by jimwalton » Sun Dec 21, 2014 4:38 pm
I asked an Old Testament expert. He said, "The prohibition against marking the skin may involve either tattooing or painting the body as part of a religious ritual. Such markings may have been designed to protect a person from the spirits of the dead or to demonstrate membership in a group. Some evidence for this has been found in the examination of human remains in Scythian tombs dating to the 6th century BC. The Israelite law may prohibit this practice since it involves a self-imposed alteration of God’s creation, unlike circumcision which is commanded by God."
The commentary by Gaebelein says, "There was nothing morally wrong with tattooing. These practices were part of heathen rituals, and that was the problem."
Another commentary said, "It is probable, from the association of verse 29, that a strong propensity to adopt such marks in honor of some idol gave occasion to the prohibition in this verse, and they were wisely forbidden, for they were signs of apostasy, and, when once made, were insuperable obstacles to a return to the true God. This practice is possibly referred to in Isaiah 44.5; Rev. 13.17, or Rev. 14.1."
Somebody else said, "This refers to the disfiguring of the skin, probably with the emblems of pagan deities, dishonoring the divine image in a person, and was forbidden because it did not reflect God’s holiness. See Dt. 14.1-2."
So that's what I have and what I know. It's the idea that that's what it MEANT. Their rule about tattoos was not just about marks on the body, but about religious rebellion against God.
I asked an Old Testament expert. He said, "The prohibition against marking the skin may involve either tattooing or painting the body as part of a religious ritual. Such markings may have been designed to protect a person from the spirits of the dead or to demonstrate membership in a group. Some evidence for this has been found in the examination of human remains in Scythian tombs dating to the 6th century BC. The Israelite law may prohibit this practice since it involves a self-imposed alteration of God’s creation, unlike circumcision which is commanded by God."
The commentary by Gaebelein says, "There was nothing morally wrong with tattooing. These practices were part of heathen rituals, and that was the problem."
Another commentary said, "It is probable, from the association of verse 29, that a strong propensity to adopt such marks in honor of some idol gave occasion to the prohibition in this verse, and they were wisely forbidden, for they were signs of apostasy, and, when once made, were insuperable obstacles to a return to the true God. This practice is possibly referred to in Isaiah 44.5; Rev. 13.17, or Rev. 14.1."
Somebody else said, "This refers to the disfiguring of the skin, probably with the emblems of pagan deities, dishonoring the divine image in a person, and was forbidden because it did not reflect God’s holiness. See Dt. 14.1-2."
So that's what I have and what I know. It's the idea that that's what it MEANT. Their rule about tattoos was not just about marks on the body, but about religious rebellion against God.