Isaiah variants in the book of mormon

The following representative examples of these parallels have been adapted from tvedtness work. May 27, 2011 the isaiah texts quoted in the book of mormon are unique. That the book of mormon quotes from isaiah is not a problem, except that joseph smiths 1830 translation reads nearly verbatim to the 1611 king james translation. They have found support for the book of mormon variants in other biblical texts. Where these agree with the king james version of the bible, we are inclined to believe that the prophet joseph smith merely employed the language and text known to the people of his time. In some cases, entire passages are duplicated in the book of mormon. Jan 29, 2014 discovered in 1947, the great isaiah scroll is the oldest extant text of isaiah. Some 58 are paraphrased and 11 others are variants and or paraphrases. Wright offers a critical response to tvedtness analysis in. Of the 478 verses in the book of mormon quoted from the book of isaiah, 201 agree with the king james reading while 207 show variations. The book of mormon narrative says that the jews who left jerusalem for the new world had with them the scriptures written up until that point 600 b.

From the day the book of mormon was published in 1830, some readers have been struck by its distinctive modes of expression. New archaeological evidence for book of mormon prophet isaiah. Many of the oddities thought at first to be signs of ignorance or awkwardness turn out on closer inspection to be traces of ancient authenticity. Book of mormonanachronismsbiblicaldeuteroisaiah fair. Bicola, tricola, paired tricola, and isaiah variants in 2. Tvedtnes, was published in 1983 by the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms.

Since esaias is listed in jethros line of authority doctrine and covenants 84. For a complete list of isaiah passages cited or paraphrased in the bm, broken down according to verse, see monte s. John tvedtnes has documented many in this study of the isaiah variants in the book of mormon. Information on mormonism, book of mormon, joseph smith, and the king james. Bryan weston, witnessesthose who assist to bring forth this work, religious educator 11, no. Joseph smiths interpretation of isaiah in the book of mormon. Nephis version of isaiah 4852 that he quoted on his plates was the primitive, early version written by 1st isaiah which did not include specific references to babylon. Wrights article is essentially a critique of my rather lengthy study isaiah variants in the book of mormon. It comes from the words of isaiah quoted by the lord to the nephites at the time of his visit to this continent. Two factors led to my study of the isaiah variants in the book of mormon. A modern english translation of the book of isaiah that is true to the hebrew and that attempts to convey the meaning of the prophets words rather than transcribe a technically correct rendering that is needlessly hard to comprehend. The book of mormons dependence on the kjv an exhausting. And its extensive reliance upon the postexilic shaping of isaiah helps scholars establish the book of mormon s nineteenth century origins, and therefore, the original context or historical sitz im leben by which the book should be interpreted.

If this latter is the case, then it is doubtful that book of mormon ezaias is a variant form for the nt rendering in greek of isaiah, esaias contra jat. Mar 09, 2016 when moroni visited the boy joseph smith, he quoted isaiah 11 and said it was about to be fulfilled. Download isaiah 53, mosiah 14, and the book of mormon 605 kb download the lords covenant of kindness. It is essentially a statistical analysis of the frequency of changes made in the isaiah passages in the book of mormon, and it concludes that because there are more. Royal skousen, textual variants in the isaiah quotations of the book of mormon, in isaiah in the book of mormon, ed. A more thorough analysis of the many differences in isaiah passages quoted in the book of mormon relative to the king james text has been undertaken more recently by john tvedtnes, who offers substantial evidence for the plausibility of the book of mormon variants john a. Nephi, isaiah, and the latterday restoration religious. Of course, the book of mormon gives some extended attention to isaiah 29, much more than anything else between isaiah 14 and isaiah 48, but so much of the treatment of isaiah 29 is clearly to be understood as inventive and midrashic that there are relatively fewer variants there than might otherwise be expected. There is an interesting confusion between things and words at 2 nephi 6. Book of mormontranslation errors from the kjv fair.

