It’s a common trope among pro-choice activists: the Bible doesn’t mention abortion one time, so why are Christians so adamant that women can’t choose what they want to do with their own bodies?
While it is true that abortion itself is never mentioned, using this fact to conclude the Bible says nothing about life beginning at conception would be a grievous error. It’s the ‘argument from silence’ fallacy, which happens when someone “expresses a conclusion that is based on the absence of statements in historical documents, rather than their presence.”
It’s an error many atheists make, such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation, who pose the question then answer:
Absolutely nothing! The word “abortion” does not appear in any translation of the bible! Out of more than 600 laws of Moses, none comments on abortion.
FFRF goes on to use the commonly misused Exodus 21:22-25, which lays out punishments for someone who strikes a pregnant woman. They assume there’s a miscarriage and therefore the financial penalty seems to devalue life inside the womb. But their assumption is wrong (more on that HERE).
They are also wrong about their claim that the Bible does not condemn abortion. It may not be explicitly stated using the word abortion, but they’re still wrong.
Here are 79 verses in which God specifically mentions or references the life of the unborn:
Genesis 20:18
For the Lord had closed fast all the wombs of the household of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
Genesis 25:22
But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is so, why then am I this way?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.
Genesis 25:23
The Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb;
And two peoples will be separated from your body;
And one people shall be stronger than the other;
And the older shall serve the younger.”
Genesis 25:24
When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
Genesis 29:31
Now the Lord saw that Leah was [aunloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
Genesis 30:2
Then Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?”
Genesis 30:22
Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb.
Genesis 38:27
It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb.
Genesis 49:25
From the God of your father who helps you,
And [aby the Almighty who blesses you
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
Exodus 13:2
“Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me.”
Exodus 13:12
you shall devote to the Lord the first offspring of every womb, and [cthe first offspring of every beast that you own; the males belong to the Lord.
Exodus 13:15
It came about, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore, I sacrifice to the Lord the males, the first [aoffspring of every womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’
Exodus 34:19
“The first offspring from every womb belongs to Me, and all your male livestock, the first offspring from [acattle and sheep.
Numbers 3:12
“Now, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be Mine.
Numbers 8:16
for they are wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. I have taken them for Myself instead of every first issue of the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel.
Numbers 12:12
Oh, do not let her be like one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes from his mother’s womb!”
Numbers 18:15
Every first issue of the womb of all flesh, whether man or animal, which they offer to the Lord, shall be yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.
Deuteronomy 7:13
He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock, [ain the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you.
Judges 13:5
For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
Judges 13:7
But he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and now you shall not drink wine or strong drink nor eat any unclean thing, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”
Judges 16:17
So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, “A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.”
Ruth 1:11
But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
1 Samuel 1:5
but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb.
1 Samuel 1:6
Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
Job 1:21
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Job 3:10
Because it did not shut the opening of my mother’s womb,
Or hide trouble from my eyes.
Job 3:11
“Why did I not die at birth,
Come forth from the womb and expire?
Job 10:8-12
Your hands fashioned and made me altogether,
And would You destroy me?
‘Remember now, that You have made me as clay;
And would You turn me into dust again?
Did You not pour me out like milk
And curdle me like cheese;
Clothe me with skin and flesh,
And knit me together with bones and sinews?
‘You have granted me life and lovingkindness;
And Your care has preserved my spirit.
Job 10:18
‘Why then have You brought me out of the womb?
Would that I had died and no eye had seen me!
Job 10:19
‘I should have been as though I had not been,
Carried from womb to tomb.’
Job 31:15
“Did not He who made me in the womb make him,
And the same one fashion us in the womb?
Job 38:8
“Or who enclosed the sea with doors
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
Job 38:29
“From whose womb has come the ice?
And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?
Psalm 22:9
Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
Psalm 22:10
Upon You I was cast from [abirth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.
Psalm 58:3
The wicked are estranged from the womb;
These who speak lies go astray from [abirth.
Psalm 71:6
]By You I have been sustained from my birth;
You are He who took me from my mother’s womb;
My praise is continually [bof You.
Psalm 110:3
Your people [awill volunteer freely in the day of Your power;
In holy array, from the womb of the dawn,
Your youth are to You as the dew.
Psalm 127:3
Behold, children are a [agift of the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Psalm 139:13
For You formed my [ainward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
Proverbs 30:16
Sheol, and the barren womb,
Earth that is never satisfied with water,
And fire that never says, “Enough.”
Proverbs 31:2
What, O my son?
And what, O son of my womb?
And what, O son of my vows?
Ecclesiastes 5:15
As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.
Ecclesiastes 11:5
Just as you do not know [athe path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.
Isaiah 44:2
Thus says the Lord who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you,
‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant;
And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
Isaiah 44:24
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb,
“I, the Lord, am the maker of all things,
Stretching out the heavens by Myself
And spreading out the earth [aall alone,
Isaiah 46:3
“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been borne by Me from [abirth
And have been carried from the womb;
Isaiah 49:1
Listen to Me, O islands,
And pay attention, you peoples from afar.
The Lord called Me from the womb;
From the [abody of My mother He named Me.
Isaiah 49:5
And now says the Lord, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,
To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him
(For I am honored in the sight of the Lord,
And My God is My strength),
Isaiah 49:15
“Can a woman forget her nursing child
And have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
Isaiah 66:9
“Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?” says the Lord.
“Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?” says your God.
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 20:17
Because he did not kill me [abefore birth,
So that my mother would have been my grave,
And her womb ever pregnant.
Jeremiah 20:18
Why did I ever come forth from the womb
To look on trouble and sorrow,
So that my days have been spent in shame?
Hosea 9:14
Give them, O Lord—what will You give?
Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
Hosea 9:16
Ephraim is stricken, their root is dried up,
They will bear no fruit.
Even though they bear children,
I will slay the precious ones of their womb.
Hosea 12:3
In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
And in his maturity he contended with God.
Hosea 13:13
The pains of childbirth come upon him;
He is not a wise son,
For [ait is not the time that he should delay at the opening of the womb.
Amos 1:13
Thus says the Lord,
“For three transgressions of the sons of Ammon and for four
I will not revoke its punishment,
Because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead
In order to enlarge their borders.
Matthew 19:12
For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”
Luke 1:15
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit [awhile yet in his mother’s womb
Luke 1:31
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
Luke 1:41
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:42
And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
Luke 1:44
For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
Luke 2:21
And when eight days had passed, [abefore His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:23
(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),
Luke 11:27
While [aJesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.”
Luke 23:29
For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’
John 3:4
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”
Acts 3:2
And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg [aalms of those who were entering the temple.
Acts 14:8
At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.
Romans 4:19
Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;
Galatians 1:15
But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased
God cares about life in the womb
It is evident through these numerous passages that God clearly values life from the very moment it begins. This list isn’t even comprehensive as it pertains to other language God uses that clearly sets apart the dignity of human life at the earliest stages.
When you combine the fact that God identifies life as existing from the earliest stages with the fact that God is clearly opposed to murder, it should be fairly evident that God would not be in favor of abortion.
Yet, here we are in 2019 when people are jumping through hoops to justify their abortions – and even doubling down to express their pride in getting one.
Pray this post, through the Scripture presented, opens the eyes of someone who may be pro-choice (especially Christians!) and that they see the error of their ways.