The only direct mention of tattoos in Scripture is found in Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.” This command was part of the Mosaic Law given to Israel to separate them from the pagan nations that practiced body markings and rituals tied to idolatry and necromancy.
The New Testament does not specifically address tattoos, but the guiding principle for believers is found in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Romans 12:1 also instructs, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” This means that what we do with our bodies should be motivated by holiness and the desire to glorify God.
The question then becomes not whether a tattoo is culturally acceptable, but whether it honors the Lord, reflects a holy testimony, and is free from vanity, rebellion, or worldliness. God examines the heart and the motive behind every action.
