What People Are Really Asking
People who search "what does the Bible say about tattoos" are usually looking for one of three things:
- Someone made them feel guilty and they want to know if the Bible actually says what they were told it says.
- They're considering a tattoo and want to think it through seriously.
- They're parents with teenagers and want a grounded answer, not a knee-jerk reaction.
The honest answer: the New Testament says nothing about tattoos. The only relevant Old Testament passage has a specific historical context that most Christians do not apply literally. What remains are broader principles about stewardship of the body, Christian freedom, and love for community.
The One Verse Everyone Cites: Leviticus 19:28
"You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on yourselves: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:28)
This is the verse almost always cited in tattoo debates. Let's look at its context.
Leviticus 19 is part of the holiness code given to ancient Israel. The same chapter also prohibits:
- Cutting the hair at the sides of your head (v. 27)
- Planting two kinds of seed in a field (v. 19)
- Wearing clothing woven of two kinds of material (v. 19)
The reason for these prohibitions was specific: Israel was to distinguish itself from surrounding peoples who practiced pagan rituals, including cutting and marking their bodies as part of mourning the dead or as signs of devotion to pagan deities.
Does this verse apply to New Testament believers?
The majority of Protestant and evangelical theologians say no, at least not directly. The New Testament is clear that believers are no longer under the Mosaic law:
"Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." (Romans 10:4)
"The law was our guardian until Christ came." (Galatians 3:24)
If Leviticus 19:28 literally prohibits tattoos, then the same people who invoke it should also avoid cotton-polyester blends and skip trimming the sides of their hair. Selective application weakens the argument.
New Testament Principles That Do Apply
While the New Testament doesn't mention tattoos, it gives principles believers can thoughtfully apply:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: The Body as Temple
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
This passage is specifically about sexual immorality: Paul is addressing the idea that what you do with your body doesn't affect your spiritual life. But the broader principle, that the body has dignity and deserves to be treated with care, is genuine.
The question worth asking: Can I approach this tattoo with motivations that honor God?
Romans 14-15: Freedom and Love for Others
"It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall." (Romans 14:21)
Paul is speaking about "disputable matters": areas where the Bible gives no explicit answer and believers have genuine freedom. The rule is that this freedom must be exercised with love for the community.
If getting a tattoo would cause genuine scandal in your faith community or affect your ability to minister to someone, that deserves consideration.
1 Corinthians 10:31: Doing Everything for God's Glory
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
This is the primary biblical question for any decision in gray areas: Can I do this in a way that honors and glorifies God?
What Different Christian Traditions Say
Traditions that generally do not prohibit tattoos:
- Evangelical Protestants (majority)
- Anglican / Episcopal
- Lutheran
- Reformed
Traditions that often discourage or prohibit:
- Some conservative Holiness churches
- Some Pentecostal denominations
- Eastern Orthodoxy (in some contexts)
The Catholic Church has no official position prohibiting tattoos.
Questions Worth Asking
If you're considering a tattoo and want to think it through biblically, here are the questions that matter most:
- What are my motivations? Do I want this to honor God, express something meaningful, or is it driven by peer pressure or rebellion?
- Does this honor the body God gave me? Not in the sense that tattooing automatically dishonors the body, but genuinely asking.
- Will this affect my witness in my specific community? Different contexts weigh this differently.
- Am I at peace with this decision? Romans 14:23 says "whatever does not proceed from faith is sin."
- Will this still honor God ten years from now?
What the Bible Does Not Say
The Bible does not say:
- That tattoos are always sinful
- That tattoos are always acceptable
- Anything at all in the New Testament about tattoos
What it does say is that you have freedom, that freedom is exercised with wisdom and love, and that your body is a gift deserving of respect.
Final Thought
This is an area of genuine Christian liberty, not clear biblical prohibition. That means the right answer is to weigh the principles, pray over your motivations, and act in faith rather than social pressure in either direction.
If you have questions about how these principles apply to your specific situation, Lumi, the BibleNow companion that answers your questions about the Bible, can help you explore the relevant passages.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Bible say tattoos are a sin?
The only verse that directly mentions tattoos is Leviticus 19:28: 'Do not... put tattoo marks on yourselves.' However, this verse appears in the Old Testament holiness code given to ancient Israel, the same chapter that prohibits mixing crop seeds (v.19) and wearing blended-fabric clothing (v.19). The New Testament says nothing about tattoos. Whether Leviticus 19:28 applies to Christians today is the real question, and most evangelical and Protestant theologians say it does not, at least not as a direct prohibition.
What does Leviticus 19:28 actually mean?
Leviticus 19:28 says: 'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.' The context is crucial: Israel was being commanded to avoid practices of neighboring pagan cultures who cut and marked their bodies as part of rituals mourning the dead. Most scholars read this as a prohibition of specific religious practices, not all body marking. Most Protestant theologians understand ceremonial laws of the Old Testament (including this one) as no longer binding on New Testament believers (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:24-25).
Does 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 prohibit tattoos?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Some Christians apply this to argue against tattoos. However, Paul wrote this specifically about sexual immorality, not body art. The broader principle, that the body is a gift from God deserving of respect, is valid and worth applying thoughtfully. Whether a specific tattoo violates that principle depends on the motivation, content, and personal conviction of the believer.
Can Christians get tattoos?
Most mainline Protestant denominations, including evangelical ones, do not prohibit tattoos. The Catholic Church has no official position forbidding them. The debate exists primarily among individual believers. The Bible gives no direct New Testament prohibition. Useful questions to ask: What are my motivations? Does this honor God? How does this affect my testimony in my specific community? Am I at peace with this decision?
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