Isaiah and Ezekiel
Date: Tue, 07 Sep 1999 14:36:30 -0700
Subject: Tattoos
To: [email protected]
Dear Mr. Lerner,
This is a subject which greatly interests me, and I was wondering if you
could help me in studying it. It is my understanding that there is no
Hebrew word in the Torah for "tattoo", and that words such as "write" or
"mark" are used instead. It is also my understanding that the word used in
Leviticus 19:28 for tattoos is the same word "write" which is used in
Isaiah 44:5 when referring to what appears to be a tattoo on the hand. I
was also wondering if that is the same word as is used in Ezekiel 9:4
(translated "mark") for what appears to be another tattoo, this time on the
forehead. Do you have any comments on the above? I would love to converse
with you further on this subject.
Sincerely,
R.
Hi R.,
Thanks for writing. I'll try to answer your questions
one by one.
1) In Leviticus 19:28 the term used is
"k'thoveth qa'aqa." "K'thoveth" means "writing
or inscription." "Qa'aqa" comes from a root
whose meaning is "to insert or to stick in." Together,
"writing that is stuck in"(see Rashi's commentary on
the verse). Jewish oral tradition explains that the verse
is talking about what we refer to today as tattoos, i.e.
scratching or piercing the skin and filling it in with
pigment.(see the tractate "Makoth" 21a).
2) Isaiah 44:5 uses the word "yichtov" which means "will
write" without the word "qa'a'qa" "to insert or to stick in." Isaiah is not talking about tattoos. What he
is saying is
"...and he will write with his hand to the L-rd..."
like someone who signs a contract to express his utmost
commitment and obligation(see Metzudath David's
commentary on the verse).
3) Ezekiel 9:4 uses the word "tav" which means "a mark or
a sign." The man clothed with linen is going to mark
the foreheads of the righteous with ink, not tattoo them!
Someone who read the verses(Isaiah 44:5 and Ezekiel 9:4)
in the Hebrew original would
never dream that they are referring to tattoos.
I hope this helps.
BACK TO YOUR FEEDBACK