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Finally, it is our turn to be on earth

My daughter-in-law, Terry, told me of a special experience before her youngest child, Grant, was born. It was a spiritual impression that her mother shared, regarding a final interview between her own father, Cecil Grant Ash, and his great-grandson Grant Billikopf, before the boy was born:

“She knew I had gone to the hospital to have the baby that morning,” Terry explained. “She was sitting in her chair and she just thought, ‘I wonder if Terry has had the baby yet?’ Then the Holy Ghost told her, ‘Not yet. He is waiting for your father to come to talk to him.’ Grant was born about twenty-five minutes later. When my mom told me her story, I felt the Holy Ghost witness to me that what she was saying was true.”

If we truly forgot entirely everything, there would be little purpose for such a meeting between a great-grandfather and his great-grandson on such a momentous instant: a son of God who had returned to the presence of the Father speaking to a family member who was about to embark in that special experience we call mortality.

What is it that we most remember about of our Church meetings such as Sacrament meeting, and General Conference? Besides all the wonderful lessons learned, is it not also what we felt? A great desire to have our spirits triumph over our bodies. A deep longing to be true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Like Grant, we waited for a long, long time to experience mortality. And now, finally, it is our turn to be here. This is our time. In each of our pre-mortal lives we received much instruction. While in some ways we may truly say that we have forgotten our pre-mortal lives, in another we have not.

We are spiritually wired. From O My Father we have”

“For a wise and glorious purpose
Thou hast placed me here on earth
And withheld the recollection
Of my former friends and birth;
Yet ofttimes a secret something
Whispered, ‘You’re a stranger here,’
And I felt that I had wandered
From a more exalted sphere.”

Hymn 292

When we come across certain truths we are filled with joy. These are the eternal truths that are brought to our remembrance through both the light of Christ and through the Holy Ghost. These feelings and truths are all-important, especially in relationship to those moments when we are most fully engaged in the “Struggle for the Soul,” as Elder Melvin J. Ballard called it.

Elder Melvin J. Ballard taught: “When the first of the Father’s faithful sons and daughters were about to come into earth life, they were undoubtedly warned and cautioned; for we were to have two new experiences. First, we were to come into possession of a mortal tabernacle. Never having had one before, it was all strange to us. We were charged that we were to take possession of that mortal tabernacle and make it our servant, and were to be master over it, to honor it and yet to subjugate it.”

“[Second,] we were to be in the presence of the enemy who was now a majority. If our eyes were only opened to see the powers that are about us, that seek to influence us, we could not have the courage to walk alone and unassisted. These powers are about us, using their influence for the accomplishment of certain well-defined ends to win the coveted place for their chief, the fallen son of God. When he fell the heavens wept over him, and he became Lucifer, the devil.”

It is our turn to make use of the moral agency each one of us has been given, beginning with the pre-existence, and now here upon earth. I am thrilled!

Elder Ballard continues: “It surely is a good time for every man and woman to examine themselves and discover whether we are on the Lord’s side or not. I should like to say to you, my brethren and sisters, that all the assaults that the enemy of our souls will make to capture us will be through the flesh, because it is made up of the unredeemed earth, and he has power over the elements of the earth. The approach he makes to us will be through the lusts, the appetites, the ambitions of the flesh.”

Elder David A. Bednar uses different but equally powerful language: “Men and women are to act and not be acted upon,” based on the Book of Mormon: “And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon. And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents … it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter. Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other” (2 Nephi 2:14–16).

Our life will permit us to decide, at the end, what is it that we truly, really want: “And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the restoration of which has been spoken; for behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and have gone far astray because of this thing.  And I perceive that thy mind has been worried also concerning this thing.  But behold, I will explain it unto thee. I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order.  Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself… The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh. And so it is on the other hand.  If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness. These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil” (Alma 41:1–2; 5–7).

And from Isaiah: “Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil” (Isaiah 33:14–15).

There is no compulsion at all. This is our moment. This is the time that we anticipated for so long. May we be valiant in our testimonies of Jesus Christ. May we act and not be acted upon. May we, with the gift of the Holy Ghost, clearly stand with the Holy One of Israel.


