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What does the Bible say about stillborn babies?

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The Bible teaches that stillborn babies are fully known, formed, and precious to God, and that grieving parents may rest in his wise compassion and mercy. Psalm 139:13-16 portrays God’s intimate care in the womb, while Galatians 1:15 and Isaiah 49:1 show that his purpose reaches to life before birth. Ecclesiastes 6:3-5 acknowledges the sorrowful reality of a child who never sees the sun, yet describes rest from life’s troubles. Jesus welcomes little children and declares the Father’s concern for the least (Matthew 19:14; Matthew 18:14). Scripture does not give a detailed formula about every infant’s eternal state, but believers have strong reason to entrust them confidently to the righteous and gracious Judge.

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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Psalms 139:13-16

    [13] For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. [14] I will give thanks to you, For I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well. [15] My frame wasn't hidden from you, When I was made in secret, Woven together in the depths of the earth. [16] Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there were none of them.

  • Ecclesiastes 6:3-5

    [3] If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he: [4] for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. [5] Moreover it has not seen the sun nor known it. This has rest rather than the other.

  • Galatians 1:15

    But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace,

  • Isaiah 49:1

    Listen, isles, to me; and listen, you peoples, from far: Yahweh has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has he made mention of my name:

  • Luke 1:44

    For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

  • Matthew 19:14

    But Jesus said, "Allow the little children, and don't forbid them to come to me; for to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven."

  • Job 12:10

    In whose hand is the life of every living thing, The breath of all mankind?

  • Matthew 18:14

    Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

  • Matthew 18:10

    See that you don't despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

  • 2 Samuel 12:22-23

    [22] He said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live? [23] But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.

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