Tattoos and Body Piercings in the Bible

In the following verse in 
Leviticus the LORD God 
says that we are not to 
make cuttings into our 
flesh (tattoos) as the 
pagan cultures do in 
order to cut the names 
of their gods into their 
skin. Nor are we to 
print marks upon our 
skin (tattoos). 

God is saying not to cut 
into our skin at all! And He 
did not make exceptions 
if you have a 'nice' 
message or a 'Christian' 
message tattooed into 
your skin! After 
commanding us not to 
do this He states "I am 
the LORD." Meaning 
that this is His 
command not to do 
these things as the 
pagans or the rest of 
the world does. 

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 John 
2:15 Love not the world, 
neither the things that 
are in the world. If any 
man love the world, 
the love of the Father is 
not in him. 

2:16 For all that is in the 
world, the lust of the flesh, 
and the lust of the eyes, 
and the pride of life, is 
not of the Father, but is 
of the world. 

2:17 And the world 
passeth away, and the lust 
thereof: but he that doeth 
the will of God abideth for 
ever. 

Please read more of this
eye opening Bible study.


This next verse also states 
that we are not to cut 
ourselves (as in modern day 
tattoo) because they (and 
we) "are the children of the 
LORD your God". 

Deuteronomy 14:1
Ye are the children of the 
LORD your God: ye shall 
not cut yourselves, nor 
make any baldness 
between your eyes for 
the dead. 

This verse also says that 
we shall not print any 
marks upon us (such as 
ear or nose or lip or other 
body piercings). And God 
says "I am the LORD" 
meaning this is His 
command to us!

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. 

Why should we obey these 
commands? Because the 
LORD does not want us 
imitating pagans. Jesus 
said we are the light of 
the world. 

Matthew
5:14 (a) Ye are the light of 
the world. 

5:16 Let your light so 
shine before men, that 
they may see your good 
works, and glorify your 
Father which is in heaven. 

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? 

6:20 For ye are bought 
with a price [the blood 
of Jesus Christ]: therefore 
glorify God in your body, 
and in your spirit, which 
are God's.