Book of Mormon - Hebraic Poetry & Reformed Egyptian
Chaismus in the Book of Mormon - BYU publication - John W Welch his site (video)
Hebrew Literary patterns and Poetry in the Book of Mormon - Ensign Oct 1989
A Clear Poetic Voice - Hebrew Poetry in the Book of Mormon - Ensign Jan 1984
Hebrew Literary patterns and Poetry in the Book of Mormon - Ensign Oct 1989
A Clear Poetic Voice - Hebrew Poetry in the Book of Mormon - Ensign Jan 1984
To Western individuals they often read the Book of Mormon and find it difficult to read due to its repetition of idea, and concept. This is because they do not understand Hebraic Poetic forms and how they work together to add emphasis, and beauty to a concept being taught!!
The Book of Mormon claims to be a translation of an ancient record written upon plates of metal. Much of this record was originally transcribed before the comming of Jesus Christ and it is thus a record of a people concurrent with the prophets of the Old Testament.
The language that these plates were written in is described as:
1 Nephi 1:2
2 Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.
Mosiah 1:4
for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children
Morm 9:34
34 But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also that none other people knoweth our language; and because that none other people knoweth our language, therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof.
Note: that the Book of Mormon speaks of many languages being spoken of in the ancient americas.
By these entries we come to an understanding that the Book of Mormon was written in a type of egyptian script but after the learning of the Jews. This egyptian script has been coined the name "Reformed Egyptian". The use of differing script languages by the poeple to record their sacred text is a documented fact. Therefore, this should be no surprise that they would do this.
One thing of interest is that the book is said to be written based upon the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians. If the engravings were a form of Egyptian, then it is understandable why he would include the language of the Egyptians. But why does he also include the learning of the Jews in this description of how he writes his book?
I hope to show you somewhat concerning the reason for this.
The language of the Jews was Hebrew.
When the ancient Hebrew Prophets wrote their prophecies and sermons they often used Hebraic Poetic forms to add emphasis, and literrary beauty to their words.
If the Book of Mormon is a Jewish Sacred text surely we should expect to find Hebraic Poetic forms within it.
In fact we most certainly do!! Perhaps the stongest and most compelling evidence that the Book of Mormon is not a book written by Joseph Smith is the startling discovery of these Hebraic idioms, and poetic forms exist in the Book of Mormon and are in fact prevalent throughout the text!
There is so many examples of parrallelism and Chiasmus, and other poetic forms in the Book of Mormon that I must limit myself and give references for additional information. If you are interested you may look up these references and learn for yourself the variety, complexity, and volume of Hebraic Poetic forms and Idioms in the Book of Mormon.
I would like to show a simple example of a Chiasmus:
This has always been one of my favourite scriptures, and it even became more so when I learned and understood its poetic meaning! Notice the focus : and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever,
Consider Mosiah 3:18-19:
… but men drink damnation to their own souls except
a they humble themselves
b and become as little children,
c and believe that salvation … is … in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
d For the natural man
e is an enemy to God,
f and has been from the fall of Adam,
f and will be, forever and ever,
e unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit,
d And putteth off the natural man
c and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord,
b and becometh as a child,
a submissive, meek, humble … full of love. …
List of Hebraic Forms found in the book of Mormon. This is not a comprehensive list in any sense of the word... yet it adequately shows the volume and amount of the Hebrew forms in this work.
