Leviticus 19:27-28

[JesusAddicted]

Many people, basing on these verses, say that christians are not allowed to have beards, haircuts (v.27) and tattoos (v. 28). But I think it's a difference between "cuts on your body for the dead" and tattoos. How do we have to understand these verses? Is this available only for those times of Leviticus?

 

[Adstar]

Many people, basing on these verses, say that christians are not allowed to have beards, haircuts (v.27) and tattoos (v. 28). But I think it's a difference between "cuts on your body for the dead" and tattoos. How do we have to understand these verses? Is this available only for those times of Leviticus?

I believe these scriptures are talking about tattoos.. Tattoos are made by cutting the skin..

(Leviticus 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."

So tattoos are both marks upon your skin and are made by cutting into your skin..

 

[CrystalDragon]

I believe these scriptures are talking about tattoos.. Tattoos are made by cutting the skin..

(Leviticus 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."

So tattoos are both marks upon your skin and are made by cutting into your skin..

But they're not made for the dead.

 

[RDKirk]

Many people, basing on these verses, say that christians are not allowed to have beards, haircuts (v.27) and tattoos (v. 28). But I think it's a difference between "cuts on your body for the dead" and tattoos. How do we have to understand these verses? Is this available only for those times of Leviticus?

Those "many people" are attempting to apply Leviticus to Christians, and that is their first problem.

Of course, if they say "not allowed to have beards, haircuts" they're even confused about what Leviticus says for Jews.

There is probably no point to debating such confused people.

 

[Adstar]

But they're not made for the dead.

Well you can take away the cutting part... But you are still left with the next part ""nor print any marks upon you"" If you follow that part of the verse you will not be getting any tattoos anyway...

 

[CrystalDragon]

Well you can take away the cutting part... But you are still left with the next part ""nor print any marks upon you"" If you follow that part of the verse you will not be getting any tattoos anyway...

Well since it's in that same verse, it could be more like ritual markings painted on them or something.

 

[RDKirk]

Well since it's in that same verse, it could be more like ritual markings painted on them or something.

Back in those days, pretty much all such markings--and even pretty much all art--was ritualistic in some fashion.

 

[Adstar]

Well since it's in that same verse, it could be more like ritual markings painted on them or something.

Well i have given you the thoughts that i have and the scriptures that solidify those thoughts.. You have decided to stay with your thoughts.. So be it..

 

[CrystalDragon]

Back in those days, pretty much all such markings--and even pretty much all art--was ritualistic in some fashion.

Good point.

Well i have given you the thoughts that i have and the scriptures that solidify those thoughts.. You have decided to stay with your thoughts.. So be it..

Well it could have been tattoos for all I know, I was proposing other things it might have been.

I don't ever even plan on getting a tattoo anyway, except the temporary kind.

 

[Shane R]

Do not tattoo yourselves: This prohibition probably refers only to the common ancient Near Eastern practice of branding a slave with its owner’s name as well as branding the devotees of a god with its name. (NABRE note)

By whipping your bodies or burning marks therein. (Geneva note)

What this passage is addressing is intent as much as action. The prohibition is against acts that would mark one as an adherent of pagan religion. To visualize, think of a 'friar Tuck' style of monastic haircut - this marked out the person as a monk and different styles were even particular to certain orders. As for the cutting and such, Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal for that practice in the test at Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18).

In Coptic practice, many families have a small tattoo of the cross done on an infant's hand. So this passage has not universally been seen as prohibitive.

 

[Dave-W]

Many people, basing on these verses, say that christians are not allowed to have beards, ...

Actually, this verse says the opposite:

27 (ESV) You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.

The word in Hebrew to round off or cut means to scrape. (as with a razor) In order to follow this command, one MUST have a beard. I cannot be taken as a prohibition on facial hair.

 

[AJTruth]

A few starting questions whenever reading Scripture:

Who is the speaker? Moses

What is the speakers topic? Mosaic Laws

Who is Moses speaking to? THE NATION OF ISRAEL ONLY! There are ""NO"" Christians until after Jesus resurrection.

So, unless you're under Mosaic Laws these verses aren't applicable.

Gentiles were never under old testament covenant/contracts with God. And Christians today aren't under Mosaic Laws.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Actually, this verse says the opposite:

27 (ESV) You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.

The word in Hebrew to round off or cut means to scrape. (as with a razor) In order to follow this command, one MUST have a beard. I cannot be taken as a prohibition on facial hair.

I find it hard to see how people who don't have bushy beards trying to give people a hard time because of these verses. Do preachers shave?

Maybe it can be pointed out that New Testament Christians are not Old Testament Jews in the land under the ceremonial law?

 

[faroukfarouk]

Many people, basing on these verses, say that christians are not allowed to have beards, haircuts (v.27) and tattoos (v. 28). But I think it's a difference between "cuts on your body for the dead" and tattoos. How do we have to understand these verses? Is this available only for those times of Leviticus?

Hi there! good question! You've had various answers!

So many Christians do get tattoos, don't they? and many of them are faith based in design.

 

[Dave-W]

I find it hard to see how people who don't have bushy beards trying to give people a hard time because of these verses. Do preachers shave?

Growing up in the 1960s I remember several churches believed you could not be saved if you had facial hair, or (as a male) your head hair was more than an inch or 2 long.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Growing up in the 1960s I remember several churches believed you could not be saved if you had facial hair, or (as a male) your head hair was more than an inch or 2 long.

Amazing.

There is even a Messianic verse in the Old Testament about the Lord Jesus's hair being plucked from his face; i.e., He clearly had a beard.

You know the rhyme, maybe:

"Wonderful things in the Bible I see,
Especially what's put there by you and by me."

It seems that sometimes exegesis follows the logic of: "When did you stop beating your wife?"

 

[Dave-W]

It seems that sometimes exegesis follows the logic of: "When did you stop beating your wife?"

I recently saw a group of magazine ads from the 1940s and 50s; and several of them advocated beating your wife.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I recently saw a group of magazine ads from the 1940s and 50s; and several of them advocated beating your wife.

 

[faroukfarouk]

Growing up in the 1960s...

PS: I see you have grandchildren. I'm sure that whether or not they eventually get stuff like earrings, ink, etc. is pretty low down on anyone's list of priorities, but it must have been hard to internalize so called church rules based on such irrationality, for ppl who grew up in that environment years ago.

 

[Dave-W]

PS: I see you have grandchildren. I'm sure that whether or not they eventually get stuff like earrings, ink, etc. is pretty low down on anyone's list of priorities, but it must have been hard to internalize so called church rules based on such irrationality, for ppl who grew up in that environment years ago.

Growing up in that environment, it made sense then.

No alcohol
No movies
cannot own a deck of cards or a pair of dice
cannot listen to "devil music" defined as anything with a back beat, flatted 3rd notes (as in blues or minor keys) complex jazz chords, High high notes and really low low notes at the same time, .....
Men and women cannot swim at the beach together.

And the list went on and on.

It makes absolutely no sense now. A close friend who grew up in a different faith community had different rules so in highschool we did a lengthy bible study to see how many of the rules were actually biblical. Many were not from both our traditions.