Body Piercing, Tattoos, and Marring the Body

Body Piercing, Tattoos, and Marring the Body

The topic of body piercing and tattooing has gotten more popular in the last couple decades. Body piercing and getting tattoos are now trends that many young people are interested in. Lip rings, nose rings, bellybutton rings, gauges (for ears), tattoos, and such are in high demand among the youth but why are these so popular today? And, where did these practices originate?

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Body piercing and getting tattoos are not new by any means. They have been around for thousands of years and were practiced by pagan cultures around the world. The Bible speaks of such practices during the days of Moses.

God told the Children of Israel (Hebrews) not to follow after the pagan practices of the people who would surround their small country. They were to be separate from the pagans because God wanted a pure and holy people for Himself.

In Leviticus 19:28, God says through Moses: “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord.”

What is this practice of cutting the flesh for the dead and what 

did it signify?

Alexander Hislop, a historian, wrote this in his book, The Two Babylons (pg. 129): “Osiris was cut in pieces; therefore, to imitate his fate, so far as living men might do so, they were required to cut and wound their own bodies.” Hislop explained in the same book how Osiris was a god borrowed from the Assyrian / Babylonian god Nimrod (or Baal) (of Genesis 10) who was killed and his body was cut up into pieces (The Two Babylons, pp. 56-58). These pieces were sent to various places as a warning to those who served Nimrod and his idolatrous system.

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After Nimrod was killed, his followers worshiped him as a god who was cut to pieces. To mourn his death and mutilation, they would cut bald patches in their hair, pierce themselves in various places, and cut themselves with sharp knives. They also printed marks in their skin (i.e. tattoos).

Herodotus wrote: "I have before related in what manner the rites of Isis are celebrated at Busiris. After the ceremonies of sacrifice the whole assembly [...] flagellate [or whip] themselves[...] The Carians of Egypt treat themselves at this solemnity with unparalleled severity; they cut themselves in the face with swords, and by this distinguish themselves from the Egyptian natives." (Herodotus, Volume 1.)

Hislop wrote of this practice of cutting the flesh and how it was practiced by Hindus, Romans, Egyptians, and others (The Two Babylons, pg. 129).

Besides cutting themselves with swords and whips, ancient people purposely mutilated their hair and beards for the same reason.

Alexander Hislop wrote (Ibid, pg. 175):