What Does the Bible Say about Tattoos, pt. 7
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT TATTOOS? Part 7
Why did God Forbid Tattoos in the Old Testament?
As stated earlier, I wanted to base the bulk of our discussion around New Testament principles since many proponents of tattoos dismiss the Bible’s only mention of tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 as irrelevant to New Covenant believers. But any discussion on tattoos would be incomplete without including some insight on this passage.
I’ll begin this part of our discussion by first emphasizing the grace of God. Nothing any of us have done is outside God’s ability and willingness to forgive when we repent. In the case of tattoos, this is certainly not an unforgivable sin. I suppose there are too many people to count who have been tattooed in the past later to turn to God and live holy and consecrated lives. Unfortunately, some of what they did in the past is forever emblazoned on their skin, but God’s grace can remove the stain on one’s soul for this and any action.
What then does the Old Testament say about tattoos? Leviticus 19:28 God says,
“You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the LORD.”
Some commentators suggest the prohibition of tattoos in this verse refers only to ancient pagan customs for the dead. The writers of the Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, for example, suggest there is nothing “morally wrong” with tattooing, but “these practices then, and also now in some places, were parts of heathen ritual” (vol. 1, 1994, p. 150). [Side note: commentaries on the Bible are not divinely inspired scripture. We have to be careful to not elevate the commentaries we see added to the Scriptures to the same level as the Scriptures themselves.]
Not all commentators agree on this subject, however. For example, the Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament says in reference to this verse, “The prohibition… of tattooing …was intended to inculcate upon the Israelites a proper reverence for God’s creation.”
To put it another way, we are to respect God’s creation – our bodies – and treat them with honor as vessels of God’s presence.
The Jewish understanding of Leviticus 19:28 is summed up in an article entitled, Tattooing in Jewish Law, which states, “the prohibition against all forms of tattooing, regardless of their intent, should be maintained” (MyJewishLearning.com).
Leviticus 19:28 is the only mention of tattoos in the Bible. We can therefore deduce that the only mention of tattoos in God’s Word is a negative one. This point alone should give us pause.
Is Leviticus 19:28 Culturally Relevant Today?
As already mentioned, commentators are divided over whether the prohibitions against tattooing as recorded in Leviticus 19:28 are applicable today. Some mistakenly reject this passage because it is in the Old Testament, wrongly believing all laws of the Old Testament have been replaced with new laws and have now passed away. A careful reading of the New Testament, however, will show that the Old Testament formed the foundation for the New. Countless New Testament passages borrow from the Old Testament as standards we are to observe today.
As a counter to Leviticus 19:28, some contend that tattooing in general is upheld in Isaiah 44:5 as something godly if it is used to honor God. Isaiah 44:5 reads,
One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD,’ another will call himself by the name of Jacob, and still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name of Israel.”
In these two verses we see a clear distinction between writing and tattooing. In Isaiah 44:5, the word translated into English as “write” is the Hebrew word kathab, which literally means to write down something with the hand. In Leviticus 19:28, the word translated into English at “tattoo” is qaaqa, which means an incision, imprint, tattoo. Thus, responsible Biblical exegesis demands that we cannot apply these two words in the same way.
Others argue Leviticus 19:28 applies only to pagan practices for the dead and therefore doesn’t apply to Christians who want a tattoo simply as a body decoration. Some even consider their tattoos a symbol of their Christian faith.
In response to these arguments, it is important to remember that the spirit of the Law (not the letter of it) still applies to us today. Psalm 119:160 says, “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” Jesus said He came not to abolish the Law and prophets, but to fulfill them. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus always upheld God’s Law as revealed through the prophets in the Old Testament (see Matthew 5:17-19, John 17:17).
The Apostle Paul also wrote,
“All Scripture [not just the New Testament] is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” -2 Timothy 3:16-17
Keep in mind that when the Apostle Paul penned these words there was no New Testament canon of Scripture yet written and compiled. He was referring specifically to the Old Testament! Paul was upholding the Old Testament as still profitable and applicable in the New Covenant age to provide guidance in life. God’s people are not still sacrificing bulls and goats as a means of forgiveness, obviously, because there are certain practices that found their fulfillment in Jesus and were therefore abandoned. However, most of the general life principles found in the Old Testament are still relevant today.
To that point, let’s consider also that the prohibition against tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 appears in a passage of Scripture where the context has to do with godly and ungodly conduct in general. In this same chapter Jehovah addresses sorcery, prostitution, slander, and deception, to name just a few. God was serious about His people walking in holiness. He would not tolerate His chosen people behaving like the pagan nations around them. They were to be set apart. And God made it clear He does not approve of His people practicing pagan customs (Deuteronomy 12:29-31), and tattooing was clearly associated with paganism.
Some might counter that Leviticus 19 has prohibitions against cutting the hair on one’s temples and shaving the sides of one’s beard, and Christians aren’t obeying this today. Doesn’t this prove that at least parts of Leviticus do not apply to Christians now?
In taking a closer look at the context and the application of the verse appearing just before the prohibition against tattoos, we see another strange command against the cutting of one’s hair on the temples. It reads,
Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. (v. 27)
If you were an Israelite living in that time and place, you would have immediately understood what this prohibition was referring to. Once again, it had to do with pagan practices. Every ancient person knew shaving one’s head or cutting the hair on certain regions of the head and face were acts of mourning. This is what Job did when he received the news about his children being killed in a windstorm. Job lived in a time prior to the Levitical Law being passed down to the people of Israel, so even though Job was a godly man he had no such prohibitions to guide him in this regard. But when God passed down His laws to the nation of Israel, cutting one’s hair as an act of mourning was forbidden because it was a practice which had become associated with paganism, and God wanted a separation between His people and pagan nations.
This was also another reason why ancient pagan people tattooed themselves, by the way. It was a custom to cut the flesh and/or to tattoo one’s skin as an act of mourning the dead. And once again God was establishing a separation between His people and idolatrous pagans through the Levitical Law.
On that note, part of God’s intentions in providing the Levitical Law was for His people to stand out even by outward appearance as those set apart to Him. It has been suggested by some Bible commentators that this may very well have been why David’s men were forcibly shaved and thus humiliated by Hanun the Ammonite king when sent by David to offer condolences for the death of Hanun’s father (see 1 Chronicles 19). Because it was the custom among pagans to shave their heads and beards as a sign of mourning for the dead, it could be that Hanun did not find the condolences genuine because David’s men did not observe the same custom. Thus, he accused the men of being spies and had their beards shaved and their garments cut off at the buttocks before sending them home in shame. It’s apparent that the Israelites may have stood out in their appearance in many respects compared to the pagan nations around them because they were set apart for God.
While we are no longer bound to the Levitical Law as a means of salvation, there are nevertheless timeless principles in the Law which continue to guide the lives of God’s people today. Much of the judicial laws in America today, for example, were influenced by the Levitical Law. We cannot simply throw out the Old Testament as irrelevant to our lives today.
To that point, the belief that God’s people are free to incorporate pagan practices into their faith is misguided thinking and potentially fatal to one’s spiritual life. God takes a dim view of attempts to Christianize practices steeped in the paganistic idolatry.
That said, as stated already we can make a strong case against tattooing even without the Old Testament. Rather than following the customs and practices of the society around us and looking for ways to justify it, we are to be ambassadors and representatives of the Kingdom of God and of Christ Himself. The person who loves God as the LORD (supreme authority) of his or her life should be asking, “How close can I get to God?” rather than, “How much like the world can I be without offending God?” Few Christians, probably, actually say or think to themselves that they want to be as worldly as they can get away with and not offend God. However, the actions of many churchgoers communicate this very thing. We cannot love God and the world.
The Apostle James addressed this is in no uncertain terms.
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God. -James 4:4
Let’s call a spade a spade for a moment. Why is it that news stations don’t hire newscasters with visible tattoos? Why is it that political figures don’t don tattoos? Clearly, it’s because much of society still views tattoos negatively. A wholesome, friendly and inviting appearance is one that is clean cut and tattoo-free. Thus, news stations and politicians steer clear of tattoos because they do not want to alienate any part of their audience or voting base. As a friend of mine has said, “Even the demented mass of liberals do not seek a presidential or gubernatorial candidate that is tattooed. I venture to say they would shun doctors and lawyers on the same grounds.” Precisely.
If even politicians and newscasters, many of whom have no regard for God, will avoid tattoos for the sake of preserving their image, how much more should the disciple of Jesus Christ do likewise for the same reasons?!
No, my friends, this is not just an Old Testament issue! It is truly one bearing New Covenant implications.
You see, if we are truly living in New Covenant grace, then that same grace teaches us to avoid all appearances of worldliness. As Titus 2:11-14 says,
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Yes, Jesus is looking for people who are willing to be purified by Him and are eager to do all that is good in His sight. Clearly, Biblical grace is not a license to do whatever we want. Grace truly experienced and appropriately applied will teach one self-control, prudence and purity in all things.
No Matter What, Grace Wins!
I remember watching a video testimony of a former Satanist who was tattooed over most of his body and face. As I watched the video, I was torn between two emotions. I was so sad for this man that even though he had renounced his former lifestyle, his face was nevertheless forever disfigured with hideous-looking tattoos everywhere. At the same time, however, I rejoiced that God is bigger than all of that, and that this man who had previously been so completely given over to sin, violence and perversion was now a totally sold out, joy-filled, born again believer and disciple of Jesus Christ! God is so awesome! He is bigger than satanism, and He’s bigger than addiction and any other sin you can think of. He’s the Great Redeemer, and nothing is beyond His ability and willingness to cleanse and forgive.
To therefore reiterate a previous point, if someone reading this already has a tattoo, please take comfort in the grace of God, which is sufficient to remove this or any sin. There is total forgiveness when we repent. The reminder of the sin might still be on the skin, but the stain is removed from the soul by God’s loving grace through Jesus Christ! Praise God! And once that cleansing grace has been applied, it is then our proper response and responsibility to live our lives in humble and pure service to our Master. As Jesus told the woman caught in the act of adultery who He forgave, “Neither do I condemn you. Go now, and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11).