Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5125 Parts of the body and clothing  »  5199 womb

The part of the female body where offspring are conceived and developed. A barren womb can be indicative of God's displeasure or a test of faith, while a fruitful womb may be a sign of his favour. It is God who creates within the womb. In ancient Israel, the first offspring of every womb belonged to God.

The womb as the place of conception and gestation

Psalm 139:13-16 See also Genesis 25:23-24; Genesis 38:27; Deuteronomy 28:53,57; Job 3:10-12; Job 10:18-19; Job 31:15; Psalm 22:9-11; Ecclesiastes 11:5; Isaiah 44:2,24; Isaiah 49:5; Isaiah 66:7-9; Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 20:14-18; Hosea 12:3; Luke 1:41-45; John 3:4; Romans 4:19-21

The barren womb

Indicating divine displeasure

Genesis 20:18 See also Genesis 29:31; Hosea 9:11,14

As a test of faith

Luke 1:6-25 See also Genesis 30:22-23; 1 Samuel 1:5-6

A blessing in times of persecution

Luke 23:29-31 See also Matthew 24:19 pp Mark 13:17 pp Luke 21:23

A fruitful womb may indicate God's favour

Deuteronomy 7:13 See also Genesis 29:31; Genesis 30:22-23; Genesis 49:25; Deuteronomy 28:4,11; Deuteronomy 30:9; Psalm 127:3-5; Psalm 128:3-4

The first offspring of every womb belonged to God

Exodus 13:1-2 See also Exodus 13:12,15; Numbers 18:15

Proverbial use of the womb

Job 1:21 See also Job 15:34-35; Job 24:20; Job 38:8,29; Psalm 110:3; Proverbs 30:15-16; Proverbs 31:2; Ecclesiastes 5:15; Hosea 13:13

Spiritual life beginning in the womb

Psalm 22:9-10 See also Psalm 51:5; Psalm 58:3; Psalm 71:6

See also

5061  sanctity of life
5225  barrenness
5652  babies
5655  birth
5663  childbirth
5664  children
5715  menstruation
5718  mothers
5733  pregnancy
5744  wife
5745  women
8256  fruitfulness