Key Bible verses
- 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.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
- 1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
- Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
- Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
- 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
- Colossians 3:17 And what soever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
- Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
Leviticus 19:28 in context
Leviticus 19 is a list of laws for Israel. Verse 28 forbids “cuttings in your flesh for the dead” and “marks upon you.” The neighboring nations cut themselves and marked their skin to mourn the dead and honor their gods, so the command kept Israel distinct from those practices. The same chapter also forbids wearing cloth of mixed fibers and trimming the corners of the beard (Leviticus 19:19, 27).
Does it apply to Christians?
Christians read the Old Testament law in different ways. Many teach that its ceremonial and civil laws were “our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ” (Galatians 3:24) and no longer bind believers, while its moral laws still do. Some place Leviticus 19:28 among the ceremonial laws; others see it as a moral warning about marking the body. Both views are held by sincere Bible-believing Christians.
What the New Testament says
The New Testament does not mention tattoos. It teaches that a Christian’s body is “the temple of the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 6:19) and asks believers to “glorify God in your body.” It also says that on disputed matters, “let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Romans 14:5), and that God looks on the heart, not the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7).
Questions to ask before a tattoo
Christians who are thinking about a tattoo often ask: Does the design honor God (Colossians 3:17)? Why do I want it? Would it trouble my conscience, or my parents if I am young? Many Christians choose tattoos with Bible verses or symbols of faith; others choose not to get any. Either way, the Bible calls believers not to judge one another on matters it leaves open.
Frequently asked questions
Are tattoos a sin according to the Bible?
Christians disagree. Leviticus 19:28 forbade Israel to “print any marks upon you,” but many believe that law was for ancient Israel. The New Testament does not mention tattoos and asks believers to honor God with their bodies.
What does Leviticus 19:28 mean?
It told Israel not to cut their bodies for the dead or mark their skin, practices tied to pagan mourning and worship in the ancient world. It set God’s people apart from the nations around them.
Did Jesus have a tattoo?
There is no evidence that he did. Revelation 19:16 describes a name written “on his vesture and on his thigh,” but this is a vision of Christ as King, usually understood as written on his robe, not a tattoo.
Is it OK to get a Bible verse tattoo?
Many Christians think so and see it as a way to remember Scripture or share their faith. Others prefer not to, because of Leviticus 19:28. The Bible asks each believer to act from a clear conscience (Romans 14:5).