Musing – Does the Bible say anything about Abortion?

Hebraic Musing – Does the Bible say anything about Abortion?

I have heard people say that the Bible does not say anything about abortion or fetus.  And they point out that the words “abortion” and “fetus” do not appear in the Bible.  I did a word search and that is true.  However, in doing that word search I also noticed that “womb” appears 56 times and with recognition that the womb is a special place where offspring are created, developed, nurtured and recognized.

In Mosaic law God deals with the issue of injury to the baby in a pregnant woman’s womb.  "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined …  But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life,…” Exod. 21:22-23 NIV

And the murderous crime of “ripping open the pregnant women” is condemned during the era of Kings:

·         In Amos 1:13  The Lord says: "For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath].  Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead…” 

·         2 Kings 8:12   "Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites, … kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women." 

·         2 Kings 15:16   “At that time Menahem, … attacked Tiphsah and everyone in the city … because they refused to open their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.”

Pregnant women are said to be “with child”; i.e. “As a woman with child and about to give birth” Isa. 26:17

Matt 1:23   "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel…"   This is referencing Isaiah 7:14  “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”      Note that there is a child in the womb that later comes forth as a son. 

The most profound recognition of a life in the womb occurs when Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, refers twice to John, the Baptist, as the baby in her womb -- “When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  …  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.’”   Luke 1:41 & 44   NIV

One of the classic commandments is “Do not kill, or murder”.  Why is it not surprising that murder has become acceptable for our own pleasure and convenience when we have a thriving entertainment culture built on the feeding of a love of murder and killing?  Do we get upset about our culture ignoring “Biblical Marriage” and resorting to the fleshly pleasure of free sex, which created the underlying justification for those supporting abortion?

 Point to ponder

What other plans of Almighty God are we ignoring? 
Like Biblical Marriage?
Like the sin of Sodom & Gomorrah?

 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.” Ps 139:13 

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                            May 1, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”