What does the Bible say about Surrogacy?
We often think of surrogate motherhood as something new, the deep desire for children and the practice of using surrogate wombs is an ancient one, though pregnancy had to be accomplished the old-fashioned way rather then via test tubes and petri dishes. The concept of surrogacy is attested in the Bible as far back as Abraham, who fathered a child by the servant woman Hagar. Genesis 16 asserts that it was Sarah's idea, and quotes her as telling Abraham "You see that the LORD has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my slave-girl; it may be that I shall obtain children by her" (Gen 16:2, NRSV).
We know from reading the rest of the story that it didn't turn out as Sarah expected, but it didn't stop the practice. Both of Jacob's official wives (Rachel and Leah) reportedly asked him to foster multiple children by their handmaids (Bilhah and Zilpah) who would count as their own (Genesis 30). Rachel described the practice of having the child delivered "on her knees" in the cultural language of adoption: "Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, that she may bear upon my knees and that I too may have children through her" (Gen. 30:3, NRSV).
The Hebrew Bible even attests to surrogate fatherhood through the practice of levirate marriage. If a married man died childless, his brother was supposed to marry the widow and father at least one child to inherit the brother's estate and carry on his name. (Gen 38:1-11)
The most memorable example of biblical surrogacy is Jesus Christ. The gospels claim that Jesus was born of a virgin, fathered by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:26-35). That scenario clearly puts Mary in the role of being a surrogate mother for Jesus.
I don't expect everyone in our life to embrace our beliefs, but I do expect them to respect boundaries and not judge us because of the choices we make.
Leave a comment