Reference: Cuttings
Fausets
Le 19:28; "ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for (in behalf of) the dead, nor print any mark upon you." And (Le 21:5) the priests "shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the grainer of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh." The prohibition was directed against the pagan self inflicted mutilation or baldness which was supposed to propitiate the manes of the dead; probably a milder substitute (Homer, Iliad 23:141) for the human sacrifices offered over the dead, as the 12 Trojans immolated by Achilles at Patrochus' burial (Homer, Iliad 23:171,176), and as among the ancient Seythians (Herodotus, 4:71) and modern Africans (e.g. in Dahomey) at the death of chiefs both men and animals are sacrificed. The cuttings also expressed excessive grief, death being to the pagan a dark blank future (contrast 1Th 4:13).
Self mutilation and cuttings were also supposed to propitiate the idols at other times (1Ki 18:28). The Syrians (Lucian de Des Syr., 2:658,681; compare Eze 8:14), the neighbors of Israel in Canaan, not the Egyptians from whose land Israel had come, practiced these self cuttings, expressive of excited feeling. Tattooing also, in mark of allegiance to a deity, as soldiers and slaves indicated their devotion to those over them, is hereby forbidden. Voluntary disfigurement of the person is an outrage on God's workmanship (Speaker's Commentary, Le 19:28). This explains the "mark in the right hand or in the forehead" (Re 13:16; 17:5; 19:20). God signs His people with His own name on their forehead mystically (the most conspicuous, highest part of the body, whereon the helmet "the hope of salvation" is worn; implying open compression on their part as well as on His): Re 14:1-9; 22:4.
Paul's bodily sears, suffered for Jesus' sake, were God's own marks that Paul was His, in contrast to the circumcision marks in the flesh of their followers in which the Judaizing teachers gloried (Ga 6:17,13-14; Col 1:24; Re 7:3). Isa 44:5, "another shall subscribe his hand unto the Lord," Lowth explains, shall write upon his hand, I am Jehovah's; as soldiers punctured their hands in token of devotion to their commander. Brahmins bear similar marks on their foreheads. Cuttings of the flesh, the beard, whiskers, and hair of the head expressed extreme grief (Jer 41:5; 47:5; 48:37; compare Isa 15:2). In spite of the prohibition the Jews often practiced it in Jeremiah's time (Jer 16:6).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Never slash your body to mourn the dead, and never get a tattoo. I am Jehovah.
Never slash your body to mourn the dead, and never get a tattoo. I am Jehovah.
Never slash your body to mourn the dead, and never get a tattoo. I am Jehovah.
Never slash your body to mourn the dead, and never get a tattoo. I am Jehovah.
You should never mourn by shaving bald spots on your heads, shaving the edges of your beards, or slashing your bodies.
You should never mourn by shaving bald spots on your heads, shaving the edges of your beards, or slashing your bodies.
So they gave loud cries and they cut themselves with knives and swords till the blood came streaming out all over them.
So they gave loud cries and they cut themselves with knives and swords till the blood came streaming out all over them.
They have gone up to the temple and to Dibon, to the high places to weep. Moab wails over Nebo and Medeba. Everyone's head is bald and every beard is cut off.
They have gone up to the temple and to Dibon, to the high places to weep. Moab wails over Nebo and Medeba. Everyone's head is bald and every beard is cut off.
One person will say: I belong to Jehovah. Another person will call himself by the name of Jacob. Still another will write on his hand: Jehovah's. And he will take the name Israel.'
One person will say: I belong to Jehovah. Another person will call himself by the name of Jacob. Still another will write on his hand: Jehovah's. And he will take the name Israel.'
Both great and small men will die in this land. They will not be buried, they will not be lamented, nor will anyone gash himself or shave his head for them.
Both great and small men will die in this land. They will not be buried, they will not be lamented, nor will anyone gash himself or shave his head for them.
Eighty men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. Their beards were shaved off, their clothes were torn, and cuts were on their bodies. They brought grain offerings and incense to Jehovah's Temple.
Eighty men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. Their beards were shaved off, their clothes were torn, and cuts were on their bodies. They brought grain offerings and incense to Jehovah's Temple.
Gaza will shave its head in mourning. Ashkelon will be destroyed. How long will you cut yourselves, you people left on the plains?
Gaza will shave its head in mourning. Ashkelon will be destroyed. How long will you cut yourselves, you people left on the plains?
They have all shaved their heads and cut off their beards. They have all made gashes on their hands, and everyone is wearing sackcloth.'
They have all shaved their heads and cut off their beards. They have all made gashes on their hands, and everyone is wearing sackcloth.'
Then he brought me to the entrance of the gate of Jehovah's house toward the north; and I saw women sitting there weeping for Tammuz (the god).
Then he brought me to the entrance of the gate of Jehovah's house toward the north; and I saw women sitting there weeping for Tammuz (the god).
For not even those who receive circumcision obey the Law. They desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.
For not even those who receive circumcision obey the Law. They desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh. Never should I boast except in the stake (symbolic: self-denial and atonement) of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is through this stake that the world has been impaled to me, and I to the world.
Never should I boast except in the stake (symbolic: self-denial and atonement) of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is through this stake that the world has been impaled to me, and I to the world.
Let no one trouble me. I bear the marks of Jesus branded on my body.
Let no one trouble me. I bear the marks of Jesus branded on my body.
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake. I do my share in behalf of his body, the congregation, to provide what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ.
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake. I do my share in behalf of his body, the congregation, to provide what is lacking of the afflictions of Christ.
I do not want you to be ignorant brothers, concerning those who are asleep (in death). You do not need to sorrow like others who have no hope.
I do not want you to be ignorant brothers, concerning those who are asleep (in death). You do not need to sorrow like others who have no hope.
He said: Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
He said: Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
And he forces all persons, the great and the small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.
And he forces all persons, the great and the small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.
A Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with him one hundred forty-four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
A Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with him one hundred forty-four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven, as the sound of many waters. It was as the sound of a great thunder: and I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.
I heard a sound from heaven, as the sound of many waters. It was as the sound of a great thunder: and I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders. No man can learn that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, who were redeemed from the earth.
They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders. No man can learn that song but the hundred and forty-four thousand, who were redeemed from the earth. These are they who were not defiled with women. They are virgins. These are they who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed (bought) from among mankind. They are the first fruits to God and to the Lamb.
These are they who were not defiled with women. They are virgins. These are they who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed (bought) from among mankind. They are the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. No falsehood (lie) (deceit) was found in their mouth, for they are without fault.
No falsehood (lie) (deceit) was found in their mouth, for they are without fault. Then I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven. He had everlasting good news to preach to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.
Then I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven. He had everlasting good news to preach to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. He spoke in a loud voice: Respect God, and give him glory! The hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
He spoke in a loud voice: Respect God, and give him glory! The hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Another angel followed, saying: Babylon the great has fallen. She has fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Another angel followed, saying: Babylon the great has fallen. She has fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. The third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice: If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice: If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
A name was written on her forehead, a mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the abominations of the earth.
A name was written on her forehead, a mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the abominations of the earth.
The beast was captured, and with him the false prophet that performed signs before him, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.
The beast was captured, and with him the false prophet that performed signs before him, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.
They will see his face and his name will be in their foreheads.
They will see his face and his name will be in their foreheads.