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What does the Bible say happens to babies when they die?
What happens to babies after they die? Where do they go? Heaven or hell?
These questions often come in the midst of great sorrow. Someone has tragically lost a child only months into their new life, perhaps at their birth, or even before the intended due date. Families are robbed of a precious joy they had anticipated for so long. Perhaps you are experiencing that in your family right now, or in a family close to you. Maybe, you were the one pregnant, and through an abortion process you did not want, or now regret, you have lost your child. As we mourn the death of someone so precious and vulnerable, it is only natural to ponder if somehow, somewhere we might be reunited to our beloved child again. So what does the Bible say about where babies will end up after their death?
Well, the Scriptures do not address the eternal destiny of babies in any specific or certain way. However, it does talk about God’s heart for children, and even David believed he would see his dead child again someday. While on this earth, we may not know for certain where a child ended up, but we can see that there is a reason to hope that God will care for them in heaven.
God’s View of Children
The Bible has many verses that talk about God’s love for children. It is made clear that they are a result of blessing and Jesus Himself said heaven belongs to them, along with those who embody a humble and childlike faith. Many people in Jesus’s day saw children as less than or inconveniences, but Jesus always attributed a high value to them. In fact, God has such a deep love for children, that those who are saved are called the children of God.
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David’s Opinion
When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and killed her husband Uriah, God’s punishment for his sin was the passing of Bathsheba’s child. David was in great distress during his child’s sickness, but oddly calm after his death. When servants questioned him about his behavior he answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” -2 Sam 12:22-23. David knew he could not bring back his child to life, but he believed in his own death he would be reunited with his son. Nowhere in the Scriptures do we see his belief contradicted by God. Surely, if David, “a man after God’s own heart” went to heaven, it can be assumed that David had that same destination in mind for his son when he spoke of a reunion.
God’s View of Sin and Rejection
Who does go to hell then? The Bible often says that those who reject God and his offer of salvation will experience everlasting destruction after death. But what about those who don’t even possess the ability to comprehend the offer of salvation? Not just babies fall into this category, but the mentally disabled as well. The Scriptures do not specifically say whether they can be saved or not, but we do get an idea of God’s heart towards those who are unable to make a distinction between right and wrong in the book of Jonah. When the wicked city of Nineveh repents, Jonah is upset by God’s mercy towards them. However, God’s response is “And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” -Jonah 4:11. Some Bible scholars take the phrase “who do not know their right hand from their left” to mean children. God appealed to Jonah’s compassion saying, “Should I not pity the children who do not even know right from wrong?” God had a desire to physically spare children from destruction because of ignorance and innocence. Why would He not desire to do the same for them spiritually?
God’s Character
God is not a purely wrathful and angry God who just happens to have a soft spot for children. When we look at His character displayed throughout the whole Bible, we see He is a God “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” -Exodus 34:6. With this in mind, it makes sense to believe He would exhibit His mercy to newborns by sparing them from everlasting destruction. However, even if we are wrong about infants’ eternal destination, we know that no matter the outcome, nothing changes the truth of God’s character. He can be trusted in the midst of our hardest, most sorrowful circumstances. Even if the outcome is different than we would like, God still knows what is best for us. He does everything from a heart of grace and love. We may never know for certain the answer to the question “Where do babies go when they die?” until we get to heaven, but God has revealed all that we need to know in His Word. Mainly, that He is in control, and orchestrates everything in our lives with perfect wisdom, mercy, and compassion. He can be trusted and wants us to come to Him with our sorrows and questions.