Exodus 21:22 (KJV) says "If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished"
What does "her fruit depart from her" mean in this passage?
Modern versions interpret this as causing her to give birth prematurely, but it seems strange for that to be a punishable offense. There is also the interpretation that it referred to causing a miscarriage.
What was meant by this in the earliest versions of the Exodus that we have?
"...a woman with child..."
"Fruit" isn't even in the Hebrew. It literally says "her children." It's not strange that harming a pregnant woman, inducing labor, would be punishable.