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I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/leviticus/19.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/leviticus/19.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/19.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />You must not make any cuts in your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/leviticus/19.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I <i>am</i> the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/leviticus/19.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I <i>am</i> the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/leviticus/19.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/leviticus/19.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/leviticus/19.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/leviticus/19.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And you shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am Yahweh.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/leviticus/19.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />You shall not make any cuts on your body [in mourning] for the dead, nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves; I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/leviticus/19.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You are not to make gashes on your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves; I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/leviticus/19.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You are not to make gashes on your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves; I am Yahweh.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/leviticus/19.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am Jehovah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/leviticus/19.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/leviticus/19.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Never slash your body to mourn the dead, and never get a tattoo. I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/leviticus/19.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />or tattoo yourselves or cut gashes in your body to mourn for the dead. I am the LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/leviticus/19.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"You are not to make incisions in your flesh on account of the dead nor submit to cuts or tattoos. I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/leviticus/19.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />You must not make any cuts in your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/leviticus/19.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />You must not slash your body for a dead person or incise a tattoo on yourself. I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/leviticus/19.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"'You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you. I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/leviticus/19.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/leviticus/19.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you. I am Yahweh. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/leviticus/19.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And you do not put a cutting for the soul in your flesh; and a writing, a cross-mark, you do not put on yourself; I [am] YHWH.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/leviticus/19.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And a cutting for the soul ye do not put in your flesh; and a writing, a cross-mark, ye do not put on you; I am Jehovah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/leviticus/19.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And ye shall not give an incision for the soul in your flesh, and a mark of stigma ye shall not give upon you: I Jehovah.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/leviticus/19.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh, for the dead, neither shall you make in yourselves any figures or marks: I am the Lord. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/leviticus/19.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />You shall not cut your flesh for the dead, and you shall not make other figures or marks on yourself. I am the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/leviticus/19.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Do not lacerate your bodies for the dead, and do not tattoo yourselves. I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/19.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />You shall not make any gashes in your flesh for the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the LORD.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/19.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor inscribe any marks upon you; I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/leviticus/19.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And you shall not make a cutting in your flesh for a soul and you shall not make an inscription of markings in yourselves; I AM LORD JEHOVAH.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/leviticus/19.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor imprint any marks upon you: I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/leviticus/19.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And ye shall not make cuttings in your body for a <i>dead</i> body, and ye shall not inscribe on yourselves any marks. I am the Lord your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/leviticus/19-28.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NWs_V1RyMFo?start=5190" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/leviticus/19.htm">Keep My Decrees</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">27</span>You must not cut off the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard. <span class="reftext">28</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">You must not</a> <a href="/hebrew/8296.htm" title="8296: wə·śe·reṭ (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- An incision. And sareteth; from sarat; an incision.">make any cuts</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: ṯit·tə·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1320.htm" title="1320: biḇ·śar·ḵem (Prep-b:: N-msc:: 2mp) -- Flesh. From basar; flesh; by extension, body, person; also The pudenda of a man.">in your bodies</a> <a href="/hebrew/5315.htm" title="5315: lā·ne·p̄eš (Prep-l:: N-fs) -- From naphash; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. Animal of vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense.">for the dead</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: ṯit·tə·nū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">or put</a> <a href="/hebrew/7085.htm" title="7085: qa·‘ă·qa‘ (N-ms) -- An incision, imprint, tattoo. From the same as Qowa'; an incision or gash.">tattoo</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3793.htm" title="3793: ū·ḵə·ṯō·ḇeṯ (Conj-w:: N-fsc) -- An imprint. From kathab; a letter or other mark branded on the skin.">marks</a> <a href="/hebrew/bā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">on yourselves.</a> <a href="/hebrew/589.htm" title="589: ’ă·nî (Pro-1cs) -- I. Contracted from 'anokiy; I.">I</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">am the LORD.