Here is something I wrote on this topic. Perhaps there will be something in it ppl can enjoy:
Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:28 You may not make cuts in your flesh in respect for the dead, or have marks printed on your bodies: I am the Lord. (BBE)
This appears to be related to putting marks on your body for the dead rather than marks for other reasons.
In many cultures people will cut or tattoo themselves as a way to remember and honor their dead. One tribe I know will cut a finger or toe off. I think God is simply banning that type of thing especially since the dead are alive and with God so there is no need to honor them in such a way.
Print:
H5414
???
na^than
naw-than'
A primitive root; to give, used with great latitude of application (put, make, etc.): - add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ([healed]), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up). + sing, + slander, strike, [sub-] mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, X willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.
Mark:
H3793
?????
ketho^beth
keth-o'-beth
From H3789; a letter or other mark branded on the skin: - X any [mark].
H7085
????
qa?a?qa?
kah-ak-ah'
From the same as H6970; an incision or gash: - + mark.
Genesis 4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
God marked Cain.
Ezekiel 9:4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Ordered one here.
Revelation 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
And something very similar here.
Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
I still maintain that the printing of marks is directly related to the cutting the flesh....in honor of the dead as opposed to other reasons.
Both Tattoos and cutting the flesh is banned "for the dead". It just is worded for the cutting first and the ban on tattoos for the dead is added afterwards. Doesn't change the context.
It isn't "don't cut your flesh for the dead, and don't get tattoos for any reason" The tattoo statement is directly related to the last thought.
Did not the flesh get cut during circumcision and yet that wasn't banned by God. No, it was cutting the flesh "for the dead" that was banned and I suggest marking the flesh also for the dead which was also banned.
Isaiah 49:16 - Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
2710
02710 chaqaq {khaw-kak'}
a primitive root; TWOT - 728; v
AV - lawgiver 6, governor 2, decree 2, to grave 2, portray 2, law 1,
printed 1, set 1, note 1, appoint; 19
1) to cut out, decree, inscribe, set, engrave, portray, govern
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cut in
1a2) to cut in or on, cut upon, engrave, inscribe
1a3) to trace, mark out
1a4) to engrave, inscribe (of a law)
1b) (Poel)
1b1) to inscribe, enact, decree
1b2) one who decrees, lawgiver (participle)
1c) (Pual) something decreed, the law (participle)
1d) (Hophal) to be inscribed
God has marked himself for us!
Galatians 6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
marks
4742
4742 stigma {stig'-mah}
from a primary stizo (to "stick", i.e. prick); TDNT - 7:657,1086; n n
AV - mark 1; 1
1) a mark pricked in or branded upon the body. To ancient oriental
usage, slaves and soldiers bore the name or the stamp of their
master or commander branded or pricked (cut) into their bodies to
indicate what master or general they belonged to, and there were
even some devotee's who stamped themselves in this way with the
token of their gods
And, we bear the marks of Christ in a spiritual way upon our bodies.