Dictionary Article

Spontaneous abortion of a nonviable fetus. It occurs in both human (Jb 3:16; Hos 9:14) and animal (Gn 31:38; Jb 21:10) pregnancies. The major problem is not in being unable to conceive or to become pregnant but in carrying the pregnancy to full term. The curse of a “miscarrying womb” results in not being able to have children (Hos 9:14), while the blessing of God results in successful pregnancies and long life (Ex 23:26).

Show passage in OET: JOB 3:16

OET-RV JOB 3:16

16 I might never have been—like a stillborn child.
⇔ ≈ Like some infants who never see the light.

OET-LV JOB 3:16

16 Or like_a _miscarriage hidden not was _I like_children who_not they _have _seen light.

Show passage in OET: HOS 9:14

OET-RV HOS 9:14

14 Give them something, Yahweh—what will you give?
⇔ Give them a womb that miscarries, and breasts with no milk.

OET-LV HOS 9:14

14 Give to/for_them Oh_YHWH what will _you _give give to/for_them a _womb which_miscarries and_breasts which_dry _up.

Show passage in OET: GEN 31:38

OET-RV GEN 31:38

38 “I’ve worked for you for twenty years. Your ewes and your female goats didn’t miscarry, and I haven’t eaten rams from your flocks.

OET-LV GEN 31:38

38 This twenty year[s] I have_been_with _you ewes _of_your and_your(pl)_female _of_goats not they _have _miscarried and_the _rams _of your _flock _of_your not I _have _eaten.

Show passage in OET: JOB 21:10

OET-RV JOB 21:10

10 Their bulls mate productively,
⇔ ≈ and their cows calve without miscarrying.

OET-LV JOB 21:10

10 Bull _of_his it _impregnates and_not it _fails cow _of_his it _calves and_not it _miscarries.

Show passage in OET: EXO 23:26

OET-RV EXO 23:26

26 and there won’t be any miscarriages or women in your land that can’t conceive. I’ll ensure that you live your full number of days.

OET-LV EXO 23:26

26 Not miscarrying and_barren anyone _will _be in_land _of_your DOM the _number _of your(pl)_days _of_your I _will _complete.

Jump to OET JOB 3:16 section.

Jump to OET HOS 9:14 section.

Jump to OET GEN 31:38 section.

Jump to OET JOB 21:10 section.

Jump to OET EXO 23:26 section.

The time factor is the key abnormality as indicated by premature delivery or “untimely birth” (Ps 58:8; Jb 3:16). While miscarriages occur for many reasons, Scripture mentions two: improper care (in animals) (Gn 31:38) and trauma to a pregnant woman (Ex 21:22).

Show passage in OET: PSA 58:8

OET-RV PSA 58:8

8 Let them be like a snail that quietly disappears.
⇔ ≈ Like a woman’s still-born child that never sees the sunlight.

OET-LV PSA 58:9

9  Like a _snail _of which_melting _away it _goes a _miscarriage _of a _woman _of (of)_which_not they _have _seen the_sun.

Show passage in OET: EXO 21:22

OET-RV EXO 21:22

22 If two people fight together and strike a pregnant woman and cause her to deliver the baby, if there’s no serious injury, then he must certainly be fined whatever the husband of the woman demands and the judges allow.

OET-LV EXO 21:22

22 And_because/when men they _will _struggle _together and_they _will _strike a _woman pregnant and_ children _of_her _they _will _come _out and_not harm it _will _be certainly _(fine) he _will _be _fined just_as he _will _impose on/upon/above_him/it the _husband _of the_woman and_he/it _gave for_the_assessments.

Jump to OET PSA 58:8 section.

Jump to OET EXO 21:22 section.

Numbers 5 gives the test for an unfaithful wife. If she is guilty of adultery, then “her abdomen will swell and her thigh waste away” (v 27, niv). These phrases may be euphemisms for miscarriage or for sterility (see NLT).

Show passage in OET: NUM 5:27

OET-RV NUM 5:27

27 After she’s drunk it, if she was ‘unclean’ and unfaithful to her husband, the water will carry that curse into her, and her belly will swell and her genitals will get diseased, and the woman will become a curse among her people.

OET-LV NUM 5:27

27 And_he_will _make _her _drink DOM the_waters and_she _will _be if she _has _made _herself _unclean and_she _has _acted _unfaithfully unfaithfulness against_husband _of_her and_they _will _go in_her the_waters which_bring_a _curse to_bitter_things and_ belly _of_her _it _will _swell and_ thigh _of_her _it _will _fall and_ the_woman _she _will _become (into)_a_curse in_the _midst _of her _people _of_her.

Jump to OET NUM 5:27 section.

Paul underscores his inherent unworthiness to be an apostle by comparing his spiritual birth to an untimely physical birth (1 Cor 15:8).

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary