The term "unborn" refers to human life in the womb, a subject that holds significant theological and ethical implications within the Christian tradition. The Bible provides several references that underscore the value and sanctity of unborn life, affirming the belief that life begins at conception and is known by God even before birth.

Biblical References:

1. Psalm 139:13-16: This passage is one of the most cited in discussions about the unborn. It highlights God's intimate involvement in the creation of life within the womb. The psalmist declares, "For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be" . This passage emphasizes the belief that God is the Creator of life and that each person is purposefully and wonderfully made.

2. Jeremiah 1:5: In this verse, God speaks to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations" . This verse is often interpreted to mean that God has a plan and purpose for each life even before birth, indicating the inherent value and significance of the unborn.

3. Luke 1:41-44: The account of the unborn John the Baptist leaping in his mother Elizabeth's womb at the greeting of Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, is a powerful testament to the recognition of life before birth. "When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy'" . This narrative suggests that the unborn can respond to spiritual realities, further affirming their personhood.

Theological Implications:

The biblical portrayal of the unborn as known and valued by God has profound implications for Christian ethics, particularly in discussions surrounding the sanctity of life. The belief that life begins at conception is rooted in the understanding that God is the author of life, and each person is created in His image (Genesis 1:27). This view upholds the dignity and worth of every human being, including the unborn, and informs the Christian stance on issues such as abortion and prenatal care.

Ethical Considerations:

From a biblical perspective, the protection of unborn life is a moral imperative. The commandment "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13) is often cited in support of the pro-life position, which advocates for the defense of the unborn as a vulnerable and voiceless group. The Christian community is called to uphold the value of life at all stages, offering support and compassion to expectant mothers and families.

In summary, the biblical witness affirms the sanctity and value of unborn life, recognizing it as part of God's creation and plan. The unborn are seen as fully human, deserving of protection and care, reflecting the broader Christian commitment to uphold the dignity of all human life.(a.) Not born; no yet brought into life; being still to appear; future.1025. brephos -- an unborn or a newborn child
... an unborn or a newborn child. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: brephos
Phonetic Spelling: (bref'-os) Short Definition: infant, babe Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1025.htm - 6k

36. agenes -- unborn, of no family, ignoble
... unborn, of no family, ignoble. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: agenes
Phonetic Spelling: (ag-en-ace') Short Definition: without family, ignoble ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/36.htm - 6k

Hermogenes Held to his Theory in Order that Its Absurdity May be ...
... not a fit subject of comparison with Him, who is a greater and superior Being, I
meet him with this prescription, that what is eternal and unborn is incapable ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter vii hermogenes held to his.htm

Argument. --But that God, the Son of God, Born of God the Father ...
... He then, since He was begotten of the Father, is always in the Father. And I thus
say always, that I may show Him not to be unborn, but born. ...
/.../chapter xxxi argument but that god.htm

Plato's Inconsistency He Supposes the Soul Self-Existent, yet ...
... He makes it unborn, which single attribute I might apply as a sufficient attestation
of its perfect divinity; he then adds that the soul is immortal ...
/.../a treatise on the soul/chapter xxiv platos inconsistency he supposes.htm

Hebrews xi. 3, 4
... Faith. For instance, that "God is without beginning, [3210] and unborn"
[3211] ; for reason does not suggest this, but the contrary. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxii hebrews xi 3.htm

As Free-Will Actuates an Individual So May his Character Change.
... the natural condition has to be submitted to a definition, it must be determined
to be twofold"there being the category of the born and the unborn, the made ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter xxi as free-will actuates an.htm

Doctrines of Saturninus and Basilides.
... He sets forth that Nous was first born of the unborn father, that from him, again,
was born Logos, from Logos Phronesis, from Phronesis Sophia and Dynamis, and ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxiv doctrines of saturninus and.htm

Regeneration the Work of God.
... It is evident that in the case of an infant which, like John, is still unborn, there
can be nothing but mere passivity"ie, the child underwent something, but ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxi regeneration the work of.htm

The Sin-Bearer.
... The Greek word here used cannot be fully rendered into English; it signifies "being
unborn to sins." We were born in sin, but by the death of Christ, and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/the sin-bearer.htm

Hermogenes Coquets with his Own Argument, as if Rather Afraid of ...
... but one mode? [6179] God is unborn; is not Matter also unborn? God ever
exists; is not Matter, too, ever existent? Both are without ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter v hermogenes coquets with his.htm

The Mode of Controversy Changed the Premisses of Hermogenes ...
... For things which owe their existence to birth such as stones and vipers and human
beings"are not apposite to the case of Matter, which is unborn; since their ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter xii the mode of controversy.htm

Unborn (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Not born; no yet brought into life; being still to
appear; future. Multi-Version Concordance Unborn (3 Occurrences). ...
/u/unborn.htm - 7k

Election (6 Occurrences)
... as to the liberty and sovereignty of the Divine dealings with man, the apostle brings
in Esau and Jacob, individuals, twins as yet unborn, and points to the ...
/e/election.htm - 26k

Unblemished (11 Occurrences)

/u/unblemished.htm - 9k

Unbound (2 Occurrences)

/u/unbound.htm - 7k

Melchizedek (12 Occurrences)
... several respects, (1) Even Abraham paid him tithes; (2) he blessed Abraham; (3)
he is the type of a Priest who lives for ever; (4) Levi, yet unborn, paid him ...
/m/melchizedek.htm - 19k

Babe (15 Occurrences)
... elsewhere "boy" or "lad." (2) `olel, ta`alulim, in the general sense of "child"
(Psalm 8:2; Psalm 17:14 Isaiah 3:4). (3) brephos an unborn or newborn child ...
/b/babe.htm - 14k

Carry (246 Occurrences)
... vt) To have or hold as a burden, while moving from place to place; to have upon
or about one's person; to bear; as, to carry a wound; to carry an unborn child. ...
/c/carry.htm - 40k

Church (110 Occurrences)
... it is called "invisible" because the greater part of those who constitute it are
already in heaven or are yet unborn, and also because its members still on ...
/c/church.htm - 89k

Hagar (15 Occurrences)
... was resting by a spring and commanded her to return and submit herself to her mistress,
promising her an innumerable seed through her unborn son, concerning ...
/h/hagar.htm - 22k

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