Wager Mage
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko Pexels Logo Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko

What does the Bible say about tattoos?

Today they're common everywhere from Maori communities in New Zealand to office parks in Ohio. But in the ancient Middle East, the writers of the Hebrew Bible forbade tattooing. Per Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.”

How long can a bank hold funds?
How long can a bank hold funds?

Most of the time, when you deposit a check, a portion of the funds is made available to your account on the same day, with the remainder becoming...

Read More »
What is it called when you keep doubling your bet?
What is it called when you keep doubling your bet?

The Martingale system is commonly compared to betting in a casino with the hopes of breaking even. When a gambler who uses this method experiences...

Read More »

Tattoos have been around for millennia. People got them at least five thousand years ago. Today they’re common everywhere from Maori communities in New Zealand to office parks in Ohio. But in the ancient Middle East, the writers of the Hebrew Bible forbade tattooing. Per Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.” Historically, scholars have often understood this as a warning against pagan practices of mourning. But language scholar John Huehnergard and ancient-Israel expert Harold Liebowitz argue that tattooing was understood differently in ancient times. Egyptian captives were branded with the name of a god, marking them as belongings of the priests or pharaoh. Huehnergard and Liebowitz note that the appearance of the ban on incisions—or tattoos—comes right after words clearly related to mourning, perhaps confirming the original theory. And yet, looking at what’s known about death rituals in ancient Mesopotamia, Syria, Israel, and Egypt, they find no references to marking the skin as a sign of mourning. They also note that there are other examples in Leviticus and Exodus where two halves of a verse address different issues. So that could be the case here, too. What tattoos were apparently often used for in ancient Mesopotamia was marking enslaved people (and, in Egypt, as decorations for women of all social classes). Egyptian captives were branded with the name of a god, marking them as belongings of the priests or pharaoh. But devotees might also be branded with the name of the god they worshiped. Huehnergard and Liebowitz suggest that, given the key role of the escape from Egyptian bondage in ancient Jewish law, the Torah originally banned tattooing because it was “the symbol of servitude.” Interestingly, though, they write that there’s one other apparent reference to tattooing in the Hebrew Bible. Isaiah 44:5 describes the children of Jacob committing themselves to God: “One shall say, ‘I am the LORD’s’… Another shall mark his arm ‘of the LORD.’” Here a tattoo appears to be allowable as a sign of submission, not to a human master but to God. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the provided link on any marketing message. Δ Ancient rabbinic debates produced a variety of different theories about the meaning of the prohibition on tattooing. Some authorities believed that tattoos were only disallowed if they had certain messages, such as the name of God, the phrase “I am the Lord,” or the name of a pagan deity. Talmudic law developed around 200 CE says that a tattoo is only disallowed if it is done “for the purpose of idolatry”—but not if it’s intended to mark a person’s enslaved status. The meaning of the prohibition on tattooing may have shifted over time, of course. But in ancient times, it might never have been about mourning practices at all.

Support JSTOR Daily! Join our new membership program on Patreon today.

How long should I practice darts a day?
How long should I practice darts a day?

Time per day The most any practice day should be is 3.5 hours, which equals a maximum of four full sessions with proper breaks. If you are going...

Read More »
What is the cheapest way to watch football without cable?
What is the cheapest way to watch football without cable?

You can watch select NFL games without a cable subscription via live TV streaming services and platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus,...

Read More »

What does God say about break ups?

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” The Good News: Though you may feel defeated, God is closer than you realize. He is always with you and can heal your heart. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Heartbreak is one of the most uniquely painful human experiences. Whether you're experiencing grief after losing someone you love, or just broke up with a longterm partner, feeling heartbroken can be an all-consuming physical, mental, and emotional sensation that takes a toll on your hope to let love back in one day in the future. Bible verses for a broken heart can serve as healing scripture to get you through the darker days when depression controls your thoughts. A broken heart takes time to heal, but while you search for closure, God's love will help guide you forward until loving someone new feels safe again. Bible verses can provide strength when your heart is at its weakest point. They can comfort you when death takes a loved one and even impact a current relationship. Through the ups and downs, God's words and love remain strong, even when you have a troubled heart after a divorce, separation, or breakup. Falling out of love is an unfortunate emotional roller coaster most people experience at least once in their life. But these Bible verses for broken hearts will remind you that you are still worthy of love and capable of letting love back into your life when you are ready. For now, God's love is enough.

Do male and female jockeys race together?
Do male and female jockeys race together?

While the majority of jockeys are men, female jockeys compete equally alongside their male rivals. How does a jockey prepare for a race? Before a...

Read More »
Who is the most paid athlete?
Who is the most paid athlete?

Who are the highest-paid athletes in the world? Cristiano Ronaldo - $200 million. Kylian Mbappé - $110 million. Phil Mickelson - $102 million....

Read More »
Which sport is the hardest to go pro?
Which sport is the hardest to go pro?

The 5 Hardest Sports to Make it to the Pros In (Statistically) Ice Hockey. If you enjoy the majesty of gliding over the ice and the thrill of...

Read More »
Will a VPN let me gamble?
Will a VPN let me gamble?

If you are traveling abroad you may find your favorite gambling or sports betting sites are blocked. These blocks can often be bypassed by using a...

Read More »