Photo credit:  Michael Busch, unsplash

Gregorio Billikopf belongs to the Llanquihue Branch, Puerto Montt Stake, in the south of Chile. He is the author of Isaiah Testifies of Christ and an emeritus academic of the University of California and professor of the University of Chile; author of Party-Directed Mediation: Facilitating Dialogue between Individuals and other books. Gregorio’s paternal grandparents are Lithuanian Jews and German Jews and on his mother’s side of the family he is Chilean. He found Christ through reading the Book of Mormon. You may contact him through bielikov2@yahoo.cl.

Our Eternal Abode Depends on the Decisions we Make in Mortality

Exegetes have suggested that Shebna was King Hezekiah’s majordomo and treasurer (see especially Isaiah 22:15–19, quoted below). Shebna was one of the “bad boys” of the Bible and the Lord set him apart for specific chastisement if he did not repent.

We read in the Scriptures that Shebna had pridefully built for himself a magnificent tomb for his resting place or habitation (מִשְׁכָּן). Alexander has, “The מִשְׁכָּן is supposed by some to have allusion to the oriental practice of making tombs in shape (frequently in size) like houses, by others more poetically to the idea of the grave, as a long home, (בֵּית עולָם, literally, eternal abode or everlasting home, בֵּית עוֹלָמו.), the very name applied to it by Solomon (Ecclesiastes 12:5).”

Henderson has, “The Phoenicians also called the sepulchre, חדר בית עלם the chamber of the eternal house.” Barnes suggests that many men wished to make their sepulcher grandiose in order to assure their immortality, such as the ones found on the side of the rocks at Petra.

I thought about this as we walked through the streets of the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, where each mausoleum seemed to compete with the other for formidableness. These expensive buildings varied in price depending on the construction materials, location (prominent main artery vs. smaller side streets) as well as who the neighbors were.  

The owners of these sepulcher houses must pay upkeep. After one generation, if these places are abandoned, the dead therein are thrown into a mass grave.

I am not picking on Argentina, of course, as we have our own cemetery of this type in Santiago, Chile, and there are similar ones in many parts of the world. But my thoughts were transported back to Isaiah, to Shebna, to the Plan of Salvation and to our true eternal abode. Christ has paid the price for each one of us in perpetuity. It is through His tender mercies and grace that He strengthens us and helps us overcome our weaknesses.

Our everlasting house also requires effort on our part. It is being constructed with each decision we make in mortality. President Russell M. Nelson taught: “What we choose to do here will determine the kind of life we have throughout all eternity.” [1] While I know this, the words of our beloved Prophet have found his words seemed to find a special place in my heart. What sort of abode am I building for myself?

In Alma 41:14 we read,

“Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.”


Isaiah 22:15–19

15 Thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say,
16 What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?
17 Behold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity,
and will surely cover thee.
18 He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord’s house.
19 And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.


[1] https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2019-06-09/president-nelson-shares-7-truths-that-have-the-power-to-change-lives-1092


Gregorio Billikopf belongs to the Llanquihue Branch, Puerto Montt Stake, in the south of Chile. He is the author of Isaiah Testifies of Christ and an emeritus academic of the University of California and professor of the University of Chile; author of Party-Directed Mediation: Facilitating Dialogue between Individuals and other books. Gregorio’s paternal grandparents are Lithuanian Jews and German Jews and on his mother’s side of the family he is Chilean. He found Christ through reading the Book of Mormon. You may contact him through bielikov2@yahoo.cl.

The Apostle Peter Quotes Isaiah How the New Testament Interprets Isaiah

“Isaiah is a prophet’s prophet; his words live in the hearts of those who themselves are authoring holy writ. He is quoted at least 57 times in the New Testament.”

—Bruce R. McConkie, Ensign, Oct. 1973,

Studying in First and Second Peter this last week using the Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, I was again surprised to see this Apostle’s use of Isaiah too.

Like Paul, who quoted Isaiah twenty times, Peter uses the ancient prophet as an authority in seven cases.

In his first epistle, of the five chapters, Peter cites Isaiah in four of them either directly or in allusion to Isaiah’s writings.

