Chapter 18: Myth—Abortion Doesn’t Matter

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Myth—Abortion Doesn’t Matter

[22] “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely

be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. [23] But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, [24] eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, [25]

burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” Exodus 21:22-25 NKJV

“Some common errors in the translation of these verses 35:

I) ‘With the result that her child comes out’ is often translated, ‘so that she has a miscarriage’ (ex. NASB, NRSV). This is impossible because:

a) The Hebrew text (page 684) says literally, ‘so that her fruit goes out.’ The verb that translates ‘goes out’ is the word,

which refers to the ordinary birth of a child, not a miscarriage. Also, the noun that translates ‘fruit’ is the ordinary word for a child or offspring [birth], not a stillbirth. (See Gen. 25:24-26, 38:28-29; Job 1:21; 3:11, Eccles. 5:15; Jer. 1:5, 20:18)

b) In Hebrew, a miscarriage or stillbirth is indicated in only two ways. 1. By the description of the child (ex. Numbers

12:12) or 2. By the Hebrew word for ‘miscarrying’ whether with humans (ex. Ex. 23:26; Hosea 9:14) or animals (ex. Gen. 31:38; Job 21:10) or land and plants (ex. II Kings 2:19, 21; Malachi 3:11).

II) Another common error of translation is the addition of words, which are simply not in the Hebrew text as God has given it to us. For example, in the NASB, the middle of verse 22 is

translated, ‘yet there is no further injury.’ (NRSV states ‘if any harm follows’) Likewise in verse 23 they write, ‘But if there is any further injury.’ These words give the impression that 1) verse 22 refers to a miscarriage and 2) that the death of the

unborn baby isn’t worth as much as even the slight injury to the mother. This couldn’t be farther from the truth.”