Short answer: No, getting a tattoo is not a sin in itself. The only Bible verse that mentions tattoos, Leviticus 19:28, was given to Israel under the Old Testament law and is aimed at pagan mourning rituals, and the New Testament says nothing against tattoos. It is a matter of Christian freedom and conscience. The sin, if there is one, lies in the motive: rebellion, vanity, an idol, or a design that dishonors Christ.
In This Article
People in the pews kept asking me this one, usually with a young person standing next to them, and the question was asked in a way that tells you how serious it felt. "Pastor, is it a sin?" The honest answer has more than one part, so let me walk through it.
My conclusion has not changed. A tattoo is not inherently sinful. It is a question of Christian freedom, anchored in love and governed by biblical principles. Let me show you how I get there.
What Does Leviticus 19:28 Mean?
Here is the verse that everyone points to:
Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:28 (NIV)
Read it as a whole sentence. It begins with cutting the body "for the dead," a mourning rite practiced by the peoples around Israel. The tattoo marks sit in the same sentence. The verse is not listing hobbies to avoid. It is guarding Israel from copying the grief rituals and religious practices of neighboring nations, which often involved marking the body in honor of a god or of the dead.
The Bible does not say in so many words why the command was given, so we should hold our conclusions with humility. The most natural reading is the one I just described: the surrounding commands in Leviticus 19 deal with pagan practices such as divination and mediums. And note how the verse closes. "I am the Lord" tells us the heart of it. Israel belonged to him and was not to carry the mark of another god.
Does That Law Apply To Christians Today?
This is the question underneath the question. Christians do not keep the Mosaic law as a covenant code. Christ fulfilled it, and the early church decided that Gentile believers were not under the whole law (that is Acts 15). The moral heart of the law lives on in the teaching of Jesus and the apostles, but the particular ceremonial and civil regulations given to Israel do not bind us in the same way.
If you apply Leviticus 19:28 to modern believers, you need to be consistent, because the same chapter forbids mixing two kinds of cloth in a garment and trimming the edges of your beard. Most of us do not hold up a church membership over that. For more on this, see Is Eating Pork A Sin? and Is Cutting Your Hair Short A Sin?, where the same logic applies.
That does not make Leviticus irrelevant. It teaches a lesson that still stands: do not wear the mark of a false god or a superstition. A Christian should not get a tattoo as a charm, to honor the dead in a pagan way, or to promote a worldview opposed to Christ. And the lesson of belonging still holds, because we belong to the Lord too.
| Question | Where Scripture Lands |
|---|---|
| Does the New Testament forbid tattoos? | No, it does not mention them |
| Is Leviticus 19:28 about modern tattoos? | It addresses pagan mourning and worship marks |
| Is it a matter of conscience? | Yes (Romans 14) |
| Can a motive make it sinful? | Yes: rebellion, vanity or idolatry |
What Does It Mean That Your Body Is A Temple?
The next verse people raise is Paul's:
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.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
That is a strong passage, but look at its setting. Paul is writing about sexual immorality, in particular about going to a prostitute. The point is that the body belongs to Christ, so do not hand it to sin. He is not giving a ruling on ink, any more than on hairstyles, earrings or workouts.
The principle is still valuable for the decision. If my body is the Lord's, then I should ask whether this tattoo honors him. A beautiful design that tells a true story of redemption honors him. A reckless mark done in the heat of a moment, or done to shock, or to follow a crowd, honors him less. Paul's wider rule applies:
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
Motive Is The Real Test
God looks at the heart:
People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
So the tattoo may be fine and the reason behind it may not be. Getting inked purely to fit in, to stand out, to prove something, or to defy your parents falls short of God's glory. A teenager should also remember that the Bible tells children to obey their parents. A minor who gets a tattoo behind a parent's back is not practicing freedom, they are practicing rebellion. See Is Vanity A Sin? as well.
Tattoos As Pain Or Self-Harm
A word of care. Some people get tattoos to cope with pain, to cover scars, or because the sensation helps them feel something. Tattoos that mark a hard season of life or cover old scars can be a genuine story of healing. But if the pain itself is what you are chasing, or if you struggle with self-harm, please speak to a counselor or pastor. God is not looking for you to punish yourself, and he wants to meet you in the dark places.
Will God Forgive Me For Getting A Tattoo?
If you believe you sinned by getting one, then yes. God forgives. If your conscience is clear because you got it with a good heart, then there is nothing to forgive, though you can still thank him. Paul says:
But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Romans 14:23 (NIV)
He was speaking about food, but the principle covers any disputable matter: if you act against your own conscience, that act is sin for you. If you went ahead against a conviction, bring it to God. If you have a tattoo and now regret it, the answer is the same. There is no category of sin here that grace does not cover. See Does God Forgive All Sins? and What Is Sin? for the larger picture.
Many believers, by the way, carry the cross or a Scripture verse on their skin as a testimony. Isaiah 49:16 is a beautiful picture, God saying he has engraved his people on the palms of his hands. A tattoo does not make anyone holier, and it does not make them less holy either.
Questions To Ask Before You Get One
Here is the list I would hand to anyone asking me in person.
- Why do I want this? If the honest answer is to rebel, to impress, or to follow a crowd, wait.
- What does it say? Avoid symbols tied to occult practice, false gods or hatred. Check the meaning of any foreign text.
- Have I prayed and waited? A good tattoo will still be a good idea in six months.
- Do my parents know? If you are a minor or live under their roof, honor them.
- Is my conscience clear? If you have doubts, Romans 14 says do not.
- Will I be okay with this at sixty? It is permanent, so count the cost of work, health and regret.
- Can I be gracious to those who disagree? Some believers hold a stricter conviction, and we are called to love them, not argue.
Of course, you do not need ink to show your faith. Serve at church, speak about Jesus, pray for others. For the related question about earrings and rings, see Are Piercings A Sin?.
Key Bible Verses About Tattoos And The Body
- Leviticus 19:28: the one verse that names tattoo marks, in a context of mourning rites.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: your body belongs to the Lord, so honor him with it.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31: do everything for the glory of God.
- Romans 14:23: whatever does not come from faith is sin.
- 1 Samuel 16:7: the Lord looks at the heart.
- Isaiah 49:16: God has engraved his people on the palms of his hands.
- Ephesians 6:1: children are to obey their parents in the Lord.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Bible say about tattoos?
Only one verse mentions them, Leviticus 19:28, a command to Israel about marks made for the dead. The New Testament says nothing about tattoos. Everything else we say comes from wider principles about the body, motive and conscience.
Is a tattoo an unforgivable sin?
No. Nothing about getting a tattoo puts you beyond God's forgiveness, and most Christians would not call it a sin at all. If your conscience bothers you about a tattoo you have, confess it to God and move on in his grace.
Can Christians have tattoos?
Yes, in my judgment. It falls into what Paul calls matters of conscience, where believers should be fully convinced in their own minds and kind to those who differ. Check your motive and your conscience before you commit. See Is Judging A Sin? for how to treat people who disagree.
Did Jesus have a tattoo?
The Gospels never say so, and as a faithful Jew living under the law of his day it is unlikely. Revelation 19:16 describes a name written on his robe and thigh, but that is a picture of his royal title, not a record of ink on skin.
What does Isaiah 44:5 say about tattoos?
It says that one person will write on his hand 'The Lord's' and take the name Israel. Some read that as a tattoo; many take it as a picture of someone claiming God as his own. It is a poor foundation for either approval or ban, so I do not build on it.
Is it a sin to get a tattoo of a cross or of Jesus?
A cross or a Scripture verse is not sinful in itself. The question is why you want it and whether it honors him. A tattoo is no substitute for following Jesus, and it can never make a person more or less saved.
