Psalms 139:13-16
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substancec was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written,d which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Can it be inferred from this verse that the Bible considers abortion to be murder?
PROBLEM: According to this passage, God looks upon the unborn as a human being. However, if the unborn is fully human, then abortion would be the willful killing of the innocent—murder. Does this passage indicate that God considers abortion to be murder?
SOLUTION: Yes. Several other passages reinforce this position. First, the unborn are known intimately and called out by God. In Jeremiah 1:5, God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Second, the unborn are said to possess personal characteristics—sin, as in Psalms 51:5; or joy, as in Luke 1:44.
Third, anyone who harms the unborn receives the same punishment for harm done to an adult. Elsewhere (see comments on Exodus 21:22-23), equal punishment is given for harm done to a woman or to the child she carries. God looks upon the unborn as fully human. And the willful taking of an innocent human life is murder.