Are there any Bible verses about getting tattoos?

Answer 1

One viewThe Bible says that your body is like a Temple to the Lord. Therefore taking drugs, boozing to excess, self harm, etc. is wrong.

It also says that God created us all and he said "this is good" after he created everything. So why should we be unhappy with what we are given and want to change it? That voice that tells you that you aren't good enough the way you are is the voice of the Devil. Stay as you are. Tattoos are not the way to go.

Another view

Have you ever wondered? Have you ever asked? Ever felt it necessary to ask? Do you think God wants us to have tattoos? Do you think He hates tattoos? Do you think God cares? The following is what the Bible says.

The only piece of scripture in the Bible that speaks about tattoos:

Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

-Leviticus 19:28

Now I don't know about you guys, but that's about as clear as it gets, right? Well, yeah, but it all has to be read in context. Many people of that day and age would cut themselves all over their bodies - their arms, their faces, their bodies, all over. They would cut themselves until they bled, and they'd pray that their blood would give their deceased loved ones life in the afterlife. God was saying to these people "Listen, guys, seriously. Cutting yourselves like this isn't helping anyone, you're just harming yourselves". In the same context, these people would tattoo their deceased loved ones on their bodies, with the hope that this would help them in the afterlife. It's also said that many slave owners would mark their slaves with some kind of marks like tattoos as a sign of ownership over said slaves, and God was saying "Don't take these marks, because you don't belong to anyone except ME".

In the previous verse (Lev 19:27), God says NOT to cut your hair or shave your beard. So should we be running around with beards hanging on the floor? Of course not. Some people in that time would worship and follow celestial beings, and these people would grow their hair in these ridiculous "orbs" so as to be like the false gods they were worshiping, and God was just telling these people "Don't cut your hair like this. These gods you are worshiping do not exist. I am the Lord your God. Me, and me alone."

"Don't be unholy by doing these things. Be Holy like I am".

Now this is where it starts getting particularly interesting. In Old Testament times, before Jesus came to earth, it was NECESSARY for men who were believers to get circumcised. Genesis 17:11 says:

You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

That's what we, as men, had to undergo during that time. That's what God wanted from us. Keep that in mind as we now jump into the New Testament. The book of Galatians is a book written by Paul to Christian communities in the Roman town of Galatia. The book was written by Paul in ANGER, and to REBUKE the Galatians. He ended the letter off with a bang, starting here, in Chapter 6:11:

"See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!"

Saying "LOOK!!! This is SO heavy on my heart. PAY ATTENTION to what I'm saying". He was urged, he was determined.

He carried on:

"Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ". So Paul just went ahead and scrapped this whole front these people had, and pointed out that they only wanted to LOOK good, but were avoiding facing the powerful legacy and message that Jesus had left behind. Jesus told us that if we follow Him, we WILL be persecuted, we will be fought with, and these people were avoiding this.

He went on to say "Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh". These people want you to be circumcised, yet they refuse to be what God WANTS them to be, and their goal is just to be able to boast in your flesh. Paul was revealing their intentions.

A few lines down, and you get to his punchline. Galatians 6:15:

"Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation."

Paul was emphasising how it doesn't MATTER if you're circumcised or not. Are you circumcised? It doesn't matter! Are you UNCIRCUMCISED? It doesn't matter, because GOD DOESN'T CARE. What God cares about is that you are a new creation by faith through Jesus Christ. God doesn't care about how you dress, how you cut your hair, what piercings you have, how many tattoos you have - God just cares that you are a new creation through Jesus. God is far more concerned about your heart, your soul, and your love for Jesus than he is about ink that's a few millimeters under your skin.

It's not about your body - the question being asked is this: Is there something happening in your heart? Have you been transformed by Jesus, changed into a child of God that STRIVES to be like Jesus Christ?!

Paul goes on to say this:

"Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God"

What rule? That it's not about your appearance. It's not about your body, it's about your heart, it's about the change that Jesus should make in your life. THAT'S what loving Jesus is all about. It's about worshiping God in a Christ-like manner, it's about LOVE.

Now I'm not telling you to go ahead and get a tattoo. Not at all. I'm just putting it all in context for you. The bible can't be read in a verse-by-verse manner, because if it's read like that, you can make it say whatever you like. If read completely out of context like that, I could probably find a way of making the bible say it's okay for me to sell my fingers for drug money. The bible needs to be read in context, in such a way that you get the whole picture. This, however, isn't always done, which is why the idea that tattoos are bad has come up. So I thought I'd just put it all in context for you.
(Leviticus 19:28)

28 "'And YOU must not make cuts in YOUR flesh for a deceased soul, and YOU must not put tattoo marking upon yourselves. . .

Answer 2

Yes, under God's various laws in Leviticus 19

== but ... here's where the controversy sets in. It was talking about pagan rituals at that time. I would recommend reading the whole chapter. It also says not to cut your hair, or trim your beard. It says not to wear clothes made from different types of fabric, as well as not to eat meat with blood still in it. So, the argument is, do these laws still apply to today? I would never try to sway a person one way or the other. Search your heart, read the chapter, make your own decision. God engraved the names of his favorite people on the palms of his hands. Isaiah 49:15-16.

Answer 3

Really it says nothing directly, but...it says that your body is not yours to do with it what you want, that you need to offer it as a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord, that your body is temple of the Holy Spirit, that you were bought by the blood of Jesus, that you are His and needs to present your body and whole self clean, without stain or wrinkle, immaculate, so I imagine that you can not graffiti a body that is not really yours, because doing so you are denying ownership to God...Just think

Answer 4

At least the King James version of The Bible does not use the word "tattoo" anywhere.

The nearest I can think of to a text relevant to tattoos is 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 31 which says "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." in the King James version.

Some people might regard the second commandment as relevant to tattoos (Exodus chapter 20 verse 4) which says "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" (also quoted from the King James version).

Answer 5

The scripture Leviticus chapter 19, verse 28 states: "you must not put tattoo marking upon yourselves".

The Israelites were forbidden to engage in this practice, which was common among some other ancient peoples. By complying with Jehovah God's law not to disfigure their bodies, the Israelites would have stood out as different from other nations. This also would have impressed upon them a proper respect for the human body as God's creation, to be used in honoring him.

Answer 6

Leviticus 19:28New King James Version (NKJV)

28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.

Answer 7

The bible very clearly says it should not be done. It is in the book of Leviticus 19 verse 28 , it says no gashes and tattoos on the body is allowed.

Answer 8

Yes.

Lev 19:28 You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD.

I AGREE.

Answer 9

Leviticus 19:28, "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD."

Some say this speaks of tattoos.