Simple synonymous: 1 Ne. 1:15; 1 Ne. 17:47; 2 Ne. 9:52; 2 Ne. 25:2; 2 Ne. 30:11; Alma 34:32; 3 Ne. 5:21; 3 Ne. 20:42; 3 Ne. 29:5; Ether 6:10
Simple synthetic: 2 Ne. 4:35; Mosiah 23:21; Alma 37:35; 3 Ne. 10:15
Contrasting: 2 Ne. 26:25; Alma 5:40 and Alma 41; Alma 9:28; Alma 36:21; Hel. 10:6; 3 Ne. 27:33
Antithetical: 1 Ne. 17:45; Jacob 4:10; Mosiah 4:24; Ether 12:26; Moro. 10:6
Simple alternate: 1 Ne. 5:1; 1 Ne. 11:25; 1 Ne. 17:19, 36, 39; 1 Ne. 20:18-19; 2 Ne. 4:17, 28; 2 Ne. 6:6; 2 Ne. 10:25; 2 Ne. 26:12; 2 Ne. 27:4; 2 Ne. 30:17; Mosiah 4:8; Alma 1:26; Alma 2:29; Alma 28:11; Alma 63:2; Hel. 3:21
Repeated alternate: 1 Ne. 19:9; Alma 30:24-26; Alma 30:10
Extended alternate: 1 Ne. 8:24; 1 Ne. 9:3-4, 11-12; Alma 5:19
Repetitive numerical: Alma 23:5; Alma 28:11; Alma 36:10; Morm. 6:10-15
A fortiori numerical: 1 Ne. 4:1; Alma 3:26; Hel. 3:24-26; 3 Ne. 3:22; 3 Ne. 4:21
Circular repetitive: Mosiah 3:25-26; Mosiah 11:21; Alma 3:15-16; Alma 14:29; Alma 24:7-10; Alma 60:20; Alma 62:41; Hel. 11:10-16; Morm. 7:2-5
Climactic: 2 Ne. 2:25; Alma 42:22-23; Morm. 9:12-13
Conclusion:
Did Joseph Smith write the Book of Mormon?
If he did how did he know to write in Hebraic Poetic Forms that were unknown and difficult to say the least for the standard western reader to even recognize!
To me the evidence is conclusive! This book was not writen by an uneducated farm boy in upstate New York. It was not the product of epilepitic seisures as some would say. It is not luck that he wrote in Hebraic poetic forms.
The easiest and simplist solution to this is that this document really is a translation of an ancient work. Written by someone who knew and understood the Jews method of preaching, and literature.
Thus there is evidence within the text itself concerning the translation and its validity!
Theron
Bibliography:
Scholarly Works concerning Hebrew Poetry:
Robert Lowth, Isaiah: A New Translation (London: J. Nichols, 1834), p. ix.
For a review of the history of the study of parallelisms, see James L. Kugel, The Idea of Biblical Poetry (New Haven: Yale Univ. Press, 1981), pp. 96-170; and D. Broadribb, “A Historical Review of Studies of Hebrew Poetry,” Abr-Nahrain 13 (1972-73):66-87.
Brown Francis, Jan 1, 1890, Measurements of Hebrew Poetry as an Aid to Literary Analysis
Literary Style Used in Book of Mormon Insured Accurate Translation
Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol.8, Ch.10
Characteristics of Ancient Hebrew Poetry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_poetry#Characteristics_of_Ancient_Hebrew_Poetry
The Dynamics of Biblical Parallelism (Bloomington: Indiana Univ. Press, 1985), p. 3.
Robert Alter, The Art of Biblical Poetry (New York: Basic Books, 1985);
Wilfred G. E. Watson, Classical Hebrew Poetry (Sheffield, England: JSOT Press, 1984);
David Noel Freedman, Pottery, Poetry, and Prophecy—Studies in Early Hebrew Poetry (Winona Lake, Mich.: Eisenbrauns, 1980).
Other Sources
Hebraic Idioms in the Book of Mormon:
http://www.cometozarahemla.org/hebraisms/hebraisms.html
Church Articles concerning the matter: (These articles give many examples and explainations of Poetic forms in the Book of Mormon)
Donald W. Parry, “Hebrew Literary Patterns in the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, Oct. 1989, 58
Richard Dilworth Rust, “Book of Mormon Poetry,” New Era, Mar. 1983, 46
John W. Welch, “Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon,” New Era, Feb. 1972, 6
Kevin L. Barney, “Understanding Old Testament Poetry,” Ensign, June 1990, 51
Paul Cracroft, “A Clear Poetic Voice,” Ensign, Jan. 1984, 28
Alan J. Christenson, Chiasmus in Mayan Texts, Ensign October 1988
(What Marc Twain Really Thought - interesting aside since he is supposidly so critical of the Book of Mormon language/style etc.)
