What Does the Bible Actually Say about Abortion?
- Heather Riggleman GodUpdates Contributor
- Updated Oct 25, 2024
The recent shift in abortion laws has reignited passionate debates on the moral and legal aspects of abortion. Central to the debate is whether the Bible addresses abortion. Typically, those on the pro-life side reference the biblical command "thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17), as well as other scriptures that mandate punishment for intentional killing (such as Leviticus 25:21), to argue that abortion is equivalent to murder. They often refer to a fetus as an "unborn child," emphasizing the Bible's stance against killing, its teachings on the sanctity of life, and the consequences it lays out for actions leading to miscarriages. From these references, it is apparent that the Bible does not support abortion and, in fact, appears to condemn it.
Abortion in the Bible: Table of Contents
- What the Bible Says
- When Does Life Begin?
- Is Abortion a Sin?
- Bible Verses about Abortion
- If the Mother's Life is at Risk?
- For Those Who've Had an Abortion
What the Bible Says About Abortion
The word abortion is never mentioned in the Bible. However, in those days, abortion, infanticide, and child abandonment were permitted under Roman law. In fact, there are several passages that reference the killing of women and children during wars against Israel’s enemies.
Although the Bible never explicitly addresses the topic of abortion, the killing of a human fetus, multiple instructions in Scripture make it evident what the biblical view of abortion is.
As many Christians view abortion as murder, the Bible explicitly condemns killing others, especially the innocent. It is considered the killing of a human being created in God's image because He values human life. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that God knew us before He formed us in the womb - "Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.'”
Other Key Bible Verses Against Abortion:
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:13-14)
"There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community." (Proverbs 6:16-19)
"The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.” (Isaiah 49:1)
Both prophets, Jeremiah and Isaiah, write in a way that reflects God’s view of life as seamless—there is no distinction between prenatal and postnatal life in His eyes. From the moment of conception, God is intimately involved. The fact that God can establish a personal relationship with someone while they are still in the womb is powerful evidence that preborn children possess full personhood in His sight. This is what the Bible reveals about abortion: life is sacred from the very beginning, and every person is known and valued by God from conception.
In the very beginning of Scripture we see how God is against the taking of innocent life and that murder of any kind is wrong. We can apply these Scriptures from Genesis and Exodus:
"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image." (Genesis 9:6)
"You shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13)
"Do not kill the innocent and righteous." (Exodus 23:7)
When Does the Bible Say Life Begins?
Simply put, abortion is murder. It is the killing of a human being who is created in the image of God because he values human life. That does not mean the Bible is silent on the matter though because it has a great deal to say about the value God puts on life and even when life begins. King David illustrates this most beautifully in Psalm 139.
For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.
Without the benefit of ultrasounds and modern science, David penned these words that our hearts instinctively know. Life is life. It is precious, whether one day or 100 years on this earth. Even within the womb, God sees life, values it, is the author, and has ordained all the days of its life just like he has with each of us.
Jesus reaffirmed his position, the value of life, and even children by coming into the world through a young, unwed teenage girl named Mary. In those days, an unwed, pregnant woman could be put to death in the eyes of the law. Another passage about life references Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, when she became pregnant in her old age. While John was still in the womb, he revealed his personality when he lept for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice.
The same New Testament Greek word “brephos” is used to describe John’s inter-uterine joy (Luke 1:41), the baby Jesus (Luke 2:12,16), and the children approaching Jesus during his ministry (Luke 18:15). The Bible has dozens and dozens of scriptures referencing the value of life.
Bible Verse About Life
This is what the LORD says — your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself. (Isaiah 44:24).
Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3).
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5).
But when He who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through His grace (Galatians 1:15).
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for giving us through Christ every possible spiritual benefit as citizens of heaven! For consider what he has done — before the foundation of the world He chose us to become, in Christ, His holy and blameless children living within His constant care (Ephesians 1:3-4).
The only reference of the life of an unborn child is one of the Mosaic laws that referenced miscarriage: If a woman has a miscarriage as a result of a fight, the man who caused it would be severely punished up to death.
If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished accordingly as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth (Exodus 21:22-25).
Is Abortion a Sin?
The Bible does not explicitly say abortion as a sin. However, Psalm 106 reiterates the history of the nation of Israel, their dabbling with child sacrifice, and how costly that was for them because of how abhorrent it is to God. Then in Jeremiah 32, we see God again, rebuking the nation, Israel, for sacrificing their children to the God of Moloch. The false God, Moloch.
"They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons; they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds. Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people." (Psalm 106:37-40:)
And he says something that never entered my mind. Abortion is unthinkable to God. I’ve had people say to me, “Well, the Bible’s silent on abortion. So it’s just a matter of moral conscience for women. My body, my choice.” Yet we see over and over in Scripture how God values life and hates those who take it.
While abortion is not included in Mosaic law, the death of an unborn child is referenced in Exodus 21:22-25, and the abuser is penalized and fined for harm caused. This implies the value of life that the entire Bible testifies, is applicable to the life developing in the mother's womb. Time and time again, we see how Israel devalued their children, turning away from God’s commands, and each time, they faced painful consequences. The message is clear: when life is disregarded, the cost is always high.
Is Abortion Wrong if the Mother's Life is at Risk?
This crisis is incredibly rare. Renowned biologists and doctors in fertility study, share “Less than 1 percent of all abortions are performed to save the mother’s life” (Landrum Shettles and David Rorvik, Rites of Life, Zondervan Publishing House, 1983, p. 129). Dr. Irving Cushner, Professor of Obstetrics at the UCLA School of Medicine, when testifying before the U. S. Senate, was asked how often abortions are necessary to save the life of the mother or to preserve her physical health. His response: “In this country, about 1 percent” (testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution of the United States on October 14, 1981, quoted in The Village Voice, July 16, 1985)." (GotQuestions)
When this dilemma does occur, it creates a conscious choice between two equally precious lives. If the unborn child lives, the mother dies, and vice versa. In some cases, both will pass. Who can say that this woman – a woman who may be someone else’s mom, wife, or daughter – should die in this situation? Obviously, there is no painless solution. Either option carries heartbreaking and regrettable outcomes for each person involved.
It's important to approach these discussions with both understanding and compassion, recognizing the complexities involved. While the sanctity of life is a core value for many believers, it’s also crucial to acknowledge the difficult, real-world situations where decisions aren't always black and white. When the life of the mother is at serious risk, a compassionate interpretation of Biblical teachings urges us to respond with both love and care, aiming to protect life in every form.
The Bible teaches us to value life as a sacred gift, but it also calls us to show wisdom and grace in the face of tough decisions. For many Christians, when a pregnancy puts a mother’s life in grave danger, abortion may be seen as a heartbreaking but necessary choice, made not in defiance of faith but out of a deep commitment to honoring and preserving life wherever possible. This understanding reflects a measured response, rooted in both love and empathy, as we navigate these difficult situations.
Will God Forgive Those Who Have Had Abortions
Perhaps you have a friend who has had an abortion, or perhaps you have. I don’t know your story; I don’t know your circumstances, but I do know this: Jesus isn’t shocked by abortion. He knows everything about you and wants to take the shame and insurmountable pain off your shoulders. He wants to wash you in grace and set you free.
When Jesus receives you, you are united with him. He goes to God on your behalf. And do you know what our mighty Father God says? “You have been crucified with Christ — you’ve already been through judgment — you are now hidden in Jesus. You are my child in whom I am well pleased.” You are fully known and loved by God.
And the beautiful part? Your child is waiting for you. He or she is with Jesus, and when she asks when she will get to see you, Jesus simply replies, “Tomorrow,” because one day in his courts is 1,000 years on this earth.
If you have had an abortion, find a friend you can trust and open up about your story. Look for a biblical counselor and join an abortion recovery group if there is one in your area. You are not alone, and someday God could use your story to free another woman. Who the Son sets free is free indeed.
Bible Verses About Abortion
Genesis 1:27 - “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Job 33:4 - “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Psalm 119:73a - “Your hands made me and formed me.”
Job 10:11-12 - “You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. You have granted me life and steadfast love.”
Isaiah 44:24 - “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: ‘I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.'”
Luke 1:15 - “He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.”
Quotes About Abortion from Christian Leaders
“In biblical terms, the sanctity of human life is rooted and grounded in creation. Mankind is not viewed as a cosmic accident but as the product of a carefully executed creation by an eternal God. Human dignity is derived from God. Man as a finite, dependent, contingent creature is assigned a high value by his Creator.”—R.C. Sproul
“The Bible makes it clear that God sees the unborn infant not as a piece of superfluous biological tissue, but as a person created by Him for life.”—Billy Graham
“God sanctifies human life. Every beating heart matters to God. Whether that life is in the womb of a mother, the cell of a prison, the hallway of a convalescent home, or the corner office of a Wall Street high rise, that life is holy to God.”—Max Lucado
“Psalm 139 is perhaps the quintessential text for discussing the sanctity of life. In this psalm, David praises God for his creation in his mother’s womb. Theologically, this psalm leaves no doubt that the child in the womb is a human being, with days ahead of him already marked out by God. Our God is deeply and actively involved in our creation. Theologically, life begins at conception.”—Matt Chandler
“From conception to our final breath on this earth, all life is a sacred gift from Almighty God. It must be cherished in our hearts and protected through our actions, both in our capacity as individuals and also through our laws and policies as a nation.”—Dr. James Dobson
“Every human life is precious. Unborn life is precious. Children with special needs are precious. Aging parents are precious—even when they don’t remember because they’re suffering dementia, they’re still made in the image of God. Children or parents who are non-verbal, those in a wheelchair, and those who are completely dependent upon you or doctors are precious. All of life matters to God. If we have our eyes open, we can see this in even the most surprising places in the Bible, like in the lex talionis of the Mosaic law. You see it in imago Dei. You see it in the incarnation where God entered the world as a helpless babe.”—Kevin DeYoung
“The Scriptures tell us that humans are made ‘in the image of God’ (Genesis 1:27). Because we are made in His likeness, we have a tremendous capacity to participate in God’s ongoing work of creation by imagining, inventing, building, farming and a million other creative expressions. Best of all, He invites us to marry and receive the gift of children also formed in God’s image.”—Kurt Bruner
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