Pregnancy

Pregnancy regarded as a blessing from God

Genesis 4:1 See also Genesis 4:17, Genesis 16:4, Genesis 20:17–18, Genesis 29:32, Genesis 30:1–2, Genesis 30:4–6, Genesis 30:17, Genesis 30:23

And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said.

Pregnancy after barrenness

Genesis 25:21 See also Genesis 30:22–23; 1 Samuel 1:1–20; 2 Kings 4:11–17; Luke 1:24–25

Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.

Pregnancy in old age

Luke 1:36–37 See also Genesis 18:9–15, Genesis 21:1–7

Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

Ritual uncleanness after pregnancy

Leviticus 12:1–7

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be unclean for seven days, as she is during the days of her menstruation. And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised. The woman shall continue in purification from her bleeding for thirty-three days. She must not touch anything sacred or go into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are complete. If, however, she gives birth to a daughter, the woman will be unclean for two weeks as she is during her menstruation. Then she must continue in purification from her bleeding for sixty-six days. When the days of her purification are complete, whether for a son or for a daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. And the priest will present them before the LORD and make atonement for her; and she shall be ceremonially cleansed from her flow of blood. This is the law for a woman giving birth, whether to a male or to a female.

Pregnancy outside marriage

As a result of incest

Genesis 19:30–38

As a result of prostitution

Genesis 38:24–25 See also Genesis 38:13–19

About three months later, Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has prostituted herself, and now she is pregnant.” “Bring her out!” Judah replied. “Let her be burned to death!” As she was being brought out, Tamar sent a message to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these items belong.” And she added, “Please examine them. Whose seal and cord and staff are these?”

As a result of adultery

2 Samuel 11:2–5

One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing— a very beautiful woman. So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home. And the woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”

Pregnancy in troubled times sometimes a misfortune

Because of atrocities committed in war

2 Kings 15:16 See also 2 Kings 8:12; Hosea 13:16; Amos 1:13

At that time Menahem, starting from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in its vicinity, because they would not open their gates. So he attacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.

Because of additional hardship in harsh circumstances

Matthew 24:15–21 parallels Mark 13:14–19, Luke 21:20–24

So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. And let no one in the field return for his cloak. How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath. For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.

Premature birth

Exodus 21:22–25 See also 1 Samuel 4:19

If men who are fighting strike a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely, but there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband demands and as the court allows. But if a serious injury results, then you must require a life for a life — eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, and stripe for stripe.

Labour pains

1 Thessalonians 5:3 See also Genesis 3:16; 1 Samuel 4:19; Revelation 12:2

While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Miscarriage

Exodus 23:25–26 See also Genesis 31:38; Job 21:10; Hosea 9:14

So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take away sickness from among you. No woman in your land will miscarry or be barren; I will fulfill the number of your days.

Figurative use of pregnancy

Psalm 7:14 See also Hosea 9:11

Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.