The Book of Mormon claims to be a translation of an ancient record written upon plates of metal. Much of this record was originally transcribed before the comming of Jesus Christ and it is thus a record of a people concurrent with the prophets of the Old Testament.
The language that these plates were written in is described as:
1 Nephi 1:2
2 Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.
Mosiah 1:4
for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children
Morm 9:34
34 But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also that none other people knoweth our language; and because that none other people knoweth our language, therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof.
Note: that the Book of Mormon speaks of many languages being spoken of in the ancient americas.
By these entries we come to an understanding that the Book of Mormon was written in a type of egyptian script but after the learning of the Jews. This egyptian script has been coined the name "Reformed Egyptian". The use of differing script languages by the poeple to record their sacred text is a documented fact. Therefore, this should be no surprise that they would do this.
One thing of interest is that the book is said to be written based upon the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians. If the engravings were a form of Egyptian, then it is understandable why he would include the language of the Egyptians. But why does he also include the learning of the Jews in this description of how he writes his book?
I hope to show you somewhat concerning the reason for this.
The language of the Jews was Hebrew.
When the ancient Hebrew Prophets wrote their prophecies and sermons they often used Hebraic Poetic forms to add emphasis, and literrary beauty to their words.
If the Book of Mormon is a Jewish Sacred text surely we should expect to find Hebraic Poetic forms within it.
In fact we most certainly do!! Perhaps the stongest and most compelling evidence that the Book of Mormon is not a book written by Joseph Smith is the startling discovery of these Hebraic idioms, and poetic forms exist in the Book of Mormon and are in fact prevalent throughout the text!
There is so many examples of parrallelism and Chiasmus, and other poetic forms in the Book of Mormon that I must limit myself and give references for additional information. If you are interested you may look up these references and learn for yourself the variety, complexity, and volume of Hebraic Poetic forms and Idioms in the Book of Mormon.
I would like to show a simple example of a Chiasmus:
This has always been one of my favourite scriptures, and it even became more so when I learned and understood its poetic meaning! Notice the focus : and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever,
Consider Mosiah 3:18-19:
… but men drink damnation to their own souls except
a they humble themselves
b and become as little children,
c and believe that salvation … is … in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
d For the natural man
e is an enemy to God,
f and has been from the fall of Adam,
f and will be, forever and ever,
e unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit,
d And putteth off the natural man
c and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord,
b and becometh as a child,
a submissive, meek, humble … full of love. …
List of Hebraic Forms found in the book of Mormon. This is not a comprehensive list in any sense of the word... yet it adequately shows the volume and amount of the Hebrew forms in this work.
Simple synonymous: 1 Ne. 1:15; 1 Ne. 17:47; 2 Ne. 9:52; 2 Ne. 25:2; 2 Ne. 30:11; Alma 34:32; 3 Ne. 5:21; 3 Ne. 20:42; 3 Ne. 29:5; Ether 6:10
Simple synthetic: 2 Ne. 4:35; Mosiah 23:21; Alma 37:35; 3 Ne. 10:15
Contrasting: 2 Ne. 26:25; Alma 5:40 and Alma 41; Alma 9:28; Alma 36:21; Hel. 10:6; 3 Ne. 27:33
Antithetical: 1 Ne. 17:45; Jacob 4:10; Mosiah 4:24; Ether 12:26; Moro. 10:6
Simple alternate: 1 Ne. 5:1; 1 Ne. 11:25; 1 Ne. 17:19, 36, 39; 1 Ne. 20:18-19; 2 Ne. 4:17, 28; 2 Ne. 6:6; 2 Ne. 10:25; 2 Ne. 26:12; 2 Ne. 27:4; 2 Ne. 30:17; Mosiah 4:8; Alma 1:26; Alma 2:29; Alma 28:11; Alma 63:2; Hel. 3:21
Repeated alternate: 1 Ne. 19:9; Alma 30:24-26; Alma 30:10
Extended alternate: 1 Ne. 8:24; 1 Ne. 9:3-4, 11-12; Alma 5:19
Repetitive numerical: Alma 23:5; Alma 28:11; Alma 36:10; Morm. 6:10-15
A fortiori numerical: 1 Ne. 4:1; Alma 3:26; Hel. 3:24-26; 3 Ne. 3:22; 3 Ne. 4:21
Circular repetitive: Mosiah 3:25-26; Mosiah 11:21; Alma 3:15-16; Alma 14:29; Alma 24:7-10; Alma 60:20; Alma 62:41; Hel. 11:10-16; Morm. 7:2-5
Climactic: 2 Ne. 2:25; Alma 42:22-23; Morm. 9:12-13
Conclusion:
Did Joseph Smith write the Book of Mormon?
If he did how did he know to write in Hebraic Poetic Forms that were unknown and difficult to say the least for the standard western reader to even recognize!
To me the evidence is conclusive! This book was not writen by an uneducated farm boy in upstate New York. It was not the product of epilepitic seisures as some would say. It is not luck that he wrote in Hebraic poetic forms.
The easiest and simplist solution to this is that this document really is a translation of an ancient work. Written by someone who knew and understood the Jews method of preaching, and literature.
Thus there is evidence within the text itself concerning the translation and its validity!
Theron
Bibliography:
Scholarly Works concerning Hebrew Poetry:
Robert Lowth, Isaiah: A New Translation (London: J. Nichols, 1834), p. ix.
For a review of the history of the study of parallelisms, see James L. Kugel, The Idea of Biblical Poetry (New Haven: Yale Univ. Press, 1981), pp. 96-170; and D. Broadribb, “A Historical Review of Studies of Hebrew Poetry,” Abr-Nahrain 13 (1972-73):66-87.
Brown Francis, Jan 1, 1890, Measurements of Hebrew Poetry as an Aid to Literary Analysis
Literary Style Used in Book of Mormon Insured Accurate Translation
Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol.8, Ch.10
Characteristics of Ancient Hebrew Poetry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_poetry#Characteristics_of_Ancient_Hebrew_Poetry
The Dynamics of Biblical Parallelism (Bloomington: Indiana Univ. Press, 1985), p. 3.
Robert Alter, The Art of Biblical Poetry (New York: Basic Books, 1985);
Wilfred G. E. Watson, Classical Hebrew Poetry (Sheffield, England: JSOT Press, 1984);
David Noel Freedman, Pottery, Poetry, and Prophecy—Studies in Early Hebrew Poetry (Winona Lake, Mich.: Eisenbrauns, 1980).
Other Sources
Hebraic Idioms in the Book of Mormon:
http://www.cometozarahemla.org/hebraisms/hebraisms.html
Church Articles concerning the matter: (These articles give many examples and explainations of Poetic forms in the Book of Mormon)
Donald W. Parry, “Hebrew Literary Patterns in the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, Oct. 1989, 58
Richard Dilworth Rust, “Book of Mormon Poetry,” New Era, Mar. 1983, 46
John W. Welch, “Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon,” New Era, Feb. 1972, 6
Kevin L. Barney, “Understanding Old Testament Poetry,” Ensign, June 1990, 51
Paul Cracroft, “A Clear Poetic Voice,” Ensign, Jan. 1984, 28
Alan J. Christenson, Chiasmus in Mayan Texts, Ensign October 1988
(What Marc Twain Really Thought - interesting aside since he is supposidly so critical of the Book of Mormon language/style etc.)