Lev 19:27-28 | TNotes | STEP | 19:27 Do not trim: As discovered in Egyptian wall paintings, Canaanites carefully trimmed their hair and beards. The Israelites were not to imitate this practice so that they would not be influenced by Canaanite religion and ethics.

dDeut 14:1►

‏ Leviticus 19:27-28

19:27 ^a Do not trim: As discovered in Egyptian wall paintings, Canaanites carefully trimmed their hair and beards. The Israelites were not to imitate this practice so that they would not be influenced by Canaanite religion and ethics.
19:28 ^b cut your bodies: Cutting oneself was associated with Canaanite mourning practices (21:5 ^c; Deut 14:1 ^d). The word translated tattoo might refer to painting the body, a practice also associated with paganism.