Definition and Context:
Cuttings in the flesh refer to the practice of making incisions or lacerations on one's body. This act is often associated with mourning, idolatrous rituals, or as a form of self-expression in various ancient cultures. In the biblical context, such practices are explicitly prohibited as they are linked to pagan customs and are seen as contrary to the holiness and distinctiveness that God desires for His people.

Biblical References:

1. Leviticus 19:28 : "You must not make any cuts in your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD." This verse is part of the Holiness Code, which outlines various laws intended to set the Israelites apart from surrounding nations. The prohibition against cuttings in the flesh is directly connected to practices associated with mourning the dead, which were common among pagan cultures.

2. Deuteronomy 14:1 : "You are the children of the LORD your God; do not cut yourselves or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead." Here, the Israelites are reminded of their identity as God's children, emphasizing that their behavior should reflect their unique relationship with Him. The prohibition against self-mutilation is again linked to mourning practices, underscoring the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty over life and death.

3. 1 Kings 18:28 : "And they cried aloud and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them." This passage describes the prophets of Baal during the contest on Mount Carmel with Elijah. Their self-mutilation was part of their ritualistic attempt to invoke their god, highlighting the futility and desperation of idolatrous practices.

Theological Implications:

The prohibition against cuttings in the flesh underscores the biblical principle of the sanctity of the human body, which is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The body is to be respected and treated with dignity, reflecting the holiness of God. Engaging in practices that harm the body or align with pagan rituals is seen as a violation of this principle.

Furthermore, the biblical injunctions against such practices serve as a reminder of the distinctiveness of God's people. The Israelites were called to be a holy nation, set apart from the surrounding cultures (Exodus 19:6). By avoiding practices like cuttings in the flesh, they demonstrated their allegiance to God and their rejection of idolatry.

Cultural and Historical Background:

In the ancient Near East, cutting the flesh was a common practice among various cultures, often associated with mourning rites or religious ceremonies. It was believed that such acts could appease deities or express deep sorrow. However, for the Israelites, these practices were forbidden as they were tied to pagan worship and a worldview that contradicted the monotheistic faith in Yahweh.

Application for Believers:

For contemporary believers, the biblical teaching against cuttings in the flesh can be understood as a call to honor God with one's body and to avoid practices that are rooted in paganism or that distort the image of God. It also serves as a reminder to find comfort and hope in God's promises rather than in rituals or practices that do not align with biblical truth.Cuttings [In the Flesh]

Cuttings in the flesh, or the laceration of one's body for the "propitiation of their gods," (1 Kings 18:28) constituted a prominent feature of idolatrous worship, especially among the Syrians. The Israelites were prohibited from indulging in such practices. (Leviticus 19:28; 21:5; 14:1; Jeremiah 16:6)

The Seventh Commandment
... While the adulterer feeds on strange flesh, the sword of God's justice hangs ... Cuttings
and braidings of the hair, a painted face, naked breasts, are allurements ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 7 the seventh commandment.htm

A Provision Ground
... 311d} and that with leaves like a great myrtle, and bright flesh-coloured fruit ... and
fruits, it seldom or never seeds, and is propagated entirely by cuttings. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xvi a provision ground.htm

Profit and Loss
... flagellations of vengeance beat the flesh; where the perpetual pourings out of the
vials of eternal wrath scald the spirit, and where the cuttings of the sword ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/profit and loss.htm

How Christ is Made Use of for Justification as a Way.
... we would put ourselves to much pain and torment by whippings, cuttings, fastings,
watchings ... law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter iv how christ is.htm

Why are Men Saved?
... dozen times over, but "that which is born of the flesh is flesh," and "cannot ... still
piercing and thrilling"a voice whose whispers were like the cuttings of a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/why are men saved.htm

The Church as She Should Be
... A church is not a bundle of cuttings in the gardener's hand: it is a vine ... is decreed
of God, and fixed by his predestinating purpose, that all flesh shall see ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the church as she should.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree;
... forth as a profession is got into; it is easy for a man to clothe himself with a
fair show in the flesh, to word ... There are two manner of cuttings down; First. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the barren fig-tree.htm

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from the restoration by Thobois, as given in Renan. The
cuttings made in the lower stonework appear to be traces of unfinished steps. ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

What does the Bible say about self-harm / self-mutilation / cutting? | GotQuestions.org

Cuttings: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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