There are a lot of different types of Christian tattoos that people can get, but Bible verse tattoos are a bit more special to some since they allow people to show the words that mean the most to them. Whether the Bible verse tattoos are text only or have an image or two around them, the centerpiece of these designs are the verses themselves and the meanings attached to them. If you are interested in getting a Bible verse tattoo, take a look at the information below for the history of these tattoos and some of the most popular verses that people get.
Verses taken from the Christian Bible, both the Old and New testaments, are popular choices for Christians. The scripture found in the Bible is pedagogical and used to teach important lessons that should be carried through one’s life and actions. Bible verses serve as a reminder of the teachings or miracles of Jesus Christs, as well as the creation theory and other allegories from the Old Testament.
Each of the verses found within the chapters of the Bible can mean different things to different people. While some have become so popular that they are known for having just a few meanings, the truth is that people often attach their own meanings to them since they affected them at very specific times of their lives. This obviously makes Bible verse tattoos that much more meaningful since they give people hope and perhaps remind them of the hardships that they have overcome.
There are various passages from the scripture that are commonly used for tattoos and other means of expression. Depending on which book of the Bible the passage is taken from, the context of the quote can change as the intended speaker changes. A passage taken from the Book of Psalms is meant to be taken more at its face value while quotes from God or disciples are more open to interpretation from person to person. This is why it is not wise to assume the meaning of a Bible verse tattoo simply because you have heard of and/or talked about it in the past. The same Bible verse tattoo can mean one thing to one person and something completely different to the next since so many are open to interpretation.
Arguably the most popular Bible verse is John 3:16, which recites the sacrifice of God giving his “only son” to the world. This is most likely the most common passage because of it represents the integral facet of Christianity, the birth of Christ into the world. Many people see this as the most important passage in the Bible since without it Christianity never would have come to be. It’s an extremely popular Bible verse tattoo, but it’s especially popular with born-again Christians since it is often seen as the verse that “saved” them.
Another popular verse, also commonly used in part as lyrics, is Psalm 23:4 which begins “Yea, though I walk through the valley…”. This is a popular choice because again, it perfectly conveys God’s guardianship over His followers. The passage ends with “I will fear no evil,” which emphasizes the protection that God can provide. These are very powerful words and sometimes are seen to represent the most powerful of powerful beings. Not only is it a popular verse to good, wholesome Christians, it’s also commonly used by Christian gang members that want to show off their power through those words.
A very popular inspirational Bible verse tattoo is Philippians 4:13, which reads: “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” This verse is usually put in a place where the owner can see it regularly so they can get the most out of their days. Often people who have had tough lives or simply don’t want to keep moving forward will get the Philippians 4:13 tattoo.
Because many verses of scripture are written in the first person, they work as a mantra, a phrase that is repeated to oneself in order to affirm it. When the verse is permanently scribed on the body, it provides an even stronger affirmation of one’s faith and religious beliefs. Bible verses in this way act as a seal, solidifying personal and spiritual beliefs and serving to strengthen that faith. Making a favorite or cherished verse from the Bible eternally represented on the body is the ultimate dedication to the worship of Christianity.
The main thing you’ll want to focus on when you’re thinking about getting a Bible verse tattoo is the verse itself, but you’ll also want to think about the style that you want to get. Specifically, you need to go over all of the fonts that work for these types of tattoos. There are plenty of biblical fonts out there that are meant to look exactly like the fonts used in Bibles, but you aren’t just limited to those. Some people like to go a bit outside of the box and get a font that they simply like to look at. It’s not easy to come up with fonts when getting text tattoos, so expect to spend just about as much time on this part of the process as on picking the Bible verse that you want to get.
Many people decide to get the Bible verses with no other images around it, but others want to add in a bit more meaning with religious symbols or other designs. Popular religious symbols include the cross, the Bible itself, a portrait of Jesus, a shepherd, and many others. You aren’t limited to religious imagery, of course, as many people decide to simply make a highly personal tattoo design that includes images that mean a lot to them.
Another popular way to get a Bible verse tattoo is to get a religious scroll tattoo. This is a great idea if you choose a long verse to use and you don’t want to simply put the chapter and verse numbers on your skin. Putting all of the words on an aged-looking scroll can make your Bible verse tattoo look beautiful and it can add in a bit more meaning. These are definitely more difficult to draw, so make sure you work with an experienced tattoo artist if you decide to go this route.
If you do use any other images along with your Bible verse tattoo, you’ll want to work with an artist to make sure the entire tattoo looks great on your skin. If you want the verse to be the centerpiece, then you shouldn’t get heavily detailed designs around it since that will draw people’s eyes away from the verse itself. Instead, it’s better to put the words in the center of the design and have every other image complimenting it by drawing the eye towards the center. A good artist will have no problem making this work regardless of the images you choose to include in the tattoo.
You’ll also want to think long and hard about the location of your Bible verse tattoo. Is it going to be a very personal design or do you want to share it with the world? Do you want the entire verse spelled out or just the chapter and verse numbers? Once you figure that out you can start thinking about the best place to put the design. Shorter verses are great on the forearm or along the foot, while longer verses can look spectacular on the back or on the chest. Again, have a long talk with your artist about these things so you are sure you’re happy with the final product.
What’s great about Bible verse tattoos is that it’s very rare that a person regrets getting one. In most cases the verses have meant a lot to the owners of these tattoos for a very long time, so they did not make the decision out of the blue. These types of religious tattoos often mean slightly more to people since they have narrowed down the parts of the Bible that have effected them the most and they are proud to have those verses inked on their skin.
