Are Tattoos And Piercings A Sin? What does the Bible say about tattoos? What does the Bible say about body piercing?
If you are thinking about getting a tattoo, one of your friends might have mentioned, probably for the millionth time, that tattoos and all kinds of piercings are a sin.
hey might have sung this song for such a long time that you almost believe it. And it’s not just that one friend; the ‘tattoos are a sin’ notion could have been peddled your way throughout your life that you don’t know what to think anymore. But, you dint have to feel confused about the subject anymore.
This article looks at everything you need to know about tattoos and piercings to help you determine if having tats or tattoos is a sin or not.
Is getting a tattoo a sin?
Well, it depends on how you interpret the Bible, your intentions, and what you feel is right in your heart.
Remember that people (read Christians) will judge whether getting that tattoo feels like the right thing for you to do or not.
What does the Bible say about tattoos?
Most Christians often question and judge harshly people who get tattoos, and some people have been excommunicated from the church for having tattoos. While the newer churches seem to hold nothing against people with tattoos and all kinds of piercings, welcoming all to the church, there is the group of Christians that will quote the scripture when questions about getting tattoos are raised. Specifically, Leviticus 19:28. This bible verse is often the answer to the ‘Is getting a tattoo a sin?’ question. To quote the Bible, here is what the verse says, “You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord.”
But is this the actual meaning of the verse, that all those who get tattoos and body piercings will be condemned?
Well, to be able to address this question accurately, we first need to understand and take into consideration a few things, starting with the fact that this portion of the Bible, specifically Leviticus, is the section of the Bible that covers the address that was given to guide the behavior of the Israelites and how they were required to interact with the Pagan nations that surrounded them.
It’s also important to note that there are many other verses in Leviticus, for example, Verse 19 of Chapter 28, which states that “You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material.” Of course, such verses would make you question many more things beyond the tattoos and body piercings, and we won’t have versatile fabrics and fashion because the Lord disapproves of them.
So, why does the Bible prohibit tattoos? Well, like the matter of fabrics and not mixing seeds, the reason why the Israelites were warned against getting their bodies tattooed has to do with the fact that all the pagan communities that surrounded the Israelites marked themselves with tattoos, and it would seem that the bible verse warning against tattoos was a warning by God for the Israelites.
You could say that God wanted his people not identified, albeit externally, by the tattoos on their bodies and generally how they looked. It would be safe to note that Christians often take this message out of context, especially when you read the scripture. 1 Samuel 16:7 clearly points out that God cares about what is in the heart and not what they have on the outside or on their bodies.
Being evil (going by the scripture) is a decision that comes from within and not from what someone chooses to have on their skin. Of course, this could also mean that what’s on the outside indicates what’s on the insider, which is why it would seem that God call upon His people to separate themselves from the world, and this often covers how we choose to live and how we conduct ourselves, specifically from the external standpoint.
With that said, and going by the interpretations of the scripture, having tattoos and piercings may or may not be a good thing. It’s important to note that the scriptures (and the interpretations) above do not, in any way, imply that all the Christians with tattoos are terrible people.
That said, whether having a tattoo is a sin or not will depend on how you feel about tattoos after you consider the bible verses quoted above, and generally, the message shared throughout Leviticus 19. So, depending on your perception of the Bible and what you feel strongly in your heart, you could either refrain from getting that tattoo, or you could go to town with it.
Remember that the Bible and the meaning you derive from different passages don’t come with a standard template, and you could choose to take the message from the Bible as it is, word for word, or you could find a meaning that makes sense to you.
You also need to keep in mind that the modern Bible will have the word tattoo incorporated into the Leviticus 19:28 verse, but this wasn’t the case in the older bible versions. The incorporation of the word tattoo into the Bible makes the message condemning tattoos stronger. But you need to keep in mind that the word ‘tattoo’ wasn’t a word in the English dictionary until later in the 18th century, meaning that the literal translation of the Bible doesn’t have anything like tattoo written in it, and the Bible only mentioned body modifications.
So, to answer the question of whether getting a tattoo is a sin or not, you’d have to choose the side of the bible and bible interpretations to live by. While one group of Christians believe that because of the mention of tattoos in the Old Testament, the rules set out forth in this section of the Bible does not apply to Christians anymore. This is supported by the fact that there is no mention of tattoos or body modifications in the New Testament. So, without the explicit command that condemns the modern-day concept of tattoos, it means that getting a tattoo is not a sin.
Is it a sin to get a piercing?
Unfortunately, it seems that doing anything to your body is considered a sin in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament. And though piercing your ears isn’t really a sin, some people are against and consider piercings defacing the house of the Holy Spirit.
What does the Bible say about body piercing?
Well, the Bible, in the Old Testament, specifically in Leviticus 19:28, warms against making cuttings in your flesh or prints of any kind on the body.
These admonitions were given because the body modifications that the Israelites were warned about were practices common with the Pagans.
Some people note that body piercings have their roots in false religious practices and witchcraft. Then you have the New Testament and the Lord admonishing against defiling the body as it the temple of the Holy Spirit.
There are many other verses throughout the Bible, all admonishing body piercings and other forms of body modifications. And if you are a believer, it would seem that piercings are a sin?
But like the matter of tattoos, how you see tattoos and body piercings depends on your interpretation of the Bible.
Should you get a tattoo or a body piercing?
To get a tattoo or a body piercing or not is a personal decision guided by personal beliefs, and if you are a Christian, it depends on how you choose to interpret the Bible.
For most people, including modern-day Christians, there is nothing wrong with getting tattoos or body piercings.
Conclusion
Many people believe that there is nothing wrong with tattoos and body piercings, but others believe that tattoos and body piercings are some of the things that are terrible with our society today.
If you are on the fence and would like guidance on body piercings and tattoos, you need to know that the decision to get a tattoo or a body piercing depends on your interpretation of the Bible.
Tattoos and piercings are deadly sins to others and not a big deal to others.
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Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.