The saints understand isaiah to have foretold the restoration of the gospel through joseph smith see isaiah 49. In the lds curriculum, we are now plodding through the isaiah chapters in second nephi. Depending on how conservatively you judge them, between 2238% of all differences between the book of mormon and kjv isaiah text are. Isaiah s endtime scenario depicts the pivotal role certain lds servants of god perform in restoring the house of israelthe jews, israels ten tribes, and the lamanites. Deuteroisaiah in the book of mormon lds discussions. Isaiah was one of the most important prophetic writers in the old testament. This version brings out the hebrew writing patterns and hebraisms of this wonderful record of the native american people. The book of mormon deletes her from the kjv and changes sea to red sea. David bokovoy on deutero and trito isaiah in the book of mormon. But latterday saints, with their testimony of prophecy and with the many evidences given in the scriptures, have long affirmed that isaiah, son of amoz, wrote the entire book of isaiah. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1981. Without the book of isaiah, the book of mormon would not exist.

Thus, the restoration was both prophesied in and influenced by the words of isaiah. The variant texts of both the septuagint and the dead sea scrolls confirm that fact and tell us that the alteration was in process at least by 200 b. Doing this visualizes a significant division in how isaiah is used. A book length preliminary report, isaiah variants in the book of mormon, by john a. Tvedtnes provides a shorter version in isaiah variants in the book of mormon, in isaiah and the prophets. If this latter is the case, then it is doubtful that book of mormon ezaias is a variant form for the nt rendering in greek of isaiah. Fulfillment of isaiah 11 signifies that we are in the last days, and. Insights into patterns of isaiah in the book of mormon. The king james version of the bible and the book of mormon. Meaning of the isaiah chapters in the book of mormon river. They are the only extant isaiah texts that have no original language source with which the translation can be textually compared. Nov 21, 2018 download isaiah 53, mosiah 14, and the book of mormon 605 kb download the lords covenant of kindness. In the book of mormon, the daughter of zion appears in quotations of isaiah.

In many cases, passages in the isaiah scroll and in the book of mormon contain the conjunction and, which is lacking in the corresponding kjv text. Sometimes the quotation is explicit, as in the second book of nephi, which contains 18 quoted chapters of the book of isaiah other significant connections between the two books include book of mormon words and phrases that only appear in. The discovery of the dead sea scrolls prompted great interest among. A disproportionate number of these variants are due to the omission or replacement of words italicized in the kjv. Book of mormon central knowhys including article and video. Aug 10, 2020 the critical text includes an apparatus that brings together in one place all of the variants between the earliest textual sourceso original manuscript, p printers manuscript, 1830 the first printing of the book of mormon, and s skousens yale edition to see what he thinks is the earliest textto get a better idea of what. While not strictly a translation problem, it can be shown that.

If you want to understand isaiah 5051, dont read 2 nephi 9 or an lds commentary, just get a good translation and read nonlds scholarship. Isaiah variants in the book of mormon religious studies. The results of this research bear witness that the book of isaiah has a literary unity characteristic of a single author. Isaiah is the most quoted old testament prophet in the book of mormon volume, and this tome does justice to the essential role isaiah plays in the volume, with many essays dedicating to exegeting the nephite midrash of isaiah periocpe and whole chapters in the book of mormon text. Originally available in 1983, my isaiah variants in the book of mormon was pub lished in isaiah and the prophets. Abinadis prophetic words are among the most powerful in the book of mormon.

David bokovoy on deutero and trito isaiah in the book of. A helpful listing is found in legrande daviess chart of isaiah citations in the book of mormon, in daniel h. Why do the book of mormon selections from isaiah sometimes. It comes from the words of isaiah quoted by the lord. How do we explain material from isaiah in the book of mormon. While the printers manuscript reads things at both locations, all editions except the 1830 at 2 nephi 33. A scientific analysis of isaiah authorship religious.

