopting these pagan customs and to maintain their distinct identity as God's chosen people.
Now, does that mean getting a tattoo today is a sin? It depends on who you ask. Some Christians interpret this verse as a timeless command, suggesting that tattoos are a no-go. Others see it as part of the Old Covenant laws, which were specific to the Israelites and their cultural context.
The worship of Baal dates back to at least before the Exodus, making it contemporary with the time when Moses was given the law. This Canaanite religion involved many rituals, including self-mutilation. One ancient verse describes ritual masochism: “She cuts cheek and chin/She lacerates Her forearms/She plows lake a garden Her chest/Like a vale She lacerates the back.”
God did not want His people to hurt themselves gratuitously. Self-mutilation is dangerous and can lead to significant health problems. His people did not enjoy the advantages of 21st-century society: hospitals, doctors, and antibiotics. If self-mutilation went wrong, one could die a painful death or at least create ugly scars, all to please the pagan gods.
Now that we've learned the reason God commanded the Israelites to not get tattoos, let's see what the Bible says about tattoos in the New Testament.
First off, you might be surprised to hear that the New Testament doesn’t actually mention tattoos at all. Yep, you read that right—there’s no direct reference to tattoos in the New Testament. This means we have to look at broader principles to understand how this might fit into our lives as Christians today.
One of the key themes in the New Testament is that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul writes, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies."
So, what does honoring God with our bodies mean? For some, this might mean avoiding tattoos, especially if they see it as altering the body in a way that doesn’t honor God. For others, tattoos can be a meaningful expression of their faith—a way to permanently remind themselves and others of God’s love, promises, or their personal faith journey.
The New Testament also emphasizes the importance of our intentions and the state of our heart. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 15:11, "What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them." This suggests that our actions and intentions are more significant than outward appearances.
In light of this, if getting a tattoo is a way for you to express your faith or commemorate something meaningful in your spiritual journey, many would argue that it can be done in a way that honors God. On the other hand, if a tattoo is something that might lead you away from your faith or cause you to stumble, it might be worth reconsidering.
Ultimately, the New Testament guides us to live lives that reflect our commitment to Christ. This means making thoughtful decisions that align with our faith and values. If you’re considering a tattoo, it’s a good idea to pray about it, seek wisdom from scripture, and perhaps talk it over with a trusted spiritual advisor.
In the end, the New Testament doesn’t give a clear yes or no about tattoos. It’s more about the heart and the intention behind the decision. So, whether you choose to get a tattoo or not, the most important thing is that your actions reflect your love for God and your desire to honor Him in all that you do.
The Hebrew for “imprint” is “qaaqa” which also means “tattoo” or “incision.” “In the Near East, tattoos were used to mark slaves.” If one wore a brand “on his hand or forehead,” he or she was quickly identified as someone’s property.
Even seemingly innocuous marks represent worship. Consider the financial cost, the time commitment, and the pain one endures, not to mention the permanence of a tattoo: this is no minor undertaking. Every time someone selects or designs a tattoo and then spends an hour or more getting “inked,” he or she is connecting strongly to the subject in question and might be enslaved to a sin represented by that image.
Look around, and one might see body art idolizing celebrities, death, or even religion. Many people wear a semicolon tattoo indicating they stand with survivors of suicide and people who suffer from mental health concerns. “No matter the type of brokenness — physical or mental — Christian identity is found not in a diagnosis, but instead in our position as redeemed children of God" (Romans 8:16–17).
Any publicly visible image makes that image and associated ideas famous. It’s important and biblical to support one another, but that support always begins in Christ; we have nothing to give without Him. Even the cross etched permanently into one’s chest can be an idol if one regards and describes it as a protective device, believing the cross is protective rather than Christ, imagining that salvation protects one from disease and muggers rather than protecting one for eternity with Jesus.
A believer has the opportunity to use a tattoo to declare Christ’s name, but Christians without tattoos are identifiable without ink on their skin. They are known by their gentleness (Philippians 4:5) and by the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). Their mark is the Holy Spirit. Obtaining a tattoo can spark gospel-centered conversation and act as a missional ice-breaker but is not as compelling as a heart changed by Jesus.
People sometimes self-injure themselves for the same reasons they get tattoos: the pain is part of how they cope with difficulty or feel a sense of power for a short period of time. Trying to run one’s life without God is like that first rebellion in the Garden, but while “many are the plans in the mind of a man, [...] it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). He wants us to turn to Him in times of trial and say, “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul” (Psalm 94:19).
When one’s body is marked by trials, God uses those scars to point out His Sovereign touch — His ultimate healing. Gifted experts have turned many scars into beautiful works of art, but Christians have to ask themselves whether those tattoos activate a sense of inner strength or remind them of God’s powerful grip on them during times of darkness and pain.
Cutting and even some methods of tattooing are associated with punishment throughout the ages in many cultures, whether self-inflicted or as a means of torture by others. Inflicting pain — physical or emotional — on one’s self or on someone else is an outpouring of hatred and an exercise in control. Is the image or message a reminder of past guilt, a way of inflicting emotional distress every time one sees it?
