What Does the Bible Say About Abortion?
While the Bible does not say the word abortion, it still has a lot to say about abortion and the preborn. It consistently proclaims the importance of protecting life in the womb and its value. This portrayal is found in the Old and New Testaments. Let’s dig in
Bible Verses About Life
Psalm 139:1-3 and 13-16 God knows us and creates us in the womb.
Psalm 139:1-3 starts by sharing how God knows us intimately. “O Lord, you have searched me and know me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.”
In verses 13-16, this Psalm says, “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.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
This verse shows that God knows the preborn. He was the one who created the tiny life and planned the days of their life, and therefore, while the Bible didn’t say abortion it does show God’s creation and care for life while in the womb.
In Luke 1, God blesses Mary with pregnancy, and Elizabeth’s baby responds before birth.
In Luke 1:28, we see an angel calling Mary “favored.” She is to become pregnant with Jesus. God’s way of saving the world started with an unexpected pregnancy. Then, later in verse 41, we see Elizabeth’s preborn child respond and leap in the womb in reaction to the preborn Jesus still in Mary’s womb. See Luke 1:41, 44: “When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And she exclaimed, ‘When the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.’”
Pregnancy is a gift and John the Baptist responding to Jesus while they are both in the womb is a clear indication that the Bible is showing life while still preborn. So how would God respond to abortion if the method He uses to bring His precious son into the world is pregnancy?
Bible Verses About Children
Psalm 127:3-5a children are a blessing and a reward.
Psalm 127:3-5a talks about children being a blessing and a reward. “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!”
Bible Verses Refuting Abortion
Two of my favorite passages where God emphasizes the value of life in the womb and His compassionate care for the preborn are found in Jeremiah 1:4-5 and Isaiah 49:1b. Both passages are astonishingly similar, as each prophet reflects on their call from heaven. Jeremiah’s account reads: “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.'”
Isaiah similarly writes in Isaiah 49:1b with the same pattern of thought, saying: “The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.”
Jeremiah and Isaiah consistently heard from the Lord and were used as God’s mouthpiece for His people. In their long-lasting, personal relationships with God, both remain convinced they were appointed to complete Kingdom work while in the womb. Both prophets write as if, from God’s perspective, there is no barrier between prenatal and postnatal life. God sees life from the moment of conception. This is what the Bible says about abortion: that God can form a personal relationship with his people in the womb is further evidence that preborn children possess full personhood.
Bible Verses Against Abortion
As much as we have looked at the positive view of life, we can also see God’s thoughts through the negative. What does the Bible say about abortion – God is against the taking of innocent life. Genesis and Exodus clearly show that murder is wrong.
- Genesis 9:6: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”
- Exodus 20:13: “You shall not murder.”
- Exodus 23:7b: “Do not kill the innocent and righteous.”
- Exodus 21:22-25: “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”
What Does God Say About Abortion?
Proverbs and Jeremiah talk about not shedding innocent blood.
Again, we see the explicit prohibition against harming an innocent. Proverbs 6:16-19 says: “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 plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” And puts negatives with shedding innocent blood in Jeremiah 22:17: “But you have eyes and heart only for your dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence.”
Abortion in the Bible
Also, the Bible shows how it is against abortion when the Lord in Psalm 106 and 1 Kings 21 condemns those who sacrifice their children. He calls it evil.
- Psalm 106:37-40: “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.”
- 1 Kings 21:6 & 16 talks about King Manasseh: “And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides the sin that he made Judah to sin so that they did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.”
Does the Bible Say Anything About Abortion?
Abortion is not the word used in the Bible. However, God is clear about who gives and takes away life. Dr. David Platt helps us see God as the creator and what that means. “God is the Creator. He alone has the power and authority to give life.” Job 33:4 says, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
Job 12:10 also says, “In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.” Again, Job confesses, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away” (Job 1:21). God himself declares, “I put to death, and I bring to life” (Deuteronomy 32:39.) Dr. Platt concludes, “It is God’s prerogative alone, as Creator, to give and take innocent life. Abortion, like murder or suicide, asserts human beings as the ones who control life and death. But God the Creator alone has the right to determine when someone lives and dies, and abortion flies directly in the face of His authority.”
More thoughts from the Bible on abortion.
Our world says, “It’s your body – your choice! You have the right to have an abortion.” The truth is, just because something is legal does not mean that it’s right. The child is a unique life with its own DNA and heartbeat. Do you really have the “right” to decide their future? Here are more verses to think about regarding the Bible and abortion:
- Ezekiel 18:4: “For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.”
- Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.”
- Exodus 20:1,13 “And God spoke all these words … ‘You shall not murder.’”
- Deuteronomy 30:19: “I have set before you life and death […] Now choose life so that you and your children may live.”
Views on What the Bible Says About Abortion
As a 22-year-old Christian who actively works in the body of Christ, I have noticed a startling trend in my Christian peers’ worldviews and belief systems. When the issue of the sanctity of life arises, it seems that young Christians split into three groups: the group of silence, the group of misplaced compassion, and those who ask, What does the Bible say about abortion? (a.k.a. the people of the Word). Let me attempt to break down these three groups generally to have a clearer picture of our movement’s current complications.
Different Views on the Bible and Abortion
1. The Group of Silence
The “Group of Silence” consists of people who are typically familiar with the biblical emphasis on the value of life. This group generally agrees with the Bible’s assertion that life should be protected from the womb to the tomb. However, their internal agreement with scripture remains locked within their fearful hearts.
This group should consider the story of Esther. She was faced with the future death of her people. She could stay quiet, or she could risk everything, her position, her future, even her life, by talking to the king and trying to stop the genocide of her people.
When she hesitated, her uncle gave her these sobering words in Esther 4:14. “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” She could continue to be silent. Everyone has the choice to be silent. However, what if God wants to work through us? Like Esther, something special could happen if we share with those around us.
2. The Group of Misplaced Compassion
Many young Christians hold misplaced compassion, favoring the situational fears of an unexpected pregnancy rather than showering mercy on the injustice of abortion.
Let me be very clear: Christians should display radical compassion toward ALL women who find themselves in a frightening pregnancy situation (1 Corinthians 16:14 and 1 John 4:8). However, our compassion must look different than that of the world. The world’s compassion will encourage women to have an abortion so they can follow their dreams and be successful. The compassion of Christ links arms with women and helps them believe that they will be great mothers and rest in the knowledge of what God says about abortion and how He is for them. It equips them with the resources to continue following their dreams even after having their baby.
Laura Lynn's Story
We stood by my stairway as the 21-year-old young woman unraveled the story of her unplanned pregnancy. “I don’t know if I can do this,” Mariah said. “I have plans for school. Ty and I are rocky, and we don’t even have parents to help us.”
I thought I’d love to help, but I feel inadequate.
I breathed deeply, listening for the Holy Spirit’s whisper, then replied, “Mariah, I believe that God is going to work everything out for you.”
I was a divorced single mother of five, working part-time and running a home daycare. Busy with my own life, I didn’t fully understand how the words I uttered would profoundly impact this young woman. Words matter – especially when they concern saving the life of a preborn baby.
Have you ever felt inadequate or perhaps disqualified? I sure did.
Laura's Words made a difference
Good news: God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.
You may be thinking you don’t have anything to offer, but Jesus gives us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), and He wants to use you. “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.” (Proverbs 31:8)
Recently, Mariah reminded me that the penetrating words, “God is going to work everything out for you” are the words she desperately clung to as she courageously chose life for her son.
Words carry power, especially the Word of God. Speaking life is an essential part of Christianity. We are called to encourage one another. We have God’s Word, and we are to use our voice to speak up for the voiceless.
Even if you’ve been involved with an abortion in your past, you are not disqualified to help those considering abortion. In fact, you’re the person who best understands what someone facing an unplanned pregnancy needs to hear. Rely on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit for the right words. Remember, when we don’t know what to say, the Spirit himself intercedes for us (Romans 8:26). If you struggle with your pro-life calling, consider 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
Whatever gifts God has given you, He can help you figure out how to use them.
3. The People of the Word
This group consists of people who believe that life is worth defending. And they do this with words and actions. These people are not fearful about the world’s opinion of abortion; instead, they are only concerned with promoting Kingdom values and following what the Bible says about abortion.
Like the peaceful protests of the March for Life, we find evidence that today’s young people are aching for Truth. The quest for Truth is a problem that only one man, Jesus Christ, can solve.
As the body of Christ, the Church must take the initiative to extend our hands and hearts out to those who desire to know the Truth. We must know what God says about abortion. Moreover, the Church must become the source of inspiration for those overcome with fear when considering speaking their views on abortion. This issue matters to God, so we must respond with acts of worship and surrender as we advocate on behalf of the defenseless and clearly show what the Bible says about abortion.
How You Can Join the Pro-Life Movement
Bible Verses Against Abortion
How Can We Pray?
As a young Christian, I plead with my peers to take the Bible at its Word. Know Bible verses about abortion and Scriptures for the preborn. I encourage them to humbly allow the beautiful, authoritative words of Scripture to mold their worldview. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. His thoughts are so much higher and so much more significant than ours.
To whoever reads these words, pray with me that God breaks our hearts for what breaks His. Let us pray that the “Group of Silence” and the “Group of Misplaced Compassion” would lay aside any thought patterns of the world to become a unified “People of the Word.” We must fight, and we must be united.
