Are Tattoos sinful? Leviticus 19:28 says (NLT), “Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the LORD.” Notice that it says “for the dead”, which means this direction was aimed at forbidding pagan ancestral worship and mourning practices. Deuteronomy 14:1 says, “Since you are the people of the LORD your God, never cut yourselves or shave the hair above your foreheads in mourning for the dead.” This confirms that self-mutilation, like cutting, was a practice associated with mourning that God was against. The ancient Israelites would express mourning in a few different ways, weeping and crying loudly (Psalm 6:6, Genesis 50:10; Ruth 1:9), bowing the head (Lamentations 2:10), and fasting (2 Samuel 3:35), sprinkling ashes, dust, or dirt upon themselves (2 Samuel 1:2; Joshua 7:6), tear their clothing (Genesis 37:29; 2 Chronicles 34:27), removed jewelry (Exodus 33:4), walked barefoot (2 Samuel 15:30), and possibly wear a coarse, goat-hair garment called sackcloth/burlap (Genesis 37:34; Jonah 3:6-8). These mourning actions were permitted, but cutting, shaving, and tattooing were not.

Additionally, note that shaving was permitted for general cleaning purposes after a disease like leprosy (Lev 13:33, Lev 14:8-9), at the end of a Nazarite vow (Numbers 6:9, 18), or during the dedication of the Levites to the priesthood (Num 8:5-7). However, it is only prohibited when it comes to mourning or worship of the dead. It seems that, based on God’s restrictions on shaving as they relate to cutting and tattooing, the issue was more about mourning the dead, rather than doing these actions in general. So, cutting hair is not prohibited. Cutting one’s flesh is likely frowned upon in general since one is defiling God’s image, which is our bodies (Gen 1:26). Also, it would conflict with the ritual purity laws because those laws limit contact with certain bodily fluids, so exposing internal body fluids on purpose would be frowned upon. Furthermore, New Testament believers are the new temple of God because His Spirit resides in them (1 Cor 3:16-17, 1 Cor 6:19-20); therefore, we shouldn’t desecrate our temple.

That leaves us with tattoos, is it defilement of God’s temple, or is it fine as long as there is no mourning or ancestral worship associated with it? If someone isn’t doing something in association with a direct violation of this scripture, like ancestral worship, idolatry, some kind of occult or gang activity, witchcraft, or something else sinful, then it may be fine. People get tattoos of stupid random stuff all the time, some Christians even have Bible themed tattoos, so it doesn’t have to be for the dead or anything like that. In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul says that some things are lawful but not expedient, meaning they may be technically allowed, but we should examine our motives and ensure that they do not detract from God’s calling in our lives as ambassadors for Christ. Getting a tattoo is a pretty permanent commitment, unlike face painting or wearing makeup. Technically, the translation of kethobeth (כְּתֹבֶת) is “mark or imprint,” so body painting and such could fit into this category. Still, it would only be sinful if it is for the dead (like in celebration of a holiday that worships the dead). Otherwise, body paint or makeup should be fine, as it can be washed off. Tattoos, on the other hand, are permanent and can only be removed through laser treatment. Does a new Christian have to remove their tattoos before they can be fully saved? I don’t believe it’s necessary since laser removal is expensive and can leave scarring. If anything, the tattoos can serve as a testimony of where they come from, or they can even be covered with Christ-based modifications. 

I don’t believe Christians should be reckless by getting tattoos, but we all have sin nature, and people make mistakes; the main issue is that the person will be wearing this mistake for the rest of their life. Ultimately, we can heed Paul’s counsel to follow one’s conscience on matters that are not explicitly clear in the Bible. Paul says to do this on issues of his day like vegetarianism, holidays, and eating meats sacrificed to idols in Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians ch. 8-10. Let’s not judge others too harshly who have done it, but at the same time, I think it’s worth giving a second thought to ensure that what you are doing is Christlike and will glorify Christ in some way. Remember you were bought with a price, so glorify God in your spirit and body (1 Cor 6:20).