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 they, who are circumcised, do not themselves keep the law: but they would have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
For they, who are circumcised, do not themselves keep the law: but they would have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, unless in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
But God forbid that I should glory, unless in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
For the future, let no one give me uneasiness: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
For the future, let no one give me uneasiness: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
But I would not have you ignorant, my brethren, concerning those that are fallen asleep, that ye may not be grieved like others who have no hope:
But I would not have you ignorant, my brethren, concerning those that are fallen asleep, that ye may not be grieved like others who have no hope:
saying, Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
saying, Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
And he maketh all, both small and great, rich and poor, free-men and slaves, to receive a mark on their right hand, or on their foreheads: and that no one might buy or sell,
And he maketh all, both small and great, rich and poor, free-men and slaves, to receive a mark on their right hand, or on their foreheads: and that no one might buy or sell,
Then I looked and behold a Lamb standing on mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written on their foreheads.
Then I looked and behold a Lamb standing on mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the noise of many waters, and as the sound of great thunder; and I heard the sound of harpers playing on their harps:
And I heard a voice from heaven, like the noise of many waters, and as the sound of great thunder; and I heard the sound of harpers playing on their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne; and before the four living ones, and the elders: and none could learn the song, but the hundred and forty four thousand, who are redeemed from the earth.
and they sung as it were a new song before the throne; and before the four living ones, and the elders: and none could learn the song, but the hundred and forty four thousand, who are redeemed from the earth. These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins: these are they who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth: these were redeemed from among men, as the first-fruits unto God and the Lamb.
These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins: these are they who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth: these were redeemed from among men, as the first-fruits unto God and the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are blameless before the throne of God.
And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are blameless before the throne of God. And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, to preach to those that dwell upon the earth, to every nation, and tribe, and tongue,
And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel, to preach to those that dwell upon the earth, to every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the time of his judgement is come: and worship Him that made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the time of his judgement is come: and worship Him that made the heaven, and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And another angel followed, saying, Babylon the great city is fallen, is fallen; because she made all nations drink of the wine of her furious fornication.
And another angel followed, saying, Babylon the great city is fallen, is fallen; because she made all nations drink of the wine of her furious fornication. And a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any one worship the beast and his image, and receive the mark on his forehead,
And a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any one worship the beast and his image, and receive the mark on his forehead,
And upon her forehead was a name written, "Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and of the abominations of the earth."
And upon her forehead was a name written, "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 had wrought signs before him, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, who had wrought signs before him, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast, and those who worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads.
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads.