Hebrew Tattoos

About Hebrew Tattoos

            When people think of tattoos, most probably don’t usually think of Hebrew ones.  The popular perception is that tattoos are for bikers, heavy metal artists, and odd celebrities.  Hebrew tattoos in particular really don’t cross people’s minds that often. At least they didn’t used to.  Now, Hebrew tattoos have become more and more popular, leading many people – maybe even you – to wonder where they can get their own body art like the kind they see all over the place. This article will give you an intro into Hebrew tattoos: what they are, who wears them, and how they came about.

About Hebrew Tattoos: Jewish Customs

            Hebrew tattoos have their origin in Judaism – which is ironic, considering Jewish law (Halakha) forbids tattoos.  This comes from a verse in the Tanakh (Old Testament), Leviticus 19:28: “You shall not make gashes in your flesh for the dead, or incise any marks on yourselves.” Now, while most people today don’t make gashes in their flesh, plenty of people have tattoos – including some Jews (mainly non-practicing ones).

            Hebrew tattoos come mainly from Hebrew, the language of the Jews and of most Israelis today.  (It is one of the official languages of Israel.) Thus, most of the Hebrew tattoos you come across will feature letters or words from the Hebrew language, spelling out words that in English usually mean things like ‘Hope’, ‘Happiness’, ‘Peace’, ‘Tranquility’, ‘Strength’, and ‘Love’.

About Hebrew Tattoos: Who Gets Them?

            Hebrew tattoos have become really popular due to celebrities.  Famous stars such as Madonna and Angelina Jolie have gotten Hebrew tattoos, and other celebrities continue to get them for various reasons. Madonna, for example, began practicing Kabbalah, a mystical offshoot of Judaism, which is why she has Hebrew lettering over her body.  People saw her and other people with these new, cool-looking designs and decided they wanted them as well.

            Young people in particular like Hebrew tattoos, as do those who are interested in religion and theology but may not necessarily be religious themselves.  As with any other kind of tattoo, the reason for getting a Hebrew one depends really on each individual person.

About Hebrew Tattoos: Popular Designs

            As mentioned above, the most popular Hebrew tattoos incorporate some kind of Hebrew lettering or writing, usually spelling out words that, when translated into English, have some meaning for the individual.  In fact, Hebrew tattoos are more likely to be used for meaningful purposes than they are for decoration only, which is different from many other tattoo designs.

            Of course, Hebrew-style tattoos are not limited to just words.  Some people have various Hebrew/Jewish symbols on their bodies, such as the Star of David, the Ten Commandments, specific Old Testament/Talmudic verses, and even pictures of people from Jewish culture and history. I once saw a man with a picture of Moses on his right shoulder that looked pretty realistic.

            Basically, Hebrew tattoos are very good at representing something spiritual, and many view Hebrew lettering as one of the most beautiful tattoos a person can have. If you are interested in getting one of these, I recommend finding a word or phrase that means something to you and getting it put in Hebrew lettering on your body.