What Does the Bible Say About Tattoos? Leviticus 19:28, Context, and Church Views

What does the Bible say about tattoos? Only one verse mentions them directly. Leviticus 19:28 tells ancient Israel not to cut the body for the dead or put marks on the skin. The New Testament never mentions tattoos. Because of that, most Christian groups today treat tattoos as a matter of conscience, while observant Jews still treat the verse as binding law.

I build Ink Studio AI, a tattoo design tool. I am not a theologian or a pastor. This guide reports what the texts say, how scholars read the Hebrew, and what each tradition teaches, with a link to every source. Use it to prepare a conversation with your own church or rabbi, not to replace one.

Leviticus 19:28 in Different Translations

The verse reads differently depending on the version you open. Older English versions are less specific about what kind of mark is forbidden, while modern versions use the word "tattoo." All quotes below come from Bible Gateway (checked October 2026).

The verse has two parts. The first part forbids cutting the body for the dead. The second part forbids marking the skin. Readers disagree on whether the mourning context in the first part also explains the second part, and that disagreement drives most of the debate.

What the Hebrew Words Mean

The Hebrew phrase for the second part is ketovet ka'aka. Rabbi Dr. Ari Zivotofsky explains in Jewish Action (2010) that ketovet comes from the root "to write," while ka'aka appears only once in the whole Bible. A word that appears only once is hard to translate with certainty.

Early translators made different choices. The Aramaic translation of Onkelos renders the phrase as incisions, and the Greek Septuagint renders it as tattooed writing. The medieval commentator Rashi describes writing done with a needle that leaves a permanent mark.

The Mishnah and Talmud (Makkot 3:6 and 21a) define the forbidden act as a two-step process: "perforating the skin and filling the resulting hole with ink." In the same Talmud passage, the sage Bar Kapparah holds that the ban applies only when the design is in the name of an idol, according to the CCAR responsum on tattooing and burial. Maimonides, by contrast, wrote that tattooing was a pagan practice for pledging someone to an idol, but that for the law "intent is immaterial" (Zivotofsky, 2010).

The Historical Context: Mourning Rites, Idols, and Slave Marks

A detailed portrait of Jesus Christ, serene expression, with a subtle cross in the background.

Leviticus 19 is a list of laws, and it mixes different kinds of commands. Verse 18 says "love your neighbor as yourself." Verse 19 forbids sowing two kinds of seed and wearing cloth of two materials. Verse 27 forbids rounding off the hair on the temples. Verse 28 then covers cutting and marking. Each reader has to decide which of these commands still apply and why.

Scholars offer three main explanations for the tattoo ban:

• Pagan religious marks. The Jehovah's Witnesses' Bible Questions Answered article says the command set Israel apart from neighbors who marked their skin with the names or symbols of their gods. Maimonides gave a similar reason.
• Mourning rites. Because the verse pairs marks with cuts "for the dead," many readers link both to funeral customs. Historian Mark W. Chavalas, quoted by Biblical Archaeology Society (2026, first published 2016), notes that "we find no evidence of this in ancient texts from the Levant, Mesopotamia or Egypt" for tattooing as a mourning practice.
• Slave marks. Chavalas points out that tattoos marked slaves across the ancient Near East, often with an owner's name on the hand or forehead. He suggests the ban kept Israelites, recently freed from Egypt, from wearing signs of their former servitude.

None of these explanations is stated in the verse itself. The Biblical Archaeology Society article says plainly that the verse "does not give an explicit reason why."

Old Testament Law vs the New Covenant

Christians do not keep every law in Leviticus. Most do not avoid mixed fabrics, for example. The real question is which category Leviticus 19:28 belongs to, and Christian traditions answer it in a few different ways.

The ceremonial law view. Many Catholic and Protestant teachers divide Old Testament law into moral, ceremonial, and civil laws. Fr. Charles Grondin of Catholic Answers (2023) writes that "Old Testament prohibitions regarding tattoos are considered ceremonial laws and thus are not binding on Christians." The Reformed Westminster Confession of Faith (1646), chapter 19, makes the same division and says the ceremonial laws "are now abrogated, under the new testament," while the moral law still binds everyone.

The fulfilled law view. Many evangelical writers argue that Christ fulfilled the law and that believers live under a new covenant. Chris Pennington of Crossroads Church (2023) cites Romans 10:4 and Matthew 5:17 and notes that tattoos "are never mentioned again in the Bible." Galatians 5:1 is often cited here: "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (ESV). In Acts 15:28-29, the early church gave non-Jewish believers a short list of requirements, and tattoos are not on it.

