What does the Bible say about tattoos?

Author: Annabelle Murphy  |  Last update: Monday, October 6, 2025

Leviticus 19:28 says You shall not make any cuts on your body [in mourning] for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves; I am the Lord.

Is it OK to get tattoos according to the Bible?

The Bible does not forbid Christians from getting tattoos. Leviticus 19:28 is the only passage that mentions tattoos and it does not apply to Christians. As such, getting a tattoo is not a sin. Should Christians consider getting a tattoo, they should consider the type and the pitfalls.

Did Jesus ever say anything about tattoos?

The Bible only ever explicitly mentions tattoos in Leviticus 19:28: ``Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.''

Where in the Bible does it say not to mark your body with tattoos?

Leviticus 19:28, says,``You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.''

Who in the Bible had a tattoo?

Cain, the brother of Abel, was marked by God as a sign of protection (Genesis 4:15) -- which many state was almost certainly a tattoo. (2) He was marked, not as a murderer, but as one who would be protected from the wrath of others.

What Does The Bible Say About Tattoos?

What is the most tattooed Bible verse?

The most popular verses used in tattoo designs include John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son"), Philippians 4:13 ("I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"), Proverbs 3:5-6 ("Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding"), and Isaiah 41:10 ("Fear ...

What does Revelation 19:17 mean?

John reports in this verse that he saw and heard an angel that was standing in the sun. This angel, highlighted in the sun's brilliance, calls upon all the birds in the sky to meet together for God's great supper.

Is it a sin to get a tattoo of a dead loved one?

Leviticus 19:28 says “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.”

What does the Bible say about piercings?

What Does the Bible Say about Piercings? - Piercings are somewhat debated as to the biblical interpretation of their sinfulness. Though the Bible does not specifically mention piercings as being a sin or unholy, it does condemn the practice of body mutilation such as cuts or tattoos.

Do not cut your hair on the sides Bible verse?

Leviticus 19:27 in Other Translations

27 "Don't cut the hair on the sides of your head or trim your beard. 27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. 27 "Never shave the hair on your foreheads, and never cut the edges of your beard.

Did early Christians have tattoos?

In his article Permanent Ephemera: The 'Honourable Stigmatisation' of Jerusalem Pilgrims, Robert Ousterhout describes several early examples of Christians who decorated themselves accordingly, placing tattoos either on their thighs or their arms.

What does the Bible say about earrings?

Regarding gender, the Bible does not explicitly prohibit men or women from wearing earrings. Both genders are depicted wearing them in various passages. For example, in Judges 8:24, Gideon requests gold earrings from the spoils of war, noting that the Ishmaelites wore them.

What does the Bible say about cremation?

What does the Bible say about cremation? According to most Biblical study websites, there is no explicit scriptural command for or against cremation. There are no passages that forbid cremation, according to most Biblical scholars.

Is smoking a sin, yes or no?

The Bible does not talk specifically about tobacco or smoking, but it does have something to say about caring for our bodies, valuing life, and honoring the Lord with our actions. Sin is sin, but the consequences differ, and unfortunately, smoking rarely affects just the person who is smoking.

Is it a sin to drink alcohol?

They held that both the Bible and Christian tradition taught that alcohol is a gift from God that makes life more joyous, but that over-indulgence leading to drunkenness is sinful.

What does the Bible say about makeup?

The Bible does not specifically say a lot about makeup. But it does talk about beauty, modesty, and self-control. Proverbs 31:30 says beauty is fleeting. 1 Peter 3:3 discourages seeking beauty in elaborate adornments.

Can Christians get tattoos?

19:26). Ultimately scripture neither presents the idea that tattoos somehow harm the temple of God (our body) or dishonor God. In fact, God uses the idea of a tattoo favorably when he speaks of his remembrance of his people. However, while tattoos are permissible it is not always wise to get one.

What does the Bible say about hair?

Paul writes plainly, “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” (1 Corinthians 11:14). All major Bible translations agree on the intent of this verse. God intended (and commanded) men to keep their hair much shorter than women.

Is it ungodly to have tattoos?

Does the Bible forbid tattoos for the Christian? Well the quick answer is no. The Bible does not forbid Christians from getting inked. Someone might say, “but I thought somewhere in the Old Testament it said not to get a tattoo.”

Is cutting your hair a sin?

It is this type of false worship the Bible forbids. Shaving one's beard and cutting one's hair for normal good grooming is something entirely different and not at all condemned in the Scriptures. In fact, the apostle Paul takes great pains to address proper grooming of one's hair in I Corinthians 11:2-15.

Can I repent for a tattoo?

Q: Will getting a tattoo make me unforgivable? A: No, forgiveness is available to all who genuinely repent, regardless of past choices.

What color is Jesus hair in Revelation?

For many scholars, Revelation 1:14-15 offers a clue that Jesus's skin was a darker hue and that his hair was woolly in texture. The hairs of his head, it says, "were white as white wool, white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace.”

What is sealed on earth will be sealed in heaven?

New Testament references

This is later repeated in Matthew 18:18: "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Who is Revelation 2 17 talking about?

Revelation 2:12–17 is a message from Jesus to the church at Pergamum. Jesus commends the church for keeping the faith despite intense persecution and the pervading worship of Satan around them.

Previous article
How do celebrities get rid of dark underarms?
Next article
How to turn grey hair blonde without bleach?