</a> </span><span class="reftext">29</span>You must not defile your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/14-1.htm">Deuteronomy 14:1</a></span><br />You are sons of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/18-28.htm">1 Kings 18:28</a></span><br />So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/16-6.htm">Jeremiah 16:6</a></span><br />“Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/41-5.htm">Jeremiah 41:5</a></span><br />eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their garments, and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria, carrying grain offerings and frankincense for the house of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/15-2.htm">Isaiah 15:2</a></span><br />Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/22-12.htm">Isaiah 22:12</a></span><br />On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/9-4.htm">Ezekiel 9:4</a></span><br />“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/44-20.htm">Ezekiel 44:20</a></span><br />They must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long, but must carefully trim their hair.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/7-14.htm">Hosea 7:14</a></span><br />They do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/13-16.htm">Revelation 13:16-17</a></span><br />And the second beast required all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, / so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/14-9.htm">Revelation 14:9-11</a></span><br />And a third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand, / he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. / And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/16-2.htm">Revelation 16:2</a></span><br />So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/19-20.htm">Revelation 19:20</a></span><br />But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/20-4.htm">Revelation 20:4</a></span><br />Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-19.htm">1 Corinthians 6:19-20</a></span><br />Do you not know that your body is a temple 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 glorify God with your body.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks on you: I am the LORD.</p><p class="hdg">Cuttings</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/21-5.htm">Leviticus 21:5</a></b></br> They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/14-1.htm">Deuteronomy 14:1</a></b></br> Ye <i>are</i> the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/18-28.htm">1 Kings 18:28</a></b></br> And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.</p><p class="hdg">print</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/revelation/13-16.htm">Revelation 13:16,17</a></b></br> And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/revelation/14-9.htm">Revelation 14:9,11</a></b></br> And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive <i>his</i> mark in his forehead, or in his hand, … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/revelation/15-2.htm">Revelation 15:2</a></b></br> And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, <i>and</i> over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/19-17.htm">Account</a> <a href="/leviticus/13-39.htm">Bodies</a> <a href="/leviticus/17-16.htm">Body</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-27.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/john/15-2.htm">Cuts</a> <a href="/leviticus/5-8.htm">Cutting</a> <a href="/jonah/2-6.htm">Cuttings</a> <a href="/leviticus/14-51.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/john/20-25.htm">Imprint</a> <a href="/leviticus/14-39.htm">Marks</a> <a href="/john/20-25.htm">Print</a> <a href="/job/19-23.htm">Printed</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-15.htm">Respect</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-8.htm">Soul</a> <a href="/exodus/39-30.htm">Writing</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-4.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/25-27.htm">Account</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-5.htm">Bodies</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-11.htm">Body</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-3.htm">Cut</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-5.htm">Cuts</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-5.htm">Cutting</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-5.htm">Cuttings</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-1.htm">Dead</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-5.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/john/20-25.htm">Imprint</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-13.htm">Marks</a> <a href="/job/13-27.htm">Print</a> <a href="/job/19-23.htm">Printed</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-30.htm">Respect</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Soul</a> <a href="/numbers/5-23.htm">Writing</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Leviticus 19</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/leviticus/19-1.htm">A repetition of various laws</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/19.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/leviticus/19.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>You must not make any cuts in your bodies for the dead</b><br>This phrase addresses a specific practice common in ancient Near Eastern cultures, where people would cut themselves as a mourning ritual to honor or appease the dead. Such practices were often linked to pagan religious rites and beliefs about the afterlife. The Israelites were called to be distinct from surrounding nations, and this prohibition underscores the importance of maintaining purity and devotion to God alone. Similar prohibitions can be found in <a href="/deuteronomy/14.htm">Deuteronomy 14:1</a>, where the Israelites are reminded that they are children of God and should not adopt pagan mourning practices.<p><b>or put tattoo marks on yourselves</b><br>The prohibition against tattoo marks is linked to the cultural and religious practices of the time. Tattoos were often associated with idolatry, marking allegiance to a deity or as part of pagan rituals. This commandment emphasizes the need for the Israelites to remain separate from idolatrous practices and to reflect their covenant relationship with God. The New Testament reiterates the principle of the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (<a href="/1_corinthians/6-19.htm">1 Corinthians 6:19-20</a>), encouraging believers to honor God with their bodies.<p><b>I am the LORD</b><br>This declaration serves as a reminder of God's authority and the covenant relationship between Him and the Israelites. It reinforces the reason for the commandment: obedience to God, who is holy and sovereign. The phrase "I am the LORD" appears frequently throughout Leviticus, emphasizing God's holiness and the call for His people to be holy as well (<a href="/leviticus/11-44.htm">Leviticus 11:44-45</a>). It also points to the ultimate fulfillment of holiness in Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied obedience to the Father and calls His followers to live in holiness (<a href="/1_peter/1-15.htm">1 Peter 1:15-16</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The author of Leviticus, who received the laws from God to instruct the Israelites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, to whom the laws in Leviticus were given as part of their covenant relationship with Him.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a></b><br>The land where the Israelites were headed, inhabited by people with practices that God wanted His people to avoid.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/p/pagan_rituals.htm">Pagan Rituals</a></b><br>The cultural and religious practices of surrounding nations, often involving body modifications as acts of mourning or worship.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant God of Israel, who commands His people to be holy and distinct from other nations.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/holiness_and_distinction.htm">Holiness and Distinction</a></b><br>God calls His people to be set apart from the world. This includes avoiding practices that are rooted in paganism or that dishonor the body.