What does the Bible say about tattoos?

The Church & Christian LifeIn theological review

The short answer

The Bible mentions tattooing once, in Leviticus, in a passage forbidding Israel practices associated with mourning for the dead and pagan worship; it does not address modern tattooing as a general subject. Christians therefore decide the question by wider principles: the body belongs to God, conscience binds each believer, and love for others governs freedoms. Christians of good conscience land on both sides of the practice itself.

The fuller answer

Start with the one verse, read in its passage rather than on its own. Leviticus chapter 19 mixes commands about worship, honesty, farming, clothing and care for the poor, and in the middle of it stands the instruction not to make cuts on the body for the dead or tattoo marks, ending with the words, I am the LORD. The immediate neighbours of the verse are mourning rites and pagan practices, which is why most careful readers, including many who would never be tattooed themselves, say the verse addresses tattooing as part of idolatrous mourning customs in Israel's world, not artwork on skin as such in every culture and century.

You must not make any cuts in your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:28 (BSB)

That does not settle the question by itself; it moves it to the principles that govern all such matters. Paul says the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and that believers were bought with a price, so the body is not raw material for self expression without reference to its owner. The same Paul, writing about disputed practices, insists each person be convinced in his own mind, warns against despising or judging a brother over them, and makes love, not liberty, the deciding voice. Permanence also deserves a plain mention: a tattoo will outlive the mood, the relationship and possibly the convictions that produced it, and wisdom counts that cost beforehand.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (BSB)

So the plain answer is that Scripture neither commands tattoos nor forbids the modern practice in terms, and anyone who tells you the Bible settles it with one verse has not read the verse in its home. What Scripture does settle is the manner of deciding: honour God with your body, refuse anything that celebrates what he forbids or mocks what he loves, respect the conscience he has given you and the consciences around you, including parents and employers where those duties apply, and do not make a disputed freedom a badge of spiritual rank in either direction.

Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

Romans 14:13 (BSB)

Paul's closing word on all such disputed matters applies here with unusual directness: decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. That cuts against tattooing chosen to provoke, to signal contempt for parents or church, or to celebrate things God condemns. It also cuts against the opposite performance, treating unmarked skin as a mark of superior holiness and looking down on brothers and sisters Christ has received. Romans ends the argument by relocating it: the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, and the person who serves Christ in that spirit is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Sources

Berean Standard Bible (BSB)

Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend page passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This section is in that queue.

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