Leviticus 19:28

“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:28 The skull Tattoo would be deemed as this fact in our King James Bible. My daughter is seeking the art of being a tattoo artist, and her youth leader reminded her of the only passage the bible speaks of tattooing. In her practicing she did this amazing drawing in hopes to become better at her art. So even though it is utmost great artist work, she has also been advice to not tattoo any thing that represents death. Another food for thought by "What Does the Bible Say About Tattoos? Is it a Sin to Have a Tattoo? (biblestudytools.com)"

As the popularity of tattoos continues to increase, many Christians wonder what the Bible has to say about tattoos. The short answer is nothing, at least nothing definitive. The Bible makes no specific reference to tattoos as we understand them in modern times. Some Christians condemn all tattooing as immoral because God clearly forbids them in Leviticus 19:28. Since the word tattoo does appear in this verse in some popular English translations, this argument seems straightforward. For example, the NIV reads, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.”

Leviticus 19:28 literally translates, “And a cutting for the dead you will not make in your flesh, and writing marks you will not make on you; I am the Lord.” The word writing refers to inscribed or engraved symbols/words and is used only here. The word for marks, also used here alone, has an uncertain root, so we’re not really sure what the word means. Further, the word tattoo did not enter into the English language until the late 1700's. This is probably why the KJV, written in the early 1600's, is closer to the literal translation saying, “ye shall not...print marks upon you.”

The background of this law was that Israel, after being rescued from slavery, was between Egypt and Canaan. Recent archaeology indicates that, while Egypt did tattoos, it was limited to women. Evidence suggests that tattooing the body parts of women associated with fertility (breasts, thighs, and abdomen) was believed to be a good luck charm to protect the birthing process. In Canaan, evidence indicates that instead of marking the body with ink, more extreme scarification measures, like branding, slashing, or gashing the skin were used. Archaeology, backed by biblical texts, indicates the Canaanites would customarily slash their bodies for ritualistic purposes (1 Kings 18:28), especially to mourn their dead and honor their gods. Leviticus 19:28 seems to imply this when it says, “you will not make cuttings in your flesh, for the dead, nor print marks on you.” In light of this information from Egypt and Canaan, it would seem God was forbidding scarification, not tattooing as we know it. (excerpt from "7 Questions to Answer When Considering a Tattoo", Crosswalk.com.)