Changes

== Other Passages ==

== Other Passages ==

Some pro-abortion advocates cite Exodus 21:22-25, which imposes a penalty to be determined by the father for an ''accidental'' miscarriage caused by striking a pregnant woman:<ref>New American Standard Version</ref>

Some pro-abortion advocates cite Exodus 21:22-25, which, they say, imposes a penalty to be determined by the father for an ''accidental'' miscarriage caused by striking a pregnant woman much lighter than the punishment proscribed for the ''intentional'' murder of another human being (as in Exodus 21:12). <ref>New American Standard Version</ref>

:And if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she has a miscarriage, yet there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him; and he shall pay as the judges decide.  But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.  

:And if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she has a miscarriage, yet there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him; and he shall pay as the judges decide.  But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.  

This passage is taken as an injunction by [[God]] against the killing of an unborn child,<ref>[http://www.abortion-and-bible.com/#chratt C. Ratt, A Christian View of Abortion]</ref> while others note that the punishment proscribed by God for this ''accidental'' killing of an unborn child is much less severe that the punishment proscribed for the ''intentional'' murder of another human being (as in Exodus 21:12).

However, pro-life Christians point out that the word "miscarriage" is not in the original text; it could also refer to a premature live birth.<ref>For example, the King James Version translates the verse, "If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow..."</ref>  It has been argued that the "further injury" or "mischief" actually refers to any injury to the child<ref>[http://www.abortion-and-bible.com/ C. Ratt, A Christian View of Abortion]</ref>.

 

It does not say who exactly suffers the "mischief" or harm; it could be the unborn child as well as the mother.  

Numbers 5, where the Lord appears to give a curse that causes abortions in unfaithful wives. According to this passage, the Lord instructed Moses that a husband who suspected his wife of sleeping with another man could take her to the priest for a test that would either confirm or deny his suspicions. The test involved his wife drinking a cup of "bitter water," which consisted of holy water mixed with the dust of the tabernacle floor. If the woman were innocent, then no harm would come to her by drinking it. But if she were guilty, then she would be cursed with "bitter suffering;" namely, "she will have barrenness and a miscarrying womb."  

Numbers 5, where the Lord appears to give a curse that causes abortions in unfaithful wives. According to this passage, the Lord instructed Moses that a husband who suspected his wife of sleeping with another man could take her to the priest for a test that would either confirm or deny his suspicions. The test involved his wife drinking a cup of "bitter water," which consisted of holy water mixed with the dust of the tabernacle floor. If the woman were innocent, then no harm would come to her by drinking it. But if she were guilty, then she would be cursed with "bitter suffering;" namely, "she will have barrenness and a miscarrying womb."