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