Tattooing is more common today than in previous generations, and many Christians wonder: Does the Bible forbid tattoos? Is getting ink on your skin a sin? Or is it a matter of Christian freedom and personal conviction? In this article I want to examine what Scripture says (and doesn’t say), how Christians historically have approached this question, and how to think biblically about tattoos today.

Biblical Texts: What the Bible Actually Says

Leviticus 19:28 — The One Explicit Command

The clearest Old Testament verse on this topic is Leviticus 19:28, which says:

“ Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.” (KJV)

In some translations “incise marks” or “put tattoo marks on yourselves” appear. This is the only verse in the Bible that directly mentions anything like tattooing.

However, several points matter when we interpret this verse:

• The law is part of the Mosaic covenant, addressed to ancient Israel in a specific cultural and religious milieu.

• The phrase “for the dead” suggests a connection with pagan mourning rites or rituals associated with death, mourning, or worship of false gods. The command may be condemning practices that belonged to idolatrous or pagan culture, rather than condemning any marking of the body.

• The text does not explain why the practice is prohibited; the motivation or symbolic meaning of tattoos in that culture likely influenced the prohibition.

Because Christians are not under the Mosaic law as a binding legal code (in the sense of ceremonial or ritual laws), one cannot simply transfer every commandment in Leviticus to every Christian in every age.

Silence in the New Testament

No New Testament author ever commands Christians either to get tattoos or to avoid them explicitly. There is no mention of tattooing in the pastoral epistles, the Gospels, or other books when dealing with moral or spiritual conduct.

Thus, any argument that says “the Bible clearly forbids tattoos today” must be cautious, because the New Testament is silent on this specific practice.

The GotQuestions article notes this silence, and concludes that getting a tattoo is not a sin per se, but a matter of Christian liberty governed by biblical principles. GotQuestions.org

Principles for Applying Scripture: Freedom, Motives, and Witness

Because the Bible does not give us a clear “yes/no” answer in the New Covenant for tattooing, Christians must lean on biblical principles to discern whether getting a tattoo is wise, commendable, or disallowed for their own lives.

Here are several principles and questions to ask:

1. Motive and Heart Attitude

Scripture teaches that it is not just what we do outwardly, but why we do it, that matters. Proverbs 16:2 says that all the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives. If someone gets a tattoo out of rebellion, pride, or to fit in, that is sinful.

2. Body as a Temple

Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 that believers’ bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit:

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. ”

Some argue this means we should avoid permanently marking our bodies. Others respond that the body-temple teaching does not demand zero adornment (jewelry, clothing, and even cosmetic changes exist in Scripture) but requires that whatever we do, we do it in a way that honors God.

3. Christian Liberty and the Principle of Edification

Because the New Testament allows liberty in many areas where the Old Testament law does not speak, Christians must use wisdom. Romans 14:23 warns, “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” If you engage in an act that you have doubts about, or which weighs heavily on your conscience, it may be sin for you personally.

Also, 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” The question of tattoos becomes: Does this glorify God? Does it harm my witness? Does it build others up or cause them to stumble?

4. Cultural Associations and Witness

Because tattoos have different connotations in different cultures, Christians must consider how a tattoo will be perceived. In some societies, tattoos are associated with gangs, rebellion, or negative subcultures. In others, they are artistic or symbolic.

If your tattoo will distract from your witness or cause others to stumble (Romans 14), that is a serious consideration. Conversely, in some circles a Christian tattoo can open dialogue about faith, but that motive must be examined carefully to avoid using it merely as a promotional gimmick.

5. Historical Christian Perspectives

Historically, many Christian traditions discouraged or opposed tattooing because of its pagan associations. In many cultures, tattooing was tied to pagan worship, ancestor cults, or idolatry.

Today, some Christian thinkers (e.g. from the Reformed tradition) affirm that the prohibition in Leviticus must be understood in context, and that the Christian is not bound by ritual laws—yet we are called to live differently than the world. John Piper, speaking on tattoos, argues that tattooing is not intrinsically evil, but we must ask, Does this choice bear fruit for God? Desiring God

Common Objections and Questions

“Jesus in Revelation has a tattoo on his thigh” (Revelation 19:16)

Some interpret Revelation 19:16  “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”  as indicating Jesus has a tattoo. But most scholars argue this is symbolic. Revelation uses symbolic imagery elsewhere (eyes like fire, a sword from his mouth). Also, Jesus as a Jew would not violate Levitical law. Thus this is best understood as symbolic representation rather than literal tattooing. GotQuestions.org

“If Leviticus forbade it, then why don’t we obey it today?”

This objection is reasonable: many commands in Leviticus are not kept by Christians (dietary laws, laws about clothing, etc.). The difference is that Christians believe that Christ fulfilled the Law, and that believers are under the New Covenant, not bound to every detail of the Mosaic code. The challenge is interpreting which commands carry over as moral principles and which were ceremonial or contextual.

“But the Bible commands against body marking for the dead”

Yes, part of the Leviticus prohibition is tied to mourning the dead. In that ancient cultural setting, people would cut themselves or mark their skin for the deceased. The command may have targeted those specific practices. Tattoos as an artistic or commemorative expression are not necessarily identical to those practices.

“Permanent vs temporary (henna) tattoos”

Some distinguish between permanent ink tattoos and temporary decorations (e.g. henna), arguing if something is transient and nonpermanent, it carries fewer concerns. 

Here is how I would frame a Christian approach to this question:

• The Bible does not explicitly forbid tattoos for New Covenant believers. The one explicit Old Testament command (Leviticus 19:28) must be understood in its original cultural and religious context.

• Tattooing is not intrinsically sinful, but whether it is right or wrong depends on motives, circumstances, and impact.

• Christians must use wisdom, self-examination, and prayer in making decisions about tattooing. The standard is not legalism, but whether the decision honors God, strengthens faith, and does not harm one’s witness or cause others to stumble.

• If after prayer and counsel you have no conviction against getting a tattoo and your motives are pure, it may be permissible for you. But if you have strong doubts or see it conflicting with your testimony, you should refrain.

• Regardless of whether one has tattoos or not, humility toward brothers or sisters with different convictions is essential. Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 warn against judging others in areas of Christian liberty.