Tattooing and Cutting The Flesh

Tattooing and Cutting the Flesh:

Tattooing was a custom extensively prevalent among the uncivilized nations of the world. It’s the imprinting of figures of every sort upon the human body. Cuttings made on the body are accomplished by making deep razor thin gashes on the face, arms, or legs, done mostly when a person has suffered the loss of a loved one. These cuttings would scar leaving a permanent impression.

Leviticus 19:28, “Ye (the Jews) shall not make any cuttings in you flesh for the dead, not print any marks upon you: I am the LORD,” a stern warning to the Jewish nation.    

My question is, Do these command by God apply to Christian’s? Well like everything else, I guess there are many opinions on the subject.

When I was in the service, many years back, those in the Navy, Army, and Marines, especially Navy personal would have tattoos on their arm. Sayings such as, “Mom,” or their ships name, or even the name of a girlfriend. Most tattoos were small in size and could be hidden from view if the person wore a long-sleeved shirt.

Now tattooing has become universal fad. The term tattooing is of Polynesian origin, and is said to be derived from the verb “ta,” which signifies to strike. It was found on Egyptian mummies dating back some 4000 years ago. It has been mentioned by classical authors in relation to the Thracians, Greeks, Gaul’s, ancient Germans, Britt’s, Romans etc.

The Romans tattooed criminals and slaves, as did the Germans during the world war. Every Jewish prisoner taken to the extermination camp was given a number that was tattooed on their arm, as were other prisoners. We know those tattooed with these numbers, were marked for death.

Tattooing was forbidden in Europe after the advent of Christianity, but the practice remained alive in the Near East, as well as other parts of the world. Many American Indian tribes customarily tattooed their faces, or bodies.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, this was done by Arab females and the different castes of the Hindus, impressions being made sometimes with a hot iron, ink or paint. Hindus bear upon their foreheads and other areas of their bodies certain sectarian marks in honor of their idols.

In other areas of the world, there was also a strong inclination to tattoo certain marks in honor of an idol, this being practiced in nations bordering ancient Israel. This may be the reason God’s warned the Jews not to cut, or mark their bodies. These marks could be considered signs of apostasy, and when once made, they were obstacles that could not be overcome easily.

Allusions to this practice can be seen in

Isaiah 44:5, “I am the LORD, one shall subscribe (write) with the hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.”

This was done as a solemn and public covenant, pledging himself to God’s service before witnesses. This was after the manner of a civil contract.

Isaiah 49:16, “I have graven (inscribed) thee upon the palms of my hands.” An allusions to marking the body can be found in,

Revelation 13:17, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

Revelation 14:1, “I (John) looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him a 144,000 having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.”

As for cutting the body, the Jews learned this in Egypt, and though they were weaned from it, they relapsed again into this old superstitious practice.

So, does this command by God apply to Christian’s? Well Christian Gentiles are adopted sons and daughters into the Jewish blessings. For those who reject or deny God, they are inheritors of the Jewish curses. I would think that whatever things God intended for the good, and safety of the Jewish people, He meant for us Christian’s also.

We have seen in Revelation, that God will mark those He chooses to serve him, and the beast of Revelation will mark all those who follow after him. Hmmm, my advice, don’t get tattooed, or have your body pierced in any way. And if you have, I would STOP this pagan practice.

God has taken time to give us instructions concerning this practice. He uses the phrase, “Thou shall not.” This doe’s not sound like a casual warning, but a “thou shall not warning,” implying there may be a price to pay for disobedience. It may not come from him, but from the mark you bare on your body.

 

Part 2.

A reader wrote, “In the same chapter that supposedly says “no tattoos” – the Jews were also told not to cut their sideburns or to wear two different kinds of cloth together. I wonder if the “no tattoo” people even care that they inconsistently and arbitrarily apply the “Thou shall nots” of that.”

Phil replies, “It’s strange to me why you picked out that one particular verse to state your case. Are you saying that God is wasting His breath? Your comments seem to show a lack of respect for the authority of Scripture. Lets look at a few more “Thou shall not verses.

Thou shall not, “Prostitute thy daughter.”

Thou shall not, “Turn unto idols.”

Thou shall not, “Make to yourselves molten gods.”

Leviticus 19:9-10, Give all of us instructions to share the things we have with the poor and the stranger.”

“Thou shall not steal.”

“Thou shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God.”

“Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him.”

“Thou shall not curse the deaf.”

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment.”

“Thou shall respect the person of the poor.”

“Thou shall keep my Sabbaths.”

Well anyway it’s quite an extensive list, and seems for the most part to project the rights and wrongs, the do’s and don’t that we are expected from, not only the Jew at the time these things were written, but should overflow to the Christian community.

As far as Leviticus 19:27, “Thou shall not round the corners of your heads, etc.”

Let’s take a closer look at this. Why would God concern himself with hairstyles? This was an Egyptian fashion. This kind of coiffure had a highly idolatrous meaning; and this type of hairstyle was adopted with some variations by almost all idolaters in these ancient days. The ancient Arabs cut their hair round in honor of their god Bacchus who was portrayed as cutting it in this manner.

Maybe God knows something we don’t?

The reader wrote back, “You asked, “which of those “thou shalt not’s” are covered by Jesus’ summary of the law – “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself”?”

Phil replies, “Thanks for that question, it will show how interwoven the Old, and New Testament are.

Let’s begin by looking at the word love. The Greek is, agapao, is absolute, a transitive verb, expressing action that passes from the agent to the object or person. To love; It differing from, fond, or to be a friend, which includes the kind of love or affection expressed by a kiss.

To love, as to regard with strong affection! Love as referring to superiors, and including the idea of duty, respect, veneration, etc. to love and serve with fidelity. To love, as to regard with favor, good will, benevolence, to wish well to, do good to, etc. As in,

Luke 6:32, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” For the future as imperative in Matthew 5:43. 

John 13:34, Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

Let’s begin with Leviticus 19:2, and cover the things falling under, “loving God.”

Thou shall not, “Turn unto idols.”

Thou shall not, “Make to yourselves molten gods.”

“Thou shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God.”

“Thou shall fear thy God: I am the LORD.”

“Ye shall keep my statutes.”

“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them:”

Regarding to, “love our neighbors.”

Let’s look at the Greek word for neighbor. It can be a fellow-man, any other member of the human family; so in the precept, quoted from

Leviticus 19:18, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor,” where Septuagint for Hebrew is, “Neighbor.” or it can be one of the same people or country, a fellow-country man.

“Help feed the poor, and strangers, Verse 10, implies this.

“Thou shall not steal.”

“Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him.”

“Thou shall not curse the deaf.”

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in (making) judgments.”

“Thou shall respect the person of the poor.”

“Thou shalt not put a stumbling block before the (spiritually) blind.

“Thou shall not go up and down as a talebearer (gosseper) among thy people.”

“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart.”

“Thou shalt in any way rebuke thy neighbor.”

“Thou shall not cause him to sin.”

We are also to love ourselves, therefore, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, not print any marks (tattoos) upon you.”

Last word, do as you please, but I’m sure there will be a price to pay in this world, or in the next. It is written,

Galatians 5:9, “a little Leaven will leaven the whole loaf.”

Those who spend the rest of their lives in jail for armed robbery, didn’t begin as felons, most likely began by stealing some small object, working their way up the ladder to other major crimes, and so it is with sin.

Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com