Original Word: כְּתֹבֶת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: kthobeth
Pronunciation: ke-tho'-beth
Phonetic Spelling: (keth-o'-beth)
KJV: X any (mark)
NASB: marks
Word Origin: [from H3789 (כָּתַב - written)]

1. a letter or other mark branded on the skin

a letter or other mark branded on the skin

From kathab; a letter or other mark branded on the skin -- X any (mark).

see HEBREW kathab

Word Origin
from kathab
Definition
an imprint
NASB Translation
marks (1), tattoo* (1).

כְּתֹ֫בֶת noun feminine only construct וּכְתֹבֶת קַעֲקַע לֹא תִתְּנוּ בָּכֶם Leviticus 19:28 i.e. a writing (mark or sign) of imprintment, scriptio stigmatis, perhaps of tattooing, compare Di (see also Ba^{NB 61}).

Definition and Occurrence

כְּתֹבֶת (ketovet) is the Hebrew term rendered “tattoo marks” in Leviticus 19:28. It appears only here in the Old Testament and is paired with קַעֲקַע (“incision”) to prohibit any permanent body marking that was common in the surrounding pagan cultures.

Immediate Biblical Context

Leviticus 19 comprises practical outworkings of the command, “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). Verse 28 reads: “You are not to make any cuts in your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.” The prohibition follows regulations against idolatry, sorcery, and false worship, underscoring that the body of an Israelite belonged to the LORD and was not to be defaced for ritualistic or superstitious reasons.

Historical and Cultural Background

1. Mourning Rites: Archaeology and ancient Near Eastern texts attest that cutting the flesh and tattooing were part of funeral rituals meant to appease or honor the dead. By outlawing these practices, God severed Israel from sympathetic magic and ancestor cults.
2. Cultic Identification: Marks signified allegiance to deities or clans. Israel’s identity was to rest on covenant obedience, not on visible pagan emblems (Deuteronomy 14:1; Jeremiah 16:12).
3. Slavery and Ownership: Tattoos in the ancient world often branded slaves. The LORD declared that Israel was His possession (Leviticus 25:55). Defacing the body with foreign ownership marks conflicted with His exclusive claim.

Theological Considerations

• Sanctity of the Body: The command anticipates later revelation that the human body is God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). Altering it for pagan purposes contradicted its sacred status.
• Holiness and Distinction: The prohibition preserved Israel’s distinction from nations whose worship was inseparable from body mutilation (Exodus 33:16).
• Divine Ownership: The statement “I am the LORD” roots the directive not in mere health concerns but in covenant lordship; the people’s bodies bore witness to divine authority.

Connected Scriptures

• Deuteronomy 14:1 – “You are children of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves…”
• 1 Kings 18:28 – Prophets of Baal slashed themselves in ecstatic worship.
• Romans 12:1 – “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.”
• 2 Corinthians 7:1 – “Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.”
• 1 Peter 1:14-16 – “Be holy in all you do.” These passages echo the Levitical call to bodily holiness and separation from idolatrous customs.

Ministry and Pastoral Applications

1. Discernment Over Modern Tattoos: While contemporary tattooing is often aesthetic rather than cultic, believers should evaluate motives—identity, witness, stewardship of the body, and potential stumbling of weaker brethren (Romans 14:13).
2. Freedom and Responsibility: The New Testament does not restate the Levitical ban word-for-word, yet the principle of honoring God with the body remains. Christian liberty operates within the bounds of love, edification, and holiness (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).
3. Redemption of the Marked: Many converts bear pre-conversion tattoos. Scripture offers no hint that such believers are second-class; the gospel cleanses the conscience (Hebrews 9:14). Ministry should focus on discipleship, not external appearance (James 2:1-4).
4. Teaching Youth: In a culture that exalts self-expression, pastors and parents can use Leviticus 19:28 to instruct on identity in Christ, resisting peer pressure, and viewing the body as a trust from God.

Practical Reflection for Believers Today

• Ask: Does this proposed body modification glorify God or mimic ungodly culture?
• Consider permanence: Unlike clothing or hairstyle, a tattoo is a lifelong statement.
• Seek counsel: Spiritual leaders and mature believers provide perspective.
• Evaluate testimony: Will the mark hinder gospel witness or employment for ministry?

Through such reflection, the enduring principle behind כְּתֹבֶת guides Christians to honor the Lord with body and spirit while engaging their generation wisely.

וּכְתֹ֣בֶת וכתבת ū·ḵə·ṯō·ḇeṯ ucheToet ūḵəṯōḇeṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts