To start:
Leveticus 19:28 (NIV):
“‘Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.
Leveticus 19:28 (KJV):
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.
"Cuttings" is the Hebrew "seret" meaning: incision, cut
"Print" is the Hebrew "nathan" meaning: to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted, be put upon
"Marks" is the Hebrew "qa`aqa`" meaning: incision, gash, imprintment, tattoo, mark
"For the dead" is the Hebrew "nephesh", which has these meanings:
I. soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
A. that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
B. living being
C.living being (with life in the blood)
D. the man himself, self, person or individual
E. seat of the appetites
F. seat of emotions and passions
G. activity of mind
i. dubious
H. activity of the will
i. dubious
I. activity of the character
i. dubious
This meaning of "dead" seems pretty literal as we see the same Hebrew word, nephesh, used in Genesis 23:8, Exodus 4:19, and Leveticus 19:28.
As far as tattoo's are concerned, it seems that the concern is marking on your body "for the dead". Maybe as memorial of someone who passed on or some occult or idolatry type practice?
I don't see where it exactly says, "All tattoo's are wrong." I don't see that written here. So, we either assume they are all wrong because it mentions "markings on the body", we assume all tattoo's are okay because it doesn't tell us the details, or we distinguish between tattoo's that are okay and those that are not.
I also see that it mentions cuts/incisions/gashes - there have been many different menthods of tattoos like scarification markings, plant based inks, and our industrial chemical inks by those needle pens. It's possible that occult practices may have inflicted some nasty wounds cut into the skin to make a symbol without the presence of ink, but rather scars. Pagans would also have a practice of mutilating and marking themselves at funerals to please their own false gods. Pagan practices...red flag right here against mutilating your body for a false god as it is a form of worship to that false god. This could be seen as a form of self-harm to the body, which I am sure God would be against as He has created us as He intended. Tattooing as we know it today wouldn't be as graphic in modern day terms with the equipment we have, but still can create micro-tears upon the skin.
What is important is the intention, too. Why this tattoo? Why at this time? What is the message you want to send with this tattoo? Pray about this, ask yourself those important questions, and make sure you are getting your tattoo for the correct reason and purpose. I can see how God would be upset at a tattoo that was acquired out of rebellion or that has something profane on it because that sounds like it would be a dishonor to our body.
I am not against all tattoo's, nor do I believe they are all a sin. For myself, I choose not to get tattoo's because of health concerns like:
~Pain/Inflammation
~Inks are not FDA regulated
~Possibility of allergic reactions
~Skin infections
~Possibility of bloodborne diseases (hepatitis B or C, MRSA, HIV)
~MRI complications (tattoos may cause burning or swelling in an MRI machine)
~Inks are often full of heavy metals (they are not often natural dyes or petroleum based food dyes, but metal salts or plastics)
~Inks have carrier solutions that may be harmful like propylene glycol or ethanol
~What the health community calls "heavy metals" can be present and they do cause adverse health effects (some are on the carcinogenic side) like iron oxide, ochre (often contains iron oxide), cadmium, chromium oxide, lead chromate, copper carbonate, sodium aluminum silicate, aluminum oxides, and titanium dioxide.
~Inks also have other worrisome ingredients that I haven't listed. You can find these readily listed on the internet.
Risks of tatoo removal:
~Infection
~Hyperpigmentation/hypopigmentation
~Burns
~Texture changes o the skin
~Some DIY methods have burned people's skin while stripping off ink
~Many treatments usually needed
~Areas with poor circulation don't heal as well
~keloid scarring
Most people don't think they may ever need this, but what are you going to do if you're reacting badly to your tattoo or later decide you don't want it.
Anyway, the health risks and carcinogens in the inks are enough to have me running the other way. I don't want to put something that harmful on my body. My dad, who is in the medical field, always told me, "Your skin is like a sponge - it absorbs what it touches. Don't be fooled into thinking what gets put on your skin doesn't get into your bloodstream." Words of wisdom indeed.
Whatever your decision, make sure you're okay with all the information and your decision as it's pretty permanent.
