Are Tattoos a Sin? What the Bible Says
The one verse that mentions tattoos directly is Leviticus 19:28: "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you." This command was given to ancient Israel and appears alongside prohibitions tied to pagan mourning and idolatrous practices of surrounding nations. Christians debate how directly this Old Testament civil-ceremonial law applies today, since believers are no longer under the Mosaic code in the same way.
Most who study the question conclude the Bible does not clearly forbid modern tattoos, and instead point to broader principles: honor God with your body as "a temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), examine your motives, and "do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). A tattoo's content, motivation, and witness matter more than the act itself. Sincere Christians land in different places, and Scripture leaves room for conscience here.
Key Bible Verses
“You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you. I am Yahweh.”
Leviticus 19:28 (WEB)
“Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (WEB)
“Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 (WEB)
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (public domain).
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What does Leviticus 19:28 say about tattoos?
- Leviticus 19:28 tells ancient Israel not to make cuttings in the flesh 'for the dead' or 'tattoo any marks on you.' It appears among laws distancing Israel from pagan mourning and idolatry. Christians debate how directly this Old Testament command applies today.
- Can Christians get tattoos?
- The Bible does not clearly forbid modern tattoos, and sincere Christians disagree. Many apply broader principles — honoring the body as God's temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and doing all 'to the glory of God' — and weigh the tattoo's content and motive.