the flesh in various ways was an idolatrous practice, a part of idol-worship (
Deuteronomy 14:1 ;
1 Kings 18:28 ). The Israelites were commanded not to imitate this practice (
Leviticus 19:28 ;
21:5 ;
Deuteronomy 14:1 ). The tearing of the flesh from grief and anguish of spirit in mourning for the dead was regarded as a mark of affection (
Jeremiah 16:6 ;
41:5 ;
48:37 ).
Allusions are made in ( Revelation 13:16 ; 17:5 ; 19:20 ) to the practice of printing marks on the body, to indicate allegiance to a deity. We find also references to it, through in a different direction, by Paul ( Galatians 6 ; 7 ) and by ( Ezekiel 9:4 ). (See HAIR .)
These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.