# Hebrew tattoo question - Law & Order: SVU **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282 "2013-05-02T02:08:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/1 "2013-05-02T02:08:27Z")
Tonight on Law & Order: SVU, a guy had a tattoo on his forearm. They were Hebrew letters, and my knowledge of Hebrew is minimal. But the letters looked to me like (from right to left) samech, bet, bet, dalet. I don’t know how to post in the Hebrew alphabet here. Anyone have a clue want that might mean? Or maybe someone saw it, too… someone who actually reads Hebrew? ---
**Author:** ![mushj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@mushj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mushj)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/2 "2013-05-02T02:44:29Z")
I noticed the Hebrew too. Pretty cool. I believe the word was סכנה which means danger; which I suppose is an appropriate tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/3 "2013-05-02T03:04:46Z")
Yes, thanks! How do you pronounce it? Gotta love the speedy service you get from the Dope! ---
**Author:** ![mushj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@mushj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mushj)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/4 "2013-05-02T03:10:54Z")
Sorry, forgot to include the pronunciation. Soh-Koh-Noh (each syllable ryhming with ha or Ma) Right after SVU I googled hebrew tattoo SVU and saw your question. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/5 "2013-05-02T03:36:30Z")
Having a tattoo in Hebrew is kind of ironic, actually… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/6 "2013-05-02T03:39:47Z")
> [@mushj](#): > > Sorry, forgot to include the pronunciation. > Soh-Koh-Noh (each syllable ryhming with ha or Ma). On which syllable is the stress? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/7 "2013-05-02T04:33:06Z")
The last - Sah-Kah-NAH. In Hebrew, it’s always one of the last two syllables that’s stressed. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/8 "2013-05-02T04:52:32Z")
If I was going to get a tattoo in Hebrew, I’d get Leviticus 19:28 tattooed on my arm. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/9 "2013-05-02T07:20:15Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Having a tattoo in Hebrew is kind of ironic, actually… > [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > If I was going to get a tattoo in Hebrew, I’d get Leviticus 19:28 tattooed on my arm. +1. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/10 "2013-05-02T07:22:40Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > If I was going to get a tattoo in Hebrew, I’d get Leviticus 19:28 tattooed on my arm. Why on Earth would anyone cut their own flesh for the dead?!? 😕 :eek: ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/11 "2013-05-02T07:35:31Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Why on Earth would anyone cut their own flesh for the dead?!? 😕 :eek: Why would people wear cotton-poly blends? IT’S BLASPHEMY! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/12 "2013-05-02T08:51:13Z")
Why would people mutilate their baby boys’ penises? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/13 "2013-05-02T13:34:54Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Why would people mutilate their baby boys’ penises? If you want to debate (or espouse) antisemitism and/or circumcision, start a thread in GD. You’re off-topic in this thread. **twickster** , Cafe Society moderator ---
**Author:** ![MickNickMaggies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@MickNickMaggies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MickNickMaggies)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/14 "2013-05-02T14:14:13Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Why on Earth would anyone cut their own flesh for the dead?!? 😕 :eek: Lots of tribes had/have mourning scarification. And mourning tattooing. People have beliefs, do things connected to those beliefs. Certainly older than sending flowers and deli platters. We still tear our clothes, symbolically anyway, in Judaism. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/15 "2013-05-02T15:35:00Z")
> [@mushj](#): > > Right after SVU I googled hebrew tattoo SVU and saw your question. I LOVE that! I actually posted before the episode was even over. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/16 "2013-05-02T17:08:07Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Why on Earth would anyone cut their own flesh for the dead?!? 😕 :eek: > [@MickNickMaggies](#): > > Lots of tribes had/have mourning scarification. And mourning tattooing. People have beliefs, do things connected to those beliefs. . . . We still tear our clothes, symbolically anyway, in Judaism. And the rituals of mourning would be based on things that people might do who were out of their heads with grief. People might scream, moan, tear their hair, tear their clothing, dress plainly, refuse to go to entertainments, cut themselves, commit suicide. One purpose the rituals serve is to define a proper middle ground. If you’ve done A, B, and C, then you’ve shown that you valued the person who died. And if you feel like doing D, E, and F, friends and neighbors can say, no, you’ve done enough, all that one could expect. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/17 "2013-05-02T17:14:29Z")
friedo: > [@](#): > > Why would people wear cotton-poly blends? IT’S BLASPHEMY! This again? Boy, talk about the fight against ignorance taking a long time. The only blend forbidden by the Bible is wool and linen. Any other mix of fabrics is Kosher (so to speak). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/18 "2013-05-02T18:28:15Z")
> [@MickNickMaggies](#): > > Lots of tribes had/have mourning scarification. And mourning tattooing. People have beliefs, do things connected to those beliefs. Certainly older than sending flowers and deli platters. > > We still tear our clothes, symbolically anyway, in Judaism. “Rending one’s garments”? :dubious: I’m genuinely curious as to how this is done symbolically. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/19 "2013-05-02T18:32:39Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “Rending one’s garments”? :dubious: > > I’m genuinely curious as to how this is done symbolically. 😕 I have seen a lapel partially unstiched on a coat. It can be easily repaired. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282/20 "2013-05-02T18:50:07Z")
hajario: > [@](#): > > I have seen a lapel partially unstiched on a coat. It can be easily repaired. It’s not supposed to be repaired, if the rip was made for the mourning ritual. Also, at least in Orthodox practice, the rip is specifically made not on a seam. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-tattoo-question-law-order-svu/657282.md?page=2)