Does the Bible Support Abortion? A Response to Misinterpreted Passages.

By Randy J. Harvey, Ph.D., JD, MA

In recent years, some atheists and agnostics who advocate for abortion have claimed that the Bible itself supports or condones abortion and infanticide. They frequently cite passages such as Numbers 5:11–31, Hosea 9:14, Joshua 6:21, Psalm 137:9, 2 Samuel 12:13–18, Genesis 6, and Exodus 11 as supposed examples of divine approval of the taking of unborn or infant life.

However, these arguments collapse when each passage is read honestly in its historical and literary context. The Bible nowhere condones abortion; it consistently affirms the sanctity of human life as a divine gift (cf. Gen. 1:27; Ps. 139:13–16; Jer. 1:5; Luke 1:41–44).

1. Numbers 5:11–31 – The Test for Unfaithfulness
This passage describes an ancient Hebrew ritual known as “the law of jealousy,” not an abortion procedure. When a husband suspected his wife of adultery without evidence, the priest administered a test by giving her “the water of bitterness.” If she were guilty, she would suffer physical affliction; if innocent, she would remain unharmed and be able to conceive (Num. 5:28). Nothing in the Hebrew text supports the claim that this caused an abortion or miscarriage. The ritual was designed to vindicate innocence, not to destroy life.

2. Hosea 9:14 – A Curse upon Unfaithful Israel
Hosea’s prophecy is a lament over Israel’s spiritual adultery and idolatry. God’s curse, “Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts,” (Hos. 9:14) is a judgment, not an endorsement of abortion. Israel’s rejection of God brought national consequences—famine, infertility, and loss. The passage illustrates the seriousness of covenant unfaithfulness, not divine approval of child-killing.

3. Joshua 6:21 – The Destruction of Jericho
The destruction of Jericho followed generations of Canaanite wickedness, including rampant idolatry, temple prostitution, and child sacrifice (see Deut. 12:31; Lev. 18:21). The conquest was not arbitrary violence but rather divine judgment on persistent evil. Moreover, Rahab and her family were spared because of her faith (Josh. 6:25; Heb. 11:31). This passage condemns the very atrocities—especially child sacrifice—that modern abortion mirrors, rather than condoning them.

4. Psalm 137:9 – A Poetic Lament, Not a Command
“Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!” (Ps. 137:9) is a cry of anguish, not divine instruction. It reflects the grief of the Israelites exiled in Babylon after seeing their own infants slaughtered by enemies. This is imprecatory poetry, expressing human longing for justice, not approval of violence. To interpret this as divine endorsement of infanticide ignores both genre and intent.

5. 2 Samuel 12:13–18 – The Death of David’s Child
The child conceived in David’s adultery with Bathsheba died as a consequence of David’s sin. God forgave David—“The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die” (2 Sam. 12:13)—but the temporal consequence of his wrongdoing remained. This was divine discipline, not a statement about the morality of abortion. Scripture later emphasizes that David’s repentance restored him to God’s favor (see Ps. 51:1–12).

6. Genesis 6 – The Flood and Human Depravity
The story of Noah and the flood reveals the depth of human rebellion: “The earth was filled with violence” (Gen. 6:11). God’s judgment through the flood was not the destruction of innocent life but the cleansing of pervasive corruption. The preservation of Noah’s family demonstrates God’s mercy and His ongoing commitment to human life made in His image (Gen. 9:6).

7. Exodus 11 – The Death of Egypt’s Firstborn
The final plague upon Egypt—the death of the firstborn—was the culmination of Pharaoh’s repeated rebellion. Pharaoh could have spared his people by obeying God’s command to release Israel (Exod. 8:1–2; 9:13–14). Even then, every Egyptian household could have been saved by applying the blood of the Passover lamb (Exod. 12:13). The death of the firstborn was divine justice on a nation that had enslaved and murdered Hebrew infants (Exod. 1:22), not a model for abortion or cruelty.

The Broader Biblical Witness
Throughout Scripture, God values human life from conception.
• Psalm 139:13–16 – God forms the unborn child in the womb.
• Jeremiah 1:5 – God knows and appoints individuals before birth.
• Luke 1:41–44 – John the Baptist leaps in the womb, recognizing the presence of the unborn Christ.
• Exodus 21:22–25 – Mosaic law provides equal protection for the unborn, affirming their personhood.

Conclusion
Every passage cited to justify abortion is taken out of context and twisted into something the Bible never intended. The consistent biblical message is that life is sacred because it originates from God, who alone has authority over it. As Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

Text without context is pretext—and using Scripture to justify abortion is one of the greatest pretexts of all!

Bibliography

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016.

Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis 1–15. Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 1. Dallas: Word Books, 1987.

Block, Daniel I. The Gods of the Nations: Studies in Ancient Near Eastern National Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2000.

Stuart, Douglas K. Hosea–Jonah. Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 31. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987.Longman, Tremper III, and Raymond B. Dillard. An

Introduction to the Old Testament. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.

Kidner, Derek. Psalms 73–150: A Commentary on Books III–V of the Psalms. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1975.