Psalm 139 is the most quoted pro-life bible verse, but the New Testament has more convincing proof that God values the lives of the pre-born.
Below, you'll find verses about pre-born David, Jeremiah, Job, Jacob & Esau, Sampson, Christ, and Paul.
More convincing for the abortion-minded, though, are verses about all people.
Yet, the best pro-life Bible verses are in the New Testament with the Greek word brephos.
Bible Verses about Named People
Statue of King David by Nicolas Cordier in the Borghese Chapel of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore - photo by Jastrow, public domain
Most Sanctity of Life sermons focus on Psalm 139, written by King David. The key verses say:
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
(Psalm 139:13-16 NASB)
David also said these words:
Upon You I was cast from birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.
(Psalm 22:10 NASB)
David was clearly inspired by the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we understand that his Psalms were about him, about the kingdom of Israel, and about us today.
However, those who are abortion-minded and non-believers may say that David was different because God chose him to be king. They may say that David had a special calling on his life, and therefore the verses don’t apply to "normal" people, including the unwanted pre-born and women.
Statue of King David by Nicolas Cordier in the Borghese Chapel of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore - photo by Jastrow, public domain
Gift of Edward Bement, 1917 Metropolitan Museum of Art collection,
Universal Public Domain Dedication.
Job recognizes that God made him and every other person in every walk of life in the womb:
"Didn't He who made me in the womb make him, and the same One fashion us in the womb?"
(Job 31:15 NASB)
The Prophet Jeremiah from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (1511); public domain
Jeremiah was also known by the Lord before he was born:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you."
(Jeremiah 1: 5a NASB)
Conversion of Paul the Apostle by Michelangelo
The apostle Paul knew he was formed in the womb:
But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased...
(Galatians 1:15 NASB)
The reconciliation of Jacob and Esau: Esau runs to meet Jacob and kisses him (Genesis 33:3-4) by Jan Brueghel the Younger & Hendrick van Balen the Elder
Jacob and Esau, twins, were known in the womb and referenced by Hosea and Paul.
The children (Jacob and Esau) struggled together within her, and she said,
"If so, why is this happening to me?"
So she went to inquire of the Lord.
(Genesis 25:22 ESV)
In the womb he (Jacob) took his brother by the heel.
(Hosea 12: 3a NASB)
And not only this, but there was Rebekah also,
when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac;
for though the twins (Jacob and Esau) were not yet born
and had not done anything good or bad,
so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand,
not because of works but because of Him who calls.
(Romans 9:10-11 NASB)
Samson destroys the temple - photo by ReaverFlash, Public Domain
Sampson knew that God recognized him before he was born:
And he told her all his heart, and said to her,
"A razor has never come upon my head,
for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb.
If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me,
and I shall become weak and be like any other man."
(Judges 16:17 ESV)
Pietro Perugino (Umbrian, c. 1450 - 1523 ), The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John, Saint Jerome, and Saint Mary Magdalene [middle panel], c. 1482/1485 | public domain
Christ spoke these words through Isaiah:
Listen to Me, O islands,
And pay attention, you peoples from afar.
The Lord called Me from the womb;
From the body of My mother He named Me.
(Isaiah 49: 1 NASB)
And now says the Lord, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,
to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him
For I am honored in the sight of the Lord,
And My God is My strength.
(Isaiah 49: 5 NASB)
Even these verses about Christ are not the best pro-life Bible verse (s).
Pregnant, Photo by Mustafa Omar on Unsplash
Solomon wrote these words:
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
(Psalm 127:3 ESV)
Pregnant, Photo by Mustafa Omar on Unsplash
Jesus-children,
Image by Enlightening Images from Pixabay
What may be more convincing is this verse about God knowing all the people of Israel before they were born:
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb,
“I, the Lord, am the maker of all things,
Stretching out the heavens by Myself
And spreading out the earth all alone."
(Isaiah 44:24 NASB)
If I had heard this verse when I was abortion-minded, I would have believed that it applied to me and therefore to my baby. However, I can see that some people may say that the verse only applies to Jews because God was speaking to and about the Jews, but yet these are still not the best pro-life Bible verse(s).
The Best Pro-Life Bible Verse (s)
The best pro-life Bible verse (s) are in the New Testament. These verses require a little knowledge of Greek. The Greek word brephos is used to refer to both a pre-born baby (Luke 1:41, 44) and children (Luke 18: 15-17).
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby (brephos) leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:41, 44 ESV)
And they were even bringing their babies (brephos) to Him so He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they started rebuking them. But Jesus called for them, saying, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” (Luke 18: 15-17 NASB)
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