If abortion is murder, why does the Bible tell us differently?
Exodus 21-25 says that if you hit a pregnant woman and she has an abortion as a result, you should pay a fine, and that is that. It is only when the woman is hurt too (dies, becomes unfertile, etc.) that it becomes a "life for life" murder case.
"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. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."
2008-04-03T10:53:13Z
Look at Rosie murder the English language.
2008-04-03T10:55:22Z
"lookingforanswers" - the coming of Jesus does not mean you can chuck the OT away. I think he even says something to that effect. He was a Jew, you know?
2008-04-03T11:04:58Z
Lion of Judah: I think you pasted the wrong copy buffer. That didn't answer my question AT ALL.
?2008-04-07T10:45:34Z
Favorite Answer
The Bible was written much before the penal codes and the criminal procedure laws were framed.
The Lord had this to say to the prophet Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, beforeyou were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5
The Lord stated that even before he formed Jeremiah in the womb he knew what kind of man he was. While you are in the womb God knows you, he already has plans for you on this Earth, he created you with love and care. No person has a right to take that away from somebody.
Those who take a life unjustly will face the wrath of God at their judgement. "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and liars, their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Revelation 21:8
First, most Christians I know don't believe Jews go to hell. Second, people who "dig the elephant with the arms" are called Hindus. Third, a person doesn't have to be a Christian to oppose abortion. Congrats! It's not often I find myself defending Christians; thank you for adding some variety into my day.
"If her fruit depart from her" does not mean the baby died; it lived but was born prematurely.
"Any mischeif" refers to the death of either the mother or the child, thus life for life.
This passage actually shows that Jehovah views the death of an unborn human the same as he does one who has already been born.
NOTE this from Exodus 21:22-25 of the NWT: "And in case men should struggle with each other and they really hurt a pregnant woman and her children do come out but no fatal accident occurs, he is to have damages imposed upon him without fail according to what the owner of the woman may lay upon him; and he must give it through the justices. But if a fatal accident should occur, then you must give soul for soul, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, branding for branding, wound for wound, blow for blow."
The argument from the pro-choice crowd is based upon a mis-translation.
The hebrew word used for bringing forth a child there is for a live birth, not a still birth - there is another word they use for bringing forth a still born child. The hebrew used in Exodus here is ONLY used for live birth.
If he causes her to bring forth her child but there is no serious injury - he gets fined.
If there is injury to the woman [b]or[/b] the child - it is eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life.
This passage in Exodus strongly supports the pro-life side.