Paul writes, “let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31). Is obtaining a tattoo about self-punishment? Is the purpose to take control of one’s punishment and salvation? In either case, getting a tattoo is an act of unbelief.
Tattoos borne out of self-hatred are legacies of darkness rather than light. The Father wants His children to bear fruit, and a fruitful life is repentant. A fruitful heart looks to Him rather than reliving one’s sorrow, guilt, and shame over and over in the form of a visual reminder and a worldly identifier. “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true) and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Self-harm says “Christ’s sacrifice wasn’t enough. I am responsible for my own salvation.”
A popular reason to get a tattoo is in order to honor a loved one who has died. God directed His people to disassociate themselves from Canaanite traditions such as slashing their bodies as a way to “mourn their dead.” What about designing beautiful markings in honor of loved ones who have passed on?
In Luke 9:60, Jesus said to “leave the dead to bury their own dead.” Paul wrote, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Christians grieve for their dead, but they do not worship them.
Not only do they have hope of reuniting with lost loved ones who believed in Christ for salvation, but they have been commanded to have no other Gods; to worship no idols. Talking to a loved one, keeping a shrine to the deceased, making a shrine of one’s body by way of a tattoo: this is idolatry.
David was criticized for breaking his fast after his baby son died, but David replied, “Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again?” (2 Samuel 12:23).
“The Scriptures never ask Christians to deny the feeling of grief — it is a right and holy sadness.” Yet, some people think too much about those who are gone; they look backward and fail to move forward. If a Christian is considering getting a tattoo as a way of honoring one who has died, of glorifying that person posthumously and identifying with grief more than with Christ, he or she might want to think twice. If the mark is a reminder and testimony of the resurrection and security believers have in Jesus our Redeemer, that’s different.
Early in the history of Christianity as it spread from Rome into the rest of the world, “tattooing was severely frowned upon.” In fact, “Pope Hadrian banned tattooing, stating that God made man’s body in his image and to deface it in any way was to deface God’s gift.” In defense of tattoos, we now understand that the image of God is a spiritual one conveyed as “salt and light.” (Matthew 5:13-16) Marking one’s body is not necessarily vandalism. Wise Christians weigh their motives.
A good tattoo is a work of art, no different from a beautiful painting. Like an image hung on one’s living room wall, body art sends a message about personal values. Is Christ number one? “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
God does not expect His children to be branded as slaves, but there is no express warning against obtaining a tattoo that identifies one as a lover of Christ. There is nothing wrong with being an art lover. Seek out the direction of the Holy Spirit in prayer, by reading the Word, and by asking wise friends. Once that mark has been made it cannot be removed easily.
In conclusion, the topic of tattoos and their place within Christian life is complex and multifaceted. While Leviticus 19:28 offers a clear directive within its historical and cultural context, the New Testament does not explicitly address tattoos, leaving room for personal interpretation and conviction. The central theme in the New Testament is to honor God with our bodies and ensure that our actions reflect our faith and values.
For those whose bodies already bear the marks of a pre-Christian past, take comfort: they are still part of personal testimony. In conversation with others who sport tattoos, they provide a natural avenue to discussing the gospel and demonstrating that the important change has taken place inwardly, where Christ has exquisitely and tenderly marked the inner person.
In 1 Corinthians 8, the Apostle Paul addresses the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols, a contentious topic among early Christians. Paul explains that while some believers understand that "an idol is nothing at all in the world" (1 Corinthians 8:4) and thus feel free to eat such food, others, whose consciences are weaker, may see this as wrong. He emphasizes the importance of being mindful of one another's consciences and not causing another believer to stumble by exercising one's freedom.
Applying this to the topic of tattoos, we see that while we may understand our freedom in Christ to get tattoos, we should act in love, considering the impact on others. Paul acknowledges that "we all possess knowledge," but he warns that "knowledge puffs up while love builds up" (1 Corinthians 8:1). Therefore, while getting a tattoo does not make us more or less acceptable to God, it is essential to consider how our actions might affect fellow believers who may view tattoos differently. Paul highlights the importance of respecting others’ consciences, advising against doing anything that might cause another believer to fall into sin. In the context of tattoos, if our decision to get a tattoo could lead another believer to violate their conscience or struggle in their faith, we should reconsider our actions.
In summary, based on the teachings in 1 Corinthians 8, getting a tattoo is a matter of personal freedom and conviction. Each person must honor God with their own conscience and act in love and respect toward others, ensuring that their freedoms do not cause another believer to stumble. While getting a tattoo is not inherently a sin, it falls into a "gray area" of Christian freedom. Let love guide your decisions, prioritize building up and encouraging fellow believers, and strive for unity and understanding within the Christian community.
Lastly, if a person chooses to get a tattoo, they should be convinced that God has led them to do so, because Romans 14:23 reminds us that “whatever is not done from faith is sin.”
What's most important is the intention behind the tattoo and how it aligns with one's faith journey. Whether you choose to get inked or not, let your choices reflect your commitment to honoring God in all aspects of your life. Remember, it’s not about the external marks on our skin, but the internal marks of grace, love, and faith that define our relationship with God. So, whether inked or uninked, let your life be a canvas that glorifies Him.
For more information, read 7 Questions You Should Ask Before Getting a Tattoo.
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