Justin Bieber and dad get matching tattoos

Justin Bieber and his dad have had matching tattoos.

The 17-year-old singer - who already has two other inkings, a star on his elbow and a seagull to his hip - visited a tattooist in Israel with father Jeremy Bieber in May, where they both had 'Yeshua', the Hebrew word for Jesus, etched onto the left side of their torsos.

Photographs posted on fan website TheJustinBieberShrine.com show the 'Baby' hitmaker looking nervous as he sits in the tattooist's chair before his dad takes his hand while the inking takes place.

The pair then posed together, revealing their inflamed new artwork.

Justin - who is dating Selena Gomez - was raised primarily by his mother Patti Mallette but has previously spoken of his closeness to Jeremy.

He said: "I have a great relationship with my dad. When I was younger, he taught me how to play some songs on the guitar, like 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' by Bob Dylan.

"He taught me how to drive, too. He's cool."

While Justin and his father have not explained the significance of their matching artwork, the teenage singing sensation's manager Scooter Braun has previously revealed the star prays in both English and Hebrew before each performances.

Scooter - who is Jewish - said: "Justin heard me pray, he gets why I do it and now he does the same."