Is It a Sin to Get a Tattoo?
No. We aren't bound to the ceremonial law in the Old Testament. (Full disclosure: I have multiple tattoos.)
No. We aren't bound to the ceremonial law in the Old Testament. (Full disclosure: I have multiple tattoos.)
Maybe you've got ink and someone quoted Leviticus at you. Or you're thinking about getting one and wondering if God will be disappointed. This is one of the most-searched faith questions on the internet, so you're definitely not the only one asking.
What the Bible says
1. The verse people quote. "You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:28 ESV). Read the verses around it and you'll find commands about not mixing fabrics and not trimming the edges of your beard (Leviticus 19:19, 27). These were part of the ceremonial law that set Israel apart from the pagan nations around them, whose rituals included cutting and marking themselves for the dead.
2. Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial law. In Christ, we're no longer under that law. "The law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian" (Galatians 3:24–25 ESV). That's why we eat bacon and wear cotton-poly blends without guilt.
3. It's possible Jesus has one. Describing Jesus' return, John writes, "On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16 ESV). I'm not building a doctrine on it, but it's fun to think about.
4. Your body still matters. "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit… So glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV). So the better question isn't "Is it a sin?" It's "Does this honor God?" A tattoo of something vulgar or hateful is a different conversation.
You might be thinking…
"My parents (or my church) think it's wrong." Respect their convictions, especially if you're under their roof. Romans 14 says not to look down on believers who see gray areas differently than you do.
"What should I get?" That's up to you. Just ask: Would I be OK with this in 20 years? Does it say something I believe? Am I doing this to honor God or just to impress people?
Next step
If you're considering a tattoo, pray about it and wait a few weeks. If you still want it and it honors God, go for it. And if you already have one you regret, remember: God looks at your heart, not your skin (1 Samuel 16:7).
Related questions
Leviticus 19:19, 27–28; Galatians 3:24–25; Revelation 19:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; Romans 14; 1 Samuel 16:7