What Does The Bible Have To Say About Abortion?

What does the Bible have to say about abortion? I used to think this issue was Biblically clear-cut, even on the non-believing side, but as I have been browsing some atheist and skeptical websites and blogs, there seems to be this idea that the Bible is either silent on the issue, or is actually for it. That is not true. Here is a list of verses that supposedly support abortion. They all fail.

Exodus 21:22-23 is claimed to prove that the fetus is not considered a human life, and therefore, abortion is permissible. The passage reads, “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 whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life“. I find it odd that this would be the first verse cited because it proves the exact opposite! It actually shows that unborn are valuable. “If … she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury” That is talking about the baby, and that is why there is a fine, because it costs to take care of a premature infant. “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life“.  Suddenly, there is no fine. It goes from fining for injury of the baby, and then it goes to penalty of death. If the baby dies, then the offender must die as well. This affirms that value of the unborn, and therefore is a good Biblical text against abortion. Here is a good resource for a more thorough exegesis of this text.

Leviticus 27:6 is cited to show that the Bible places no value on fetuses or infants less than one month old. If they have no value, then they can be aborted. It reads, “If it is a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at five shekels of silver and that of a female at three shekels of silver.” The rest of the passage shows an increase as the offerings get older, yet remains silent about those under one month. I don’t think this is a good passage to determine whether or not the unborn are valuable.  If the money is used to determine value, then it follows that older people are more valuable. But surely the Bible doesn’t affirm that (see Exodus 21:22-25). If any life is unjustly taken, then it is a life for life. There is no degrees in values of life. If it were, then we ought to see verses that say an older man can kill a younger man, and not face death. We don’t see that, therefore the Bible doesn’t give human life degrees of value. But even if we were to grant this interpretation, it doesn’t follow that those in this age category have no value. All that follows is that their value cannot be assessed, and in fact, some commentators believe this to be plausible. That is different from saying they have no value at all.

Numbers 3:15-16 allegedly shows that fetuses and infants less than one month old are not considered persons. “‘Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.’ So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the LORD.” This is a terrible text for the skeptics cause. This text is exclusive to males. Does that mean that the Bible considers only males persons? Are females not people? Obviously not. And because women are not included in the consensus, they are not people? Your status as person is obviously not dependent on whether or not you’re included on the consensus.

Numbers 31:15-17, Hosea 9:14-16, and 13:16 are meant to show that God sometimes take the life of the unborn. Granted. What follows from this? That the unborn are not valuable? God takes the lives of full-grown adults, but that doesn’t nullify their value. These verses prove nothing.

2 Samuel 12:14 tells us that God takes the lives of infants to punish their parents. It says, “But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.” This also works against the skeptic. If the newborn aren’t valuable, then why is it being taken away a punishment? It is only a punishment if it is valuable. The same criticism applies to their citing of Numbers 5:21-28, and Genesis 38:24. 

Another argument that I have heard concerning abortion is that the Biblical definition of life is breath, like when God breathed into Adam in Genesis 2:7. Because the fetus does not breathe, the fetus cannot be considered to be alive and thus valuable. First, it is doubtful that breath here is meant as breathing as we know it today. If I stop breathing due to some heart or lung condition for a moment, has my value left me? I think not. A more plausible meaning behind breath is the animating force of the body. This is consistent with the dualistic view of the Bible. Or if it is not talking about dualism, the science of embryology still shows us that from the earliest stages of development, the fetus is a live, distinct, independent, human being. Secondly, we always have to be careful when using Adam and Eve as a precedent since they are a special case being the first people. It seems like Adam and Eve were created with the appearance of age, and so sheds no light on the value of a fetus.

In summary then, there is no Biblical reason to believe that abortion is permissible, or that the unborn have no value. In fact, the opposite is true. Exodus 21:22-25 show that the unborn have intrinsic value, and to kill it was equivalent to killing a full-grown adult. You don’t have to be a Christian to understand this. Here is a wonderful resource that argues the pro-life position secularly and  persuasively. I highly recommend it.

Psalms 127:3-5
³ Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.
⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.
⁵ Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Please pray for the women considering an abortion. God love you, and our children.