Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
The Bible describes man as a "living being" (Heb. nephes), however, this same terminology is used to describe any living creature that breathes. It is interesting to note that in the Genesis myth of Creation, in the second chapter we read that God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Gen 2:7, my translation)." The qualification for life throughout the Hebrew Scriptures at least seems to be limited to whatever has the capacity to breathe.
Furthermore, it is interesting to note how this relationship between breath and life factors into the Mosaic covenant teachings regarding murder and manslaughter. In Exodus 21:22 we read: "And when men struggle and strike a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely (lit. "her children come out"), if none is harmed he shall surely be fined according to what the woman's husband has set against him. And he shall pay what the judges determine. If, however, harm follows, then you shall give a life (nephes) for a life (nephes)." If one were to translate the last clause quite literally and according to the root of the word nephes, it would read "he shall pay what breathes for what breathes." It will be noticed that the prescription cited only makes allowance for children who have been born alive, or breathing.
|
Now that's an interesting and cool post. (maybe it's the literary scholar in me, but I love this kind of stuff!) I actually have seen another poster cite virtually that same passage to show that the Bible indeed does prohibit abortion. Your explanation of it is far more compelling.