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/respect_for_the_body.htm">Respect for the Body</a></b><br>As believers, we are to honor our bodies as creations of God, reflecting His image and serving as temples of the Holy Spirit.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_discernment.htm">Cultural Discernment</a></b><br>Christians are called to discern cultural practices and reject those that conflict with biblical principles.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/identity_in_christ.htm">Identity in Christ</a></b><br>Our identity is found in Christ, not in external markings or cultural conformity. We are to reflect His character in all aspects of our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God’s Commands</a></b><br>Following God’s commands, even when they seem counter-cultural, is an act of worship and trust in His wisdom.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_leviticus_19.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 19</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/should_christians_reject_tattoos_today.htm">Leviticus 19:28 forbids cutting or tattooing the body; should modern Christians reject all tattoos despite cultural acceptance? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_tattoos.htm">What does the Bible say about Christian tattoos?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_getting_a_tattoo_considered_sinful.htm">Is getting a tattoo considered sinful?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_henna.htm">What does the Bible say about henna tattoos?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/leviticus/19.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(28) <span class= "bld">Cuttings in your flesh for the dead.</span>--It was not only the custom for mourners to let their hair grow long and wear it in a disorderly manner (see <a href="/leviticus/10-6.htm" title="And Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest you die, and lest wrath come on all the people: but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, mourn the burning which the LORD has kindled.">Leviticus 10:6</a>), but the bereaved in the East to this day make cuts and incisions in their bodies in mourning for the dead. The Israelite, however, who is created in the image of God, and who is to be as holy as the Lord is holy, must not thus disfigure his body (see <a href="/leviticus/21-6.htm" title="They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.">Leviticus 21:6</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/14-1.htm" title="You are the children of the LORD your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.">Deuteronomy 14:1</a>, &c.); he must not sorrow as others which have no hope. For transgressing this law the offender received forty stripes save one.<p><span class= "bld">Nor print any marks upon you.</span>--This, according to the ancient authorities, was effected by making punctures in the skin to impress certain figures or words, and then filling the cut places with stibium, ink, or some other colour. The practice of tattooing prevailed among all nations of antiquity, both among savages and civilised nations, The slave had impressed upon his body the initials of his master, the soldier those of his general, and the worshipper the image of his tutelar deity. To obviate this disfiguration of the body which bore the impress of God's image, and yet to exhibit the emblem of his creed, the Mosaic Law enacted that the Hebrew should have phylacteries which he is to bind as "a sign" upon his hand, and as "a memorial" between his eyes "that the Lord's law may be in his mouth" (<a href="/exodus/13-9.htm" title="And it shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD's law may be in your mouth: for with a strong hand has the LORD brought you out of Egypt.">Exodus 13:9</a>; <a href="/exodus/13-16.htm" title="And it shall be for a token on your hand, and for frontlets between your eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.">Exodus 13:16</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/6-8.htm" title="And you shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.">Deuteronomy 6:8</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/11-18.htm" title="Therefore shall you lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign on your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.">Deuteronomy 11:18</a>). . . . <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/leviticus/19-28.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">You must not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֤א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">make any cuts</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשֶׂ֣רֶט</span> <span class="translit">(wə·śe·reṭ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8296.htm">Strong's 8296: </a> </span><span class="str2">An incision</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in your bodies</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּבְשַׂרְכֶ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(biḇ·śar·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1320.htm">Strong's 1320: </a> </span><span class="str2">Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for the dead</span><br /><span class="heb">לָנֶ֗פֶשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(lā·ne·p̄eš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5315.htm">Strong's 5315: </a> </span><span class="str2">A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion </span><br /><br /><span class="word">or put</span><br /><span class="heb">תִתְּנ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(ṯit·tə·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">tattoo</span><br /><span class="heb">קַֽעֲקַ֔ע</span> <span class="translit">(qa·‘ă·qa‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7085.htm">Strong's 7085: </a> </span><span class="str2">An incision, imprint, tattoo</span><br /><br /><span class="word">marks on yourselves.</span><br /><span class="heb">וּכְתֹ֣בֶת</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḵə·ṯō·ḇeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3793.htm">Strong's 3793: </a> </span><span class="str2">A letter, branded</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲנִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_589.htm">Strong's 589: </a> </span><span class="str2">I</span><br /><br /><span class="word">am the LORD.</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/19-28.htm">Leviticus 19:28 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/leviticus/19-28.htm">Leviticus 19:28 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/leviticus/19-28.htm">Leviticus 19:28 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/leviticus/19-28.htm">Leviticus 19:28 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/leviticus/19-28.htm">Leviticus 19:28 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/19-28.htm">Leviticus 19:28 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/19-28.htm">Leviticus 19:28 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/19-28.htm">Leviticus 19:28 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/19-28.htm">Leviticus 19:28 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/leviticus/19-28.htm">Leviticus 19:28 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/leviticus/19-28.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 19:28 You shall not make any cuttings (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/19-27.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 19:27"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 19:27" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/19-29.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 19:29"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 19:29" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>