The cautious view. Other Christians point out that the same chapter contains "love your neighbor as yourself," so a reader cannot drop verse 28 just because it sits in Leviticus. They keep the principle behind the verse, even if they do not treat it as a strict rule. The Jehovah's Witnesses article takes this line: the law is not binding on Christians, but the principle is "worth serious consideration."

The Jewish view. For observant Jews, the law of Leviticus was never replaced. Orthodox Judaism treats the ban as current law, as explained in the next section.

Other Bible Verses People Cite About Tattoos

Leviticus 19:28 is the only verse that names tattoos. The verses below come up in almost every discussion, on both sides. Quotes are from the ESV unless noted.

Translation matters for Isaiah 44:5. The ESV says "write on his hand," while the KJV says "subscribe with his hand unto the Lord," which sounds like signing a name rather than marking skin. Chavalas reads the verse as a person "willingly proposing to become a servant of God" (Biblical Archaeology Society). Joyce Meyer quotes the Amplified Classic version, which inserts "[even brand or tattoo]" into the verse (Joyce Meyer Ministries).

What Different Churches and Religions Teach

A religious Cross

None of the Christian sources below calls tattoos a sin in themselves, but the tone of their guidance varies a lot. Judaism and Islam have their own sources and stricter mainstream positions. The table below summarizes each position as its own sources state it.

Catholic. Grondin writes that "there is nothing inherently immoral about a Catholic having a tattoo or a piercing" and that "prudential judgment is needed." The Catholic Church has no formal ruling that bans tattoos.

Eastern and Oriental Orthodox. I could not find a single published position from the Eastern Orthodox churches. The Coptic Orthodox community in Egypt, however, has a well-documented custom. Parents have marked children with a small cross on the inside of the wrist as a sign of Christian identity, and some churches check for it at the door (Egyptian Streets, 2022). The Coptic Razzouk family says it has tattooed Christian pilgrims since the year 1300, today from a shop in Jerusalem (Religion Unplugged, 2022).

Evangelical and nondenominational. GotQuestions calls tattoos "not a black-and-white moral issue but a gray area" and concludes that "getting a tattoo is not a sin in itself." It lists the tests it would apply: the subject of the design, motive, witness to others, stewardship of the body, and parental authority for minors. Joyce Meyer, who has a tattoo, argues that "true biblical holiness is all about your motive."

Latter-day Saints. In October 2000, church president Gordon B. Hinckley said, "A tattoo is graffiti on the temple of the body." The 2001 youth pamphlet said, "Do not disfigure yourself with tattoos or body piercings." The 2022 For the Strength of Youth guide dropped that line and asks members to "honor the sacredness of your body" (Salt Lake Tribune, 2025).

Judaism. Orthodox Judaism holds that the Torah forbids tattooing, though Maimonides and the Shulchan Aruch place the main guilt on the person who does the tattooing. Zivotofsky notes that Rabbi Ephraim Oshry advised Holocaust survivors to keep their camp numbers as "badges of honor" rather than remove them. The Reform CCAR describes tattooing as running "counter to the letter and spirit of our tradition," while treating the ban as general rather than absolute (Wikipedia, accessed 2026).

Islam. The Quran does not mention tattoos directly. Scholars who forbid them cite a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari in which the Prophet "cursed the one who does tattoos and the one who has a tattoo done," while Shia authorities Ali al-Sistani and Ali Khamenei hold that there is no authoritative prohibition (Wikipedia summary of cited scholars). Henna, which fades, is generally treated differently from permanent ink.

Religion does track with tattoo rates. In a Pew Research Center survey (2023), 29% of religiously affiliated US adults had at least one tattoo, compared with 41% of religiously unaffiliated adults. For the wider numbers, see how many people have tattoos.

Arguments For and Against Tattoos for Christians

This table puts the main arguments side by side. Each one is made by at least one of the sources above. Weigh them with your own church's teaching.

How Christians Decide for Themselves

Most of the sources I read land in the same place: the Bible does not settle the question for a modern Christian in one verse, so the decision rests on motive and context. GotQuestions, Crossroads, and the Jehovah's Witnesses article all suggest similar questions to ask before you book an appointment:

• What does the design say? A verse or cross sends a different message from an image tied to violence or the occult.
• Why do I want it? Pennington reframes the question as "Are tattoos a sin for me?" Romans 14:23 says that what does not come from faith is sin.
• Will it hurt my relationships? Consider parents, spouse, church community, and your job.
• Am I rushing? The Jehovah's Witnesses article warns that the decision "is often made in haste, yet it can have a long-term impact."
• Have I asked someone I trust? A pastor, priest, or rabbi knows your tradition's specific teaching.

