ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Monite ‘Epeleli 24, 2023

קעקע Tattooed for the Dead

Tātatau ma‘ae kau mate

LEVITICUS 19:28

"YOU SHALL NOT MAKE ANY CUTS ON YOUR BODY FOR THE DEAD OR TATTOO YOURSELVES: I AM THE LORD."

LEVITIKO 19:28

Tapu ho‘omou tafatafa‘i homou sino koe‘uhi ko e pekia, pea tapu ho‘omou tātatau: ko Sihova au.

Every society mourns the dead in their own way. Some wear black; some wail publicly; others leave mementos at the graveside. In the ancient cultures around Israel, inner grief was often expressed in physical alteration. Mourners disfigured their bodies, shaved their heads, or inked a qa'aqa ("tattoo") into their skin (e.g., Jer. 16:6). A qa'aqa was cultic action. The ink religiously bonded them with the dead. In Israel, however, the living God erected clear boundaries between the living and dead. With him, even believers who died are alive, for "he is not God of the dead, but of the living" (Matt. 22:32).

This verse is sometimes misapplied as a prohibition against getting inked by your local tattoo artist. As is obvious from the context, however, it concerned Israel maintaining holiness by not fellowshipping with the dead by indulging in pagan practices. Christians do grieve, of course, even as Jesus shed tears at the tomb of his friend Lazarus. But we mourn our dead, not as unbelievers, who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13). Even through tears, we see Christ's empty tomb and our promised resurrection, thanks to the one who has engraved Zion-and us, her citizens-onto the palms of his hands (Isa. 49:16).

Console us in our grief, Lord Jesus, with the sure and certain hope of your resurrection.