The Bible about life conceived and life interrupted

Abstract

The author of the article addresses the issue of the conceived and yet unborn human life in the light of the Bible. In pursuit of this goal, he reaches for philological and exegetical analyses of selected biblical texts. In the first part, he points to the continuity that exists between the conception and the birth of a child, which is expressed in the phrase “She conceived and gave birth” (Gen 4:1, 17, etc.). The author also discusses the key biblical texts which illuminate God’s acting in a mother’s womb (Ps 139:13-15; Job 10:8-12; Wis 7:1-3; 2 Macc 7:22-23). The second part of the article contains a discussion of biblical texts related to the issue of unborn human life but threatened with death. The following texts were analysed: the commandment of the Decalogue “Thou shalt not kill” (Exod 20:13), the story of Onan and Tamar (Gen 38:8-10) and the case of foetal miscarriage described in the Book of Exodus 21:22-23. Summing up, the Bible affirms human life  from its beginning, including unborn life, and strongly opposes taking it away. Such a conclusion results from the fundamental message of the Bible about the conceived human life.