If you are under 18, GotQuestions adds that parents' authority is part of the decision.

Faith-Based Tattoo Designs and Etiquette

Two angels entering heaven

If you decide to get a tattoo that expresses your faith, the design choices matter more than with most tattoos, because errors in a verse or symbol are hard to live with. Common Christian designs include:

• The cross. Plain Latin crosses, the Coptic wrist cross, and the Jerusalem cross (one large cross with four small ones), which is the most common pilgrim design at the Razzouk shop.
• Scripture verses. Short references such as "Isaiah 41:10" or a full line of text, often on the forearm, ribs, or collarbone.
• The Ichthys. The fish symbol, whose Greek letters form an acronym for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."
• Hebrew or Greek text. Words from the original languages, such as a name of God or a key phrase.
• Imagery. Praying hands, doves, angels, a crown of thorns, or a portrait of Jesus.

A few practical points help the result:

1. Check the exact wording. Pick one translation, copy the verse from a trusted source, and write the reference correctly. Different versions word the same verse very differently, as the Leviticus table shows.
2. Have Hebrew or Greek checked by a fluent reader. Hebrew reads right to left, and tattoo artists who do not read it can reverse or break the letters.
3. Respect other faiths' rules. A Hebrew phrase means something different to an observant Jew, for whom the tattoo itself is forbidden. Images of the Buddha or Quranic text can also cause offense.
4. Test the lettering first. For verse tattoos, try the words in different scripts with our tattoo font generator before you bring the text to your artist.
5. Think about placement. If you plan to keep a tattoo covered at church or work, choose a spot that clothing hides.

For visual inspiration, you can browse tattoo ideas or sketch a first concept with the AI tattoo generator. An AI concept is a starting point to discuss with your artist. It is not a finished stencil, and the artist will redraw it to fit your skin and placement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is getting a tattoo a sin?

The Bible does not call tattoos a sin in the New Testament, and Leviticus 19:28 is the only verse that mentions them. Catholic Answers and GotQuestions both say a tattoo is not a sin in itself, while the motive and design can make a particular tattoo wrong. Orthodox Judaism, by contrast, treats tattooing as forbidden by Torah law.

Can Christians get tattoos?

Yes, according to most mainstream Christian churches, which treat tattoos as a matter of conscience. Some groups, such as the Latter-day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses, discourage them or urge serious caution. Ask your own church what it teaches before you decide.

What does Leviticus 19:28 mean?

It is a command to ancient Israel not to cut the body for the dead and not to put marks on the skin. The Hebrew phrase ketovet ka'aka appears only here, so its exact meaning is debated. Scholars connect the ban to idol worship, mourning customs, or slave marks, and Christian traditions disagree on whether it still applies.

Did Jesus have a tattoo according to Revelation 19:16?

The verse says that "on his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." It appears in a vision full of symbols, such as a sword that comes from his mouth in the verse before. The text does not say the name is inked into skin, and no Gospel describes Jesus with a tattoo.

Can you be buried in a Jewish cemetery with tattoos?

Yes. Rabbi Dr. Ari Zivotofsky writes that "a person with a tattoo is buried in a Jewish cemetery, no questions asked," and a Reform CCAR responsum calls the opposite idea absurd: "the cemeteries would be virtually empty." Individual cemeteries can set their own rules, so families may want to ask in advance.

Do I have to remove a tattoo I got before becoming religious?

Most traditions do not require it. Zivotofsky writes that Jewish law has no clear obligation to remove an existing tattoo, and Latter-day Saint guidance says prior tattoos do not keep converts from church service. Scholars who forbid tattoos in Islam generally do not require converts to remove earlier ones either.

Is a Bible verse tattoo disrespectful?

Most Christian writers who accept tattoos see a verse tattoo as a sign of devotion, as long as the text is accurate and the placement is respectful. Some believers still find it uncomfortable, so consider how your family and church will see it. Check the wording against a trusted translation before the session.

Final Thoughts

The Bible's direct teaching on tattoos is a single verse in Leviticus, written for ancient Israel and explained in different ways by Jewish and Christian traditions. Most churches today leave the decision to the individual conscience, with motive, message, and respect for others as the tests. If you are unsure, read the passage in context, talk to your pastor, priest, or rabbi, and give yourself time before you commit to permanent ink.