It is clear that this one-time fisherman, now the leader of the ancient Church, knew his Book of Isaiah. He used it to help persuade the ancients that Jesus was the Messiah

Although some Bible scholars dispute the authorship of his first book, in the book, Peter states that he is “an apostle of Jesus Christ,” writing to the ancient Saints in Asia minor. His epistle addresses the persecution of the ancient saints who were accused of being wrongdoers.

Peter, however, promised: “And the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (5:10). Peter’s objective in the letter, was to encourage them to endure long enough to get the blessings God had promised them.1

Chapter 1

Opening the letter, Peter explains that we should be holy and that God’s word abides forever as he quotes from Isaiah 40.

1 Peter 1
24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Isaiah 40
…All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
…8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.

Chapter 2

Continuing Peter explains Christ is the chief cornerstone and that they as new converts hold a royal priesthood, which makes them a peculiar people.

1Peter 2
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Isaiah 28
16  Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Isaiah 8
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Then alluding to Isaiah 10:3, Peter reminds the ancient saints that they are subject to and should accept the authority of man.

1Peter 2
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Isaiah 10
3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

In chapter 2:22–25 Peter explains that Christ was without sin using a quotation from Isaiah 53:9 and an allusion to Isaiah 53:7; Isaiah 53:4–5, 12; and Isaiah 53:6 explaining how we are made clean through the Savior’s sacrifice.2

1Peter 2
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Isaiah 53
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Chapter 3

In chapter 3:14, Peter counsels us to not fear of suffering for being righteous, but to “…to offer a rational defense of the faith that will withstand the scrutiny of critics.”3

1Peter 3
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
Isaiah 8
12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
13 Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

In verse 18 there is an allusion to Isaiah 53:11–12. “Peter may have intended Spirit, but the parallel to flesh in the same verse suggests that he intended the life-giving spirit that permeates the created world and not the Holy Spirit.”4

1Peter 3
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Isaiah 53
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Chapter 4

1Peter 4
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Isaiah 11
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

Sources

1 Wayment, Thomas A., The New Testament: A New Translation for Latter-day Saints, Religious Studies Center and Deseret Book. Kindle Edition.
2 ibid.
3 ibid.
4 ibid.

The positive contributions of interlinear Bibles

Young woman studying Scriptures

As a student of Biblical Hebrew, I have been censured for asking for recommendations on what I call the absurdly literal translations of the Bible, or its twin sister, Biblical Hebrew interlinears. What is most amazing to me is the rapidity with which people are willing to dish out gratuitous advice and judgment—without pausing to ask how it is that I use these tools or why it is that I am interested in them. (Although my focus is on the Hebrew Bible, much of what is said here is generalizable to the Greek New Testament, also.)

In this paper, I will not only write about the valuable contributions of both interlinears and the absurdly literal translations of the Bible but also will provide a few recommendations. I realize that in a way, this article is not only about interlinears, but also concerns the dangers of generalizing beyond usefulness. Such oversimplifying lacks intellectual rigor.  

What are interlinears and literal translations?

Briefly, interlinears usually have a line from the Hebrew Scriptures, with each word or expression translated into English, usually on a line below. Those who utilize this tool can readily see how any word is translated from the Hebrew into the English (or another language) in the context of that verse. One of the best known interlinears was written by Jay Green, as is the excerpt I include below (Hebrew is read from right to left):

אֱלֹהִ֑ים  בָּרָ֣אבְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית
Godcreatedthe In beginning

Bible translations may be classified into various types, including the literal-tending renderings (word-for-word, or formal equivalence); dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought); as well as the paraphrase (functional equivalence, retelling). There is some variance as to how these labels are used, but the general idea is that the more literal translations attempt to preserve as much as possible the original language and expressions of the Hebrew text; while the dynamic approaches are more concerned with giving the clearest possible meaning of the text as it is understood today. While each type of translation has a role to play, I gravitate towards the literal. This is because the less literal versions end up interpreting Scripture for us to a greater extent. (Please also see my article King James Version: Not Obsolete, where I express my strong preference for the King James Version while noting that other translations may offer, from time to time, better translations.)

Generalizing beyond usefulness

Outsiders in any field quickly find that there are traditions. Some of these are vital while others keep us from seeing clearly. That is why outsiders, as well as those who are constantly questioning the whys behind the whats, can benefit from asking the unaskable. In today’s lingo, such questioning of cherished perspectives and willingness to test