Personhood

Key Passages of Scripture

Genesis 1:26–27 NASB95

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Here we have value.

Image and likeness

Psalm 139:13–14 NASB95

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.

God plays an active role during fetus stage (according to David)

David views his pre-birth stage as “himself”, a person

Job 10:11 NASB95

Clothe me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews?

Jeremiah 1:4–5 NASB95

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Exodus 21:22–25 NASB95

“If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. “But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

A child the womb has the same moral status as someone outside the womb.

Psalm 139:16

Job 14:5 NASB95

“Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.

Deuteronomy 5:17 NASB95

‘You shall not murder.