tattoo (Jesus, rituals, Moses, Leviticus, funerals)

[john313]

i was speaking with someone the other day and he said that it is a sin to get a tattoo, i do not recall reading this in the books of moses, but i was wondering if anyone knows the location of it if it is in there. i know several people who are hardcore into following the laws of the prophets and they have tattoos so it seemed strange to me.

peace

[ayani]

Leviticus 19:28

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

thank you, BibleGateway.com!

[john313]

cool, thanks for the verse. but do you think that means do not get tattoos for the dead or do not put any marks on your body at all?

peace

[ayani]

Originally Posted by john313

cool, thanks for the verse. but do you think that means do not get tattoos for the dead or do not put any marks on your body at all?

peace

the first part of the passage refers to mourning- one is not to cut one's self or injure one's self ritually in mourning for the dead. i think the second part of the verse could be interpreted a number of ways.

i think it would be better to let an actual Jew answer the meat of that question, though.

[Mestemia]

Here you go, food for thought:

It seems every Christian anti-tattoo argument is based primarily on one thing...a single verse from Leviticus:
"You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh on account of the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the LORD."
Does this verse really condemn all tattoos?
Read properly, no!
Leviticus 19:26-31 deals with pagan practices and God's prohibitions against adopting those practices. In verse 28, God is warning the Jewish people about a pagan practice at funerals, where pagans would mutilate/mark themselves to appease their false gods. The pagans hoped that by cutting themselves and marking images/symbols of idols on their bodies, that they would obtain favour in the afterlife from their false gods, both for themselves and for those who just died.
See the Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible, the New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible, the Adam Clarke Commentary, and the Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible for more detailed analysis.
As no one with a Christian tattoo is trying to pacify a pagan deity, it is safe to say this verse is not relevant to us.
The Old law and the New Law established by Christ and how Leviticus 19:28 relates to the New Law

Still, many who read the Bible will not take into account historical considerations or the full context of Leviticus 19:28.
Yet, there is a very real problem with using this verse in an anti-tattoo argument. One cannot believe that Jesus is Lord and He came to save the world through grace and love and still accept this verse as applicable to us today. It sounds harsh, but it is true. Why? The answer is simple. Christ gave us a New Law, one that supersedes the Old Testament Law, which includes Leviticus 19:28.
By answering the following questions, we will see that Christ's New Law frees us from the fetters that kept us captive to rituals and observances such as Leviticus 19:28.



Source

[I Panicked! At the Disco]

I have heard many Christians say that tattoos are sinful, and I'm really not sure. I know that there is some scripture on the subject in the Old Testament, but Christians are under the New Law, so...I personally believe it is somewhat stupid and immature to get a permanent marking on your body. I mean, when you're 80 years old, are you really gonna want that there? Plus, it makes people automatically judge you and think certain things about you, that you're trash or whatever, even if it's not so, because that's they way the world looks at things. Besides, most everyone I've known who has gotten a tattoo did it to be cool, to run with a certain crowd, etc. And that is completely, utterly, ridiculously DUMB. ok, done ranting now....

[john313]

i agree that leviticus only restricts pagan style tats. i am familiar with the christian arguement that the laws of moses were abolished because they were weak and useless, according to paul (which i disagree with); and that is why i was looking for a "jewish" perspective.
i personally see no problem with nonpagan tats if one wants them, carpe diem right? of course it is essential to use only expendable income after giving the appropriate amount to the needy.

peace

[NoahideHiker]

Many times laws in the Jewish code are there to stop assimilation. If all the nations around the Jews shave their faces then the Jews are commanded to have beards. If the pagans around them get tatts then they are forbidden. But we have to keep in mind that the Jewish law is for, drumroll, the Jew. Lev 19:28 does not apply to us non Jews. We can have tatts if we want. Now weather the law still applies or not depends on your religion but nowhere in the Jewish bible does it say the law would ever be ended or that it would change.

[jewscout]

Originally Posted by NoahideHiker

Many times laws in the Jewish code are there to stop assimilation. If all the nations around the Jews shave their faces then the Jews are commanded to have beards. If the pagans around them get tatts then they are forbidden. But we have to keep in mind that the Jewish law is for, drumroll, the Jew.

hehe the Rambam would be proud. He argued that many of the Mitzvot of the Torah were placed there because those were opposing customs of the Gentiles at that time.

[john313]

Originally Posted by NoahideHiker

Many times laws in the Jewish code are there to stop assimilation. If all the nations around the Jews shave their faces then the Jews are commanded to have beards. If the pagans around them get tatts then they are forbidden. But we have to keep in mind that the Jewish law is for, drumroll, the Jew. Lev 19:28 does not apply to us non Jews. We can have tatts if we want. Now weather the law still applies or not depends on your religion but nowhere in the Jewish bible does it say the law would ever be ended or that it would change.

i try to follow the heart of all prophetic teachings. i am not of jewish bloodline, but i believe in the teachings of all prophets and i believe the laws taught by them were for the protection and evolution of mankind. so i do not believe the "jewish" law is only for "jews", they are there for specific reasons.
i would agree they are only for the "children of israel", the children of the path of God. but that has little to do with race. the laws are there for those who want to be closer to God.

namaste