What about tattoos?

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Question 12004

Tattoos were once associated almost exclusively with sailors, soldiers, and subcultures. Today they are mainstream, and increasing numbers of Christians either have tattoos or are considering getting one. The question is whether Scripture prohibits them, permits them, or leaves the matter to individual conscience. The answer requires careful handling of the one Old Testament text that directly addresses the practice, and honest application of broader New Testament principles.

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Leviticus 19:28

The text most commonly cited is Leviticus 19:28: “You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD.” This is a clear prohibition, but it must be read in its context. The surrounding verses forbid eating blood (v.26), practising divination or interpreting omens (v.26), rounding the corners of the hair (v.27), and cutting the beard (v.27). These instructions are part of the Mosaic Law given specifically to Israel, and they are directed at practices associated with pagan mourning rituals and the worship of false gods. The cutting and marking of the body “for the dead” was a feature of Canaanite religious practice, and God was distinguishing His people from the surrounding nations.

Christians are not under the Mosaic Law as a covenant governing their relationship with God (Romans 6:14; Galatians 3:23-25). This does not mean the Old Testament is irrelevant, but it does mean that the specific regulations of the Levitical code do not apply directly to believers in the Church age. The same Christians who cite Leviticus 19:28 against tattoos do not typically insist on the prohibition against trimming the beard in the previous verse. Consistency of hermeneutic matters. If the passage is understood as part of the Mosaic covenant’s ceremonial and cultural regulations, then it applies to Israel under that covenant, not to the Church under the New Covenant.

New Testament Principles

The New Testament does not mention tattoos. This silence is not the same as approval, but it does mean the question falls into the category of matters where believers must apply broader biblical principles. The body of the believer is “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), which calls for honouring God with our bodies. Paul’s context in that passage is sexual immorality, not body art, but the underlying principle of bodily stewardship is relevant. The question a believer should ask is whether a particular tattoo honours God, whether it is motivated by vanity or rebellion, and whether it reflects the kind of life being lived for Christ.

Christian liberty, as Paul outlines it in Romans 14, allows for differences of conviction on matters where Scripture does not give explicit commands. A tattoo of a Scripture verse or a meaningful symbol is a very different thing from imagery that glorifies death, the occult, or sexual content. The content and motivation matter more than the medium itself.

So, now what?

Leviticus 19:28 does not function as a binding prohibition for New Covenant believers, any more than the surrounding verses about beards and haircuts do. The New Testament does not address tattoos directly. This places the matter in the realm of Christian liberty and conscience, guided by the principle of honouring God with our bodies. A believer considering a tattoo should ask honest questions about their motivation, the content of the design, and whether it will help or hinder their witness. There is no biblical basis for treating tattooed Christians as less spiritual, nor for assuming that any tattoo is inherently sinful. What Scripture does require is thoughtfulness, not thoughtlessness.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20