This is a question I hear often, and it’s one I believe we should answer not with opinions, but with the truth of God’s Word. Today, I’m going to dive into what Scripture actually says about tattoos, and what it means for us as believers today.
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.”
Now let’s look at the historical context. We see that God was talking to the Israelites, and forbidding them to NOT do any type of pagan practices like making cuts on their bodies and marking their bodies up with tattoos.
In the pagan culture people would cut their bodies or mark their skin as part of pagan worship rituals to worship and honor false gods and mourning ceremonies for the dead.
These markings were symbols of allegiance to false gods or connected to superstitious beliefs. God’s command was about separating His people from these ungodly practices.
This isn’t about getting cute tattoos, it’s about idolatry! In Leviticus 19:4 it tells us DO NOT turn to idols! The Lord only wants us to turn to Him. We shouldn’t turn to false gods.
So the question is, are having tattoos a sin? The Bible does not specifically say we shouldn’t get tattoos or that having tattoos is a sin. HOWEVER, it does give us guiding principles on how we should treat our body.
In 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 it says “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body..”
Ask yourself these questions whether you should or shouldn’t get a tattoo
• Is it to glorify God?
• Is it to follow a trend?
• Are you doing this because it’s the next “fun” thing?
• Are you just trying to follow the crowd? Is it because everyone else is doing it?
• Is it tied to something that contradicts His Word?
• If Jesus walked into a room and saw you, would he be proud of your decision?
What is the heart behind the decision? Our heart motive matters more than the ink itself. God isn’t just looking at your skin. He’s actually looking at your heart.
So whatever you do, make sure you’re doing it for the glory of God. Do it all for Him. And if it’s not bringing Him glory, that should tell you right there if you should do it or not.