These english texts date to the translation and initial publication of the book of mormon 1829. Based on verse 1 in light of verse 2 from isaiah, many people conclude that the sea is the sea of galilee, not the red sea. Nyman, great are the words of isaiah salt lake city. Sometimes the quotation is explicit, as in the second book of nephi, which contains 18 quoted chapters of the book of isaiah. It is to the variants that we will give our attention here. Textual variants in the isaiah quotations in the book of. I split the book of mormon into its two main sections, the small plates of nephi and mormon s abridgment. These results, therefore, confirm the claims made in the book of mormon and the new testament by later prophets and by the savior that isaiah was the author of the book bearing his name. The textual variants in the two texts have theological import and ancient support.

Brewsters treatment of the isaiah chapters in the book of mormon is among the most comprehensive i have found. The isaiah variants in the book of mormon book of mormon. Four interpretive keys to understanding isaiah drawn from the book of mormon make this an excellent introduction to isaiah s prophecy. He explained the form and coming of god mentioned in isaiah 52. Avraham gileadi born october 24, 1940 is a dutchborn american scholar and professor specializing in the hebrew language and analysis of book of isaiah. Feb 18, 2020 because the orthodox lds approach requires the square peg of the book of isaiah to be pounded into a round book of mormon hole, the lds scholarship on isaiah is for me, at least largely worthless. Likewise the book of mormon and the doctrine and covenants quote from isaiah more than from any other prophet lds bible dictionary 707. Sometimes a mechanical striking of an italicized word. Some wonder what isaiah is doing in the book of mormon. Inspired voices from the old testament of the 478 verses in the book of mormon quoted from the book of isaiah, 201 agree with the king james reading while 207 show variations. Making sense or not of isaiah in the book of mormon.

In the book of mormon, jacob, nephi, abinadi, and jesus all quote from different parts of isaiah, and each identifies the prophet by name. For comprehensive lists of isaiah passages cited or paraphrased in the bm, see monte s. Many of the variants at italicized words do not change the meaning at all. Quoted in the book of mormon are nearly all of isaiah chapters 214, 29, and 4854. Chapters from isaiah quoted in the book of mormon use the king james bible as a base text yet frequently vary from it in minor ways, particularly in the earliest text of the book of mormon. Tvedtnes, the isaiah variants in the book of mormon provo, ut. Adam clarkes commentary and the book of mormon worlds. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1984, 16578. In one paper, he wrote the following against the book of mormon. Hebrew words poorly translated by the kjv translators isaiah 4. Dated at approximately 250 bc, it precedes the masoretic text 900 ad, from which the king james translation derives.

Gleaning from the expertise of an eminent array of latterday saint scholars, a brigham young university symposium entitled isaiah and the prophets has brought to light a diversity of thoughtprovoking ideas relative to the old testament. A longtime professor at brigham young university, he was one of the september six of prominent scholars excommunicated by the the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in 1993, but several years gileadi formally rejoined the church. According to john tvedtnes, the ideas contained in the first verse of isaiah 49 1 nephi 21. Were the isaiah passages in the book of mormon simply. The book of mormon and other ancient documents book of. As such, many latterday saints have viewed joseph smith as the rod and root of jesse, and the book of mormon as the ensign. Note that large portions of isaiah that are ascribed to deutero isaiah particularly chapter 1 and chapters 4143 and 4647 and all of the material ascribed to trito isaiah chapters 5665 do not appear in the book of mormon, even as allusions. A critical text of mosiah 1117, compiled by all the members of the book of mormon academy, uses the 1840 edition of the book of mormon as the base text and provides over seven hundred footnotes highlighting textual variants, intertextual relationships, and unique phrases. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1998. Isaiah variants in the book of mormon religious studies center.

King james bible italics, the translation of the book of mormon, and joseph smith as an unlearned reader. O ne of the many subtle internal evidences that have been advanced for book of mormon authenticity occurs in the book of mormon version of isaiah 2. Disparities with hebrew language, text, and style part 5. Rush, author of a remnant shall return, daniel 11, and revelation the vision of john the divine, walks through the meaning. In their gospels in the new testament, matthew, luke, and john the beloved do the same. Hebrew idioms and syntax wordplay and range of meaning new words isaiah variants conclusions. Nyman, abinadis commentary on isaiah, in the book of mormon.

This powerful call for the captive daughter of zion to rise up and shake off the dust and bands of bondage will be quoted again by jesus in 3 nephi 20. Between moses, the man of god, and the one like unto moses, who is christ, the prophet in israel who had the greatest spiritual stature, fame, renown. The above title and link refers to a 2001 masters thesis. Many of the minor variants were eliminated by the printer for the 1830. The isaiah texts in the book of mormon originate from the brass plates, which date to at least 600 bc. Is the writing in the book of mormon characteristic of the. These examples of variant readings in which the isaiah passages in the book of mormon agree with the isaiah scroll but not with the kjv could be multiplied. Bicola, tricola, paired tricola, and isaiah variants in 2 nephi 12 of. In fact, some lds scholars admit that there are still many errors in the vari.

Remember, the only 2nd isaiah chapters that show up in the book of mormon are isaiah 4852. Poetic parallelism of the isaiah scroll and the book of. Exactly the same variant readings occur in the texts we have of the title page of the book of mormon. My last post took a look at possible isaianic references stretched between isaiah 15 and isaiah 47, with a particular focus on isaiah 29, which receives more extensive treatment in the book of mormon than any of the chapters surrounding it. Multiple isaiah theory and stylometry search isaiah. What variants are there in the book of mormon s isaiah text. Tvedtnes, isaiah variants in the book of mormon, in isaiah and the. If you are looking for a deeper companion to your study of isaiah in the book of mormon, you may find this helpful. The book of mormon bases many prophecies of the time immediately before the second coming of jesus christ on the words of isaiah. The book of mormon and the doctrine and covenants, modern lds scriptures, confirm this assessment and contain extensive. John tvedtnes, the isaiah variants in the book of mormon, farms preliminary report provo, ut.

Isaiah variants in the book of mormon, in isaiah and the prophets. The first shows which isaiah chapters are quoted in the book of mormon including their order and location in the book of mormon as well as a summary of each quoted chapter to encourage speculation as to why the writers of the book of mormon would have wanted to include that particular chapter in their record. Isaiah variants in the book of mormon, isaiah and the prophets, ed. The book of mormon contains many linguistic similarities to the king james bible kjv. Kjv isaiah in the book of mormon why the lds church is true. Was joseph smith smarter than the average fourth year hebrew. Studying the bible and book of mormon together helps us.

Isaiah was the 8thcentury bc israelite prophet after whom the book of isaiah is named within the text of the book of isaiah, isaiah himself is referred to as the prophet, but the exact relationship between the book of isaiah and any such historical isaiah is complicated. In analyzing the textual variants for the isaiah quota tions in the book of mormon, we first have. Large portions of the book of isaiah are quoted by the nephite scribes in the book of mormon. Is the writing in the book of mormon characteristic of the hebrew. The book of mormon and the king james version secular web. A briefer article by the same author, isaiah variants in the book of mormon, was published in in 1984 in monte s. In isaiah in the book of mormon, edited by donald w. Textual variants in the isaiah quotations in the book of mormon. Making sense or not of isaiah in the book of mormon wheat.

He then quoted isaiah 53 and explained its relation to the coming messiah. Several readings of isaiah in the book of mormon are supported by the isaiah scroll. Jeff lindsay notes that the issue of isaiah variants in the book of mormon is a complex and interesting topic now for scholars. In this article, i will discuss recent criticisms by david wright who argues that this passage and other isaiah variants in the book of mormon are unimpressive. One of the titles for the lord that is found in the book of mormon is thy husband 3 nephi 22. However, i feel that the book of mormon can not only withstand the challenge, but the issue can actually be used to illuminate the nature of isaiah and shed light on why this is such a profound book.

In an odd way, the book of mormon may actually support multiple authorship of isaiah. The next portion of my study involved taking a chronological look at the book of mormon and identifying all of the references to isaiah. The traditional view is that all 66 chapters of the book of isaiah were written by one man, isaiah, possibly in two. Tvedtnes, performed comparisons of the isaiah variants found in the book of mormon with the following versions of the book of isaiah. Tvedtnes, isaiah variants in the book of mormon, in isaiah and the prophets.

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