<strong>TATTOO</strong> (Tahitian <em>tatau</em>, reduplication of <em>ta</em>, <em>to mark</em>, <em>to strike</em>). The indelible mark made by pricking and inserting pigment under the skin.<br /><br />

Although there are prob. no references to actual tattooing in the Bible, it has been held a possible interpretation in five types of Biblical situations:<br /><br />

a. A “mark” or “seal” warning not to harm (<bibleref ref="Gen.4.15">Gen 4:15</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Ezek.9.4">Ezek 9:4</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="Ezek.9.6">6</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Rev.7.1-Rev.7.8">Rev 7:1-8</bibleref>);

b. A symbol of the Lord remembering His people (<bibleref ref="Isa.49.16">Isa 49:16</bibleref>);<br /><br />

c. A symbol of Jews remembering the Lord, His deliverance and commandments (<bibleref ref="Exod.13.9">Exod 13:9</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="Exod.13.16">16</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Deut.6.8">Deut 6:8</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Deut.11.18">11:18</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="Deut.11.19">19</bibleref>);<br /><br />

d. A possible type of forbidden heathen mourning practices (<bibleref ref="Lev.19.28">Lev 19:28</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Lev.21.1">21:1</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="Lev.21.5">5</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Deut.14.1">Deut 14:1</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Jer.16.6">Jer 16:6</bibleref>);

e. The mark of the beast (<bibleref ref="Rev.13.16-Rev.13.18">Rev 13:16-18</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Rev.14.9">14:9</bibleref>, <bibleref ref="Rev.14.11">11</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Rev.19.20">19:20</bibleref>; <bibleref ref="Rev.20.4">20:4</bibleref>).

<bibleref ref="Lev.19.28">Leviticus 19:28</bibleref> contains the only occurrence of q’ q’ (<em>incision</em>, <em>imprintment</em>, <em>tattoo</em>, BDB) rendered “tattoo” in some Eng. translations. Perusal of mourning customs, however, indicates frequent association of head-shaving with body-cutting and painting (e.g., with clay), but never tattooing, which has other meanings.<br /><br />

Likewise, other type situations may only be interpreted as indicating tattoo from conjecture not based upon ethnological inference.<br /><br />

Tattoo