Tetelestai Tattoo Meaning, Design & Ideas

The word, Tetelestai is a word that means the world to most Christians and those who believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for them. It is a word that sums up everything Jesus did for the people and much can be taken from this word. It is said it is difficult to even explain how much it means as the symbolism is deeper than the ocean.

In this post, we are going to try to explain in some detail the world of Tetelestai and what the Tetelestai tattoo means. This tattoo is representative of all that Christians believe and because it isn’t a common word, when the Tetelestai tattoo is seen, it is going to bring up some conversation. This might even be the goal when getting the Tetelestai tattoo. To have a conversation is spreading the word of Christ so by getting the Tetelestai tattoo, it’s almost as if you are doing God’s work at the same time.

We hope that you have a better understanding of the Tetelestai tattoo and what it symbolizes by the end of this post. Our goal is to make sure you don’t go into your next tattoo shop, see an interesting word, and have it inked on your skin.

What does Tetelestai Mean

When translated, Tetelestai is Greek for “It is finished.” This word comes up in John 19:28 and 19:30 of the Holy Bible and they are the only two spots where it comes up in the New Testament. In John 19:28, Tetelestai is explained as being the last thing Jesus said. In summary, Jesus knew everything was completed while he was on the cross. For the scripture to be complete, Jesus said “I thirst”. When he was given his last drink of wine, Jesus said, “Tetelestai” as he bowed his head and released his spirit.

By this story, one can understand the importance of the phrase and why the Tetelestai tattoo is such a popular one for those who are believers. It also means, “paid in full” which has a great deal of meaning that we will talk about. However, the point is that Jesus died for our sins and our debt is paid in full or it is finished so we don’t have to worry.

Tetelestai Tattoo Meaning

The meaning of the Tetelestai tattoo is the eternal love that Jesus Christ has for all of us. He died for our sins and by him saying the word, Tetelestai, he is saying that all our sins have been forgiven and all our “debts” have been paid.

The meaning is to let us go on with our lives knowing that Jesus died for our sins. Stop worrying about what you have done or shaming yourself. You must live in the way that he would want you to. Jesus died for the sins of all people so that the people could reconnect with God. Without the sacrifice of Jesus, all sins would not have been forgiven and we would have gone to hell.

The symbolism of the Tetelestai tattoo is the love that God has for his children. Many will argue that this one word holds so much meaning in it that it is immeasurable. We can try to explain this by saying this word symbolizes love and everything associated with it. It is the kind of love that would make a man sacrifice himself for us. Tetelestai is a word that tells everyone that the process has ended, and we can now spend eternity with God if that is what we choose to do. Love, patience, and kindness are all characteristics of the Tetelestai tattoo.

Tetelestai Tattoo Variations

The Tetelestai tattoo is pretty self-explanatory when it comes to the variations of the tattoo. Every variation of this tattoo involves other imagery worked into the word and the things that can be added to represent the meaning of the tattoo. Below are a few examples of the way we have seen this tattoo displayed.

Tetelestai Word Tattoo

Keeping it simple is always a good choice for a tattoo. The Tetelestai tattoo can be tattooed most simply and powerfully and that is by having the word by itself. The Tetelestai tattoo makes people ask questions. I wasn’t sure what this word meant when I first saw it and had to ask the person with the tattoo. This led to a conversation explaining the meaning behind the word and that is one of the goals of people who truly believe in something; to spread the word.

Tetelestai and Cross Tattoo

The Tetelestai tattoo with crosses incorporated is a popular way to have this tattoo inked on your body. To put a big cross in the background with Tetelestai worked into the image gives others a clue as to what “Tetelestai” means. It might lead to less conversation as the imagery explains itself, but it is equally as powerful.

This style of the Tetelestai tattoo can also use crosses in the word. There are three “T”s in the word which are often transformed into letters looking more like the holy cross. This version of the tattoo is also self-explanatory. It is a creative way to work a cross into the image and share the message you are trying to portray without having to tell everyone.

The Tetelestai Tattoo in Greek

This version of the Tetelestai tattoo is just like it sounds. Because the word is Greek, it only seems right to have it tattooed in Greek on the arm. The Greek alphabet is fascinating and in the same way as just having the word, the Greek spelling of “Tetelestai” will allow onlookers to ask questions and to have conversations.

There are plenty of ways to get the Tetelestai tattoo and these are just a few. We would suggest finding an artist that has experience in tattooing fonts and script, so you feel more comfortable with your results. If you need help finding an artist that can do this, let us know and we can point you in the right direction.

1 thought on “Tetelestai Tattoo Meaning, Design & Ideas”

  1. Great information, thanks for sharing.
    I’d like a small Tetelestai tattoo on my hand or wrist area. What is the best font for a female who is very ladylike and romantic?
    Thanks
    Araceli

    Reply

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