(Lev. 19:28) Does this mean no tattoos at all, or none commemorating the dead?

Question

'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."

Leviticus 19:28

(to Nana)"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive

1 corinthians 10:23

I do have Jesus, and I dont follow all (if any) of the law. I was just trying to understand, for:

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers."

Psalm 1:2-3

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."

By "until everything is accomplished" does he mean his resurection, or the second coming?

Answer 1

Take it all in context.

This is part of the great Priestly set of commands in Leviticus. Their function is to SEPARATE out the Israelites, and specifically the Levites who would be engaged in holy service to God, from the surrounding cultures. In this case, the Canaanites (and others) at the time would gash themselves and make tattoos as forms of grieving but also of honoring and worshiping their dead relatives and ancestors. The Israelites were to worship God alone, not their ancestors, so this would mark them as a people separate and apart from the Canaanites.

The question is, How does this apply to my life? It's not a matter of following the letter of the law, and not getting tattoos. It's a question of...would getting a tattoo mark me as part of the culture around me? Or could I still be separate and consecrated to God?

Answer 2

Well, you should look at the whole passage:

19 " 'Keep my decrees.
" 'Do not mate different kinds of animals.
" 'Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.
" 'Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.
20 " 'If a man sleeps with a woman who is a slave girl promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed. 21 The man, however, must bring a ram to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for a guilt offering to the LORD . 22 With the ram of the guilt offering the priest is to make atonement for him before the LORD for the sin he has committed, and his sin will be forgiven.
23 " 'When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. [2] For three years you are to consider it forbidden [3] ; it must not be eaten. 24 In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD . 25 But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the LORD your God.
26 " 'Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it.
" 'Do not practice divination or sorcery.
27 " 'Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.
28 " 'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD .

You can see that the tattoo bit is apparently just as bad as if you shave, or if you wear polyester. So I'd just ignore it.

If, however, you mean from a grammatical standpoint, I think it means none at all.

See here for other translations that may clear it up:

http://bible.cc/leviticus/19-28.htm

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

No tattoos at all, because God had created you perfectly such that you ought not tamper His workmanship.
Do not abuse His workmanship in you, because one-you is a masterpiece by His hands. Be happy with your present condition, buddy!

Answer 4

different cultural issues there (medical, health issues, etc), as well as the fact that Christians do not live under the laws of the old testament covenant...I say get the ink done...If it encourages you in your faith, then wear it boldly and proudly.

Answer 5

If you have Jesus you aren't bound under the old laws, and if you have Jesus you'd get one to edify Him.

Answer 6

doesn't matter. christians will say that leviticus is one of those books you can ignore. convenient, that, otherwise they'd have to answer all those charges that God supports slavery.