What the Word of God Says About Tattoos - Conforming to the World 7-28-25

Last week, a part of the sermon I heard was about people changing their outer appearance, but on the inside they are still what God made them to be. I have been thinking for a long time how and when the Lord was going to open the door for me to write this message.  Through various conversations, and concerns about certain things that professed born again believers are doing when it comes to altering their features, I felt this is the time to address it by posting thought social media, which the Lord has given me the platform (my podium).

On to the confirmation as to writing this message about tattoos. I learned many years ago what the Bible said about tattoos, and on a few occasions the Lord allowed me tell others what the Word of God said. Someone sent me a video of a person who is in ministry, has a huge following and has tattoos on their body. I was appalled at what the person was telling the audience how godly it was and the people were accepting what was being said. The person used Isaiah 49:16 to justify why they had tattoos on their body. I looked up a couple of resources that were confirming my belief.

AI Overview

Isaiah 49:16 NKJV reads: "See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me." This verse is part of a larger passage where God assures his people, specifically Zion, that He will never forget them, even when they feel forgotten. He emphasizes His constant awareness and care for them by stating He has inscribed them in His hands and their walls are always before Him. Note- I capitalized all of the pronouns mentioning God.

Christianity Path - Isaiah 49:16 is a powerful scripture that speaks of God’s deep love and commitment to His people. The verse begins with the word “Behold,” which calls us to pay attention to what follows. God is saying that He has inscribed us on the palms of His hands. This imagery suggests a kind of intimacy and connection that is profound. The act of inscribing something means it is carved or written with intention. God is telling us that we are not just a passing thought; we are permanently etched in His memory. The mention of our walls being continually before Him signifies that God is aware of our struggles, challenges, and situations. Just like a mother might have her children’s names written on her hands, God is showing us that He carries us with Him wherever He goes.

Let me clear this up right now! God does not have hands, eyes, ears and so on. Although there are many scriptures that say God has hands, eyes, feet and so on, Christ is the embodiment (a tangible or visible form) of God (Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3). He became God in the flesh (John 1:14a,).  No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father; He has declared Him. (John 1:18). God is Spirit, not a Spirit (John 4:24). Make sure that any translation or version you use make sense; you will get the correct answer if you are a student of the Word (Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 2:15).

You may say that tattoos are different from cutting on the body. It means the same thing. Different translations will use tattoo opposed markings/cuttings. You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord (Leviticus 19:28).

Some say that does not apply to the New Testament. If that’s the case why does Paul say our bodies are His temple (1 Corinthians 6:16), and David said that we were meticulously designed by Him (Psalm 139:14). We are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10) – That would be contradictory , The people are changing certain things on their bodies, which means God did not make them good enough so they change their features because they are not pleased with the way God made them. “You are the children of the Lord your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead.  

For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth (Deuteronomy 14:1-2). This applies to all born again believers. The bottom line is this, we don’t need anything physical to identify us with Jesus Christ! It is our LIGHTS that people are looking at (Matthew 5:13-16)! Somebody needs to be transformed (Romans 12:1-2).

His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org