I came across Exodus 21:22-25 while performing research for my rebuttal to a reply by C_Andy_3. I would like to thank C_Andy_3 for the discussion that led to my discovery of this passage.
Old Testament quote, emphasis mine (thanks to Mechon Mamre for the RaMBaM translation):
22 And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart, and yet no harm follow, he shall be surely fined, according as the woman’s husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
23 But if any harm follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
This clearly states that the fetus was not a life. In fact, it indicates that a miscarriage could be caused without causing harm. The loss of the fetus can be compensated by mere money. After that, if there is harm, it is life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, ….
I don’t agree that causing a miscarriage causes no harm to anyone, personally. I’m merely noting that the Bible states this. More importantly, the Bible explicitly states that the fetus is not a life. For it is only when harm is caused to the woman, that thou shalt give life for life, etc.
My personal view on abortion is that we should do everything we can to reduce the need and increase the availability of the procedure. Comprehensive sex education, improved availability of birth control, reduced stigma for using or purchasing birth control especially among teens, will all reduce the need for abortion. But, when it is necessary, it should be readily available and legal.
And, since we now know that the Bible says that a fetus is not a life, perhaps we as a secular country, as well as our theocratically minded vocal and powerful minority, can and should stop opposing women’s rights to the procedure. While they’re at it, perhaps they can even stop the death threats, murders, and harassment of doctors and clinic workers. Dare I say as an atheist that it would be “the Christian thing to do.”
In case anyone thinks that this is merely the Jewish Interpretation, here are a couple of mainstream Christian interpretations of the same passage.
Here’s the King James translation of the same passage. Emphasis mine again.
22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Here’s the New International Version translation of the same passage (emphasis mine):
22 “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely[a] but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows.
23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life,
24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
Footnotes:
Exodus 21:22 Or she has a miscarriage
If anyone would like additional translations or has some to add, feel free to add or request them. Given that these are all substantially similar in stating that a fetus is not a life, I think it unlikely that some other translation will disagree materially.
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