Many years ago vacationing with my wife, I came back to our room and proudly announced I had a tattoo! Kathy looked a bit puzzled and then grinned as I showed her a very small, but colorful tattoo of Bugs Bunny on my arm. It was actually one of those very temporary paste on tattoos children use.
I personally don’t have any real tattoos, however, they are quite popular today. I remember a time when it seemed like only servicemen had tattoos. But in recent years, things have changed quite dramatically.
According to the website, History of Tattoos, “36% of Americans between the age of 18 and 29 have at least one tattoo. Of all those who have tattoos, 70% have more than one tattoo and 20% have more than five.” Today, people refer to tattoos as “ink,” “pieces,” “skin art,” “tattoo art,” “tats,” or “work.” Getting “ink” goes back thousands of years. The process today is much safer, and much less painful than it was in ancient times.
For some, “tattoo art” is decorative, but many still get “tats” to express their love for someone. We’ve all seen tattoos on arms, backs, shoulders, necks, legs and ankles. But I’ll bet you’ve never seen a tattoo on someone’s palm; have you?
“Inking” the palm of your hand would be very uncomfortable to say the least. The palm of your hand has very little fat padding and is one of the more sensitive areas on our bodies. That adds up to a palm tattoo being acknowledged as one of the most painful tattoos you can get.
God Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth said He has a tattoo. In Isaiah 49, it says, “Behold, I [God] have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” Graven means tattooed. Most of the time “skin art” is not seen by the wearer unless it’s on the forearm, or wrist. But if you have a tattoo on your palm, it’s visible to you throughout the day.
God chose this most sensitive part for His tattoo so that He could always be mindful of us. And not just one palm, but both palms! Of course, God is not a human being; He is spirit and has no hands. This dramatic, eye popping declaration from God’s Word is a figure of speech to emphasize God’s great love and concern for us!
So the next time you see someone’s tattoo, or your “skin art” or even decide to get your own “ink,” let it remind you that God loves you so much He decided to have you tattooed on His palms!
Isaiah 49:15 and 16
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
Mike Verdicchio 2023
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Subject: Thank You for Your Article on “God Has a Tattoo”
Dear Mr. Verdicchio,
I just wanted to express my appreciation for your insightful article on “God Has a Tattoo.” I first encountered this concept years ago in a book called *Charis: God’s Radical Amazing Grace*. The author discussed the scripture suggesting that God has a tattoo, and it resonated deeply with me.
About six years ago, I went through an unexpected and devastating divorce, which led to a series of difficult events. During this period, my two precious kids distanced themselves from me, and I faced numerous challenges, including near arrests and a serious struggle with suicidal thoughts. I was admitted to a mental hospital for eight days and experienced eviction from two apartments. It felt like a never-ending spiral of hardship, much of which I attributed to my own actions.
After my divorce, I decided to get a tattoo to symbolize my journey and what I had endured. Over the past six years, I have accumulated 28 tattoos, each representing a part of my story. Most of them are Christian-themed, while the others are meaningful in different ways. At 59, some may think it unusual, but I cherish each one. They adorn my arms, hands, chest, and back, but not my legs, as I personally don’t favor leg tattoos on men, including myself.
Throughout this time, my older brother and his wife have been very critical of my tattoos, calling them sinful and tacky, and even suggesting that only certain types of people get them. However, when I came across your article a few months ago, I sent it to my brother. Since then, he hasn’t said a word about my tattoos. Your article provided a sense of validation and relief, for which I am very grateful.
I believe that my experiences and tattoos will help me connect with and reach out to people who are broken, as I once was. They might not relate to a conventional, straight-laced preacher, but they might open up to someone like me who has visibly walked through the fire.
Additionally, a few months ago, I felt inspired to start creating remembrance stones, drawing from the biblical practice of erecting stones to commemorate God’s miracles. I keep these remembrances in the form of emails. Brandon Lake, the contemporary Christian artist, also views his tattoos as remembrance stones, which I found incredibly inspiring.
Your article truly blessed me. Thank you so much for sharing it. And by the way, you should consider getting a real tattoo, not just a temporary one! Even if it’s in a discreet place, it could be a meaningful experience. 🙂
God bless,
Rodney Phillips
Rodney, thank you for your comment and inspiring story! I’m glad the article blessed you.
And, for me, so far, no real tattoo – yet!
You might be interested in my latest book which explains dozens of verses in light of Biblical culture.
Here’s a link for more information including getting a signed copy!
God bless you.
http://confidenceandjoy.com/what-does-it-mean/