What does the Bible say about the fetus being human?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that human life in the womb is God’s purposeful creation and therefore possesses real dignity and value before birth. Jeremiah 1:5 speaks of God knowing and consecrating Jeremiah before his birth, while Psalm 139:13-16 praises God for forming a person inwardly and seeing his unformed body. Luke 1:41-44 portrays John leaping in Elizabeth’s womb in response to Christ’s presence in Mary’s womb. Exodus 21:22-25 also treats injury involving a pregnant woman and her child as a serious matter of justice. Though Scripture does not answer every modern question directly, it consistently presents unborn children as known by God, belonging to him, and worthy of careful protection.

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

  • Jeremiah 1:5

    Before I formed you in the belly I knew you, and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.

  • 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.

  • Exodus 21:22-25

    [22] "If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman's husband demands and the judges allow. [23] But if any harm follows, then you must take life for life, [24] eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, [25] burning for burning, wound for wound, and bruise for bruise.

  • Ecclesiastes 11:5

    As you don't know what is the way of the wind, Nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; Even so you don't know the work of God who does all.

  • Genesis 2:7

    Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

  • Psalms 139:16

    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.

  • Psalms 127:3-5

    [3] Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward. [4] As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth. [5] Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won't be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

  • Luke 1:44

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

  • Luke 1:41

    It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

  • Psalms 139:13

    For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb.

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