The Bible does not mention abortion directly, but various passages are often cited in debates about abortion due to their implications about the value of life, personhood, and moral responsibility. Below are several of the key passages that are frequently discussed:
- Exodus 21:22-25: This passage discusses the case of a man who causes a woman to miscarry during a fight. The punishment varies depending on whether “serious injury” occurs. Some interpret “serious injury” to apply to the woman, not the fetus, suggesting a distinction between the value of the woman’s life and the life of the unborn. Others argue that the passage implies a kind of life-for-life equivalence, which could extend to the unborn.
- Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” This verse is often used to argue that life begins before birth, implying a continuity of identity and purpose from conception.
- Psalm 139:13-16: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Like the Jeremiah passage, this Psalm is often cited as affirming the value of life before birth.
- Luke 1:39-44: This passage describes the pregnant Mary visiting her pregnant cousin Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s unborn baby (John the Baptist) leaps in her womb. Some see this as suggesting a level of personhood or consciousness in the unborn John.
- Genesis 1:27: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” This passage is often used to emphasize the intrinsic value and dignity of human life, which some extend to include unborn life.
- Genesis 9:6: “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind.” This verse underscores the gravity of taking a human life, which some apply to the context of abortion.
- Psalm 127:3: “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.” Passages like this one are used to highlight the value of children, implying that unborn children should be protected and valued.
Different Christian denominations and individuals may interpret these passages in diverse ways, reflecting their own theological perspectives and cultural contexts. These varying interpretations contribute to the range of Christian views on abortion.