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
For the circumcised themselves do not keep the law, but they wish you to be circumcised that they may glory in your flesh.
For the circumcised themselves do not keep the law, but they wish you to be circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world.
But far be it from me to glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world.
Finally, let no man trouble me; for I bear in my body the marks of Jesus.
Finally, let no man trouble me; for I bear in my body the marks of Jesus.
Now I rejoice in sufferings for you, and supply the deficiencies of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the church,
Now I rejoice in sufferings for you, and supply the deficiencies of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body, which is the church,
And we wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those that have fallen asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope.
And we wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those that have fallen asleep, that you may not grieve as others who have no hope.
saying, Injure not the earth nor the sea nor the trees, till we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.
saying, Injure not the earth nor the sea nor the trees, till we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.
And he caused all, small and great, and rich and poor, and freemen and servants, to receive the mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
And he caused all, small and great, and rich and poor, and freemen and servants, to receive the mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
AND I saw, and behold, the Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his father written on their foreheads.
AND I saw, and behold, the Lamb stood on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand having his name and the name of his father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like harpers playing on their harps.
And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like harpers playing on their harps. And they sung a new song before the throne and before the four cherubs and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand, who had been redeemed from the earth.
And they sung a new song before the throne and before the four cherubs and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand, who had been redeemed from the earth. These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins; these are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from men a first fruit to God and the Lamb,
These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins; these are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from men a first fruit to God and the Lamb, and in their mouth was found no deceit; for they are blameless.
and in their mouth was found no deceit; for they are blameless. And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having the eternal gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people,
And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having the eternal gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him that made heaven and the earth and the sea and fountains of waters.
saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him that made heaven and the earth and the sea and fountains of waters. And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Babylon the great has fallen, who made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Babylon the great has fallen, who made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And another, a third angel, followed them, saying with a loud voice, if any one worships the beast and his image, and receives the mark on his forehead or on his hand,
And another, a third angel, followed them, saying with a loud voice, if any one worships the beast and his image, and receives the mark on his forehead or on his hand,
and on her forehead the names inscribed, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
and on her forehead the names inscribed, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
And the beast was taken and with him the false prophet who performed miracles before him, with which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worship his image; and the two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with sulphur.
And the beast was taken and with him the false prophet who performed miracles before him, with which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worship his image; and the two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with sulphur.
and shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads.
and shall see his face, and his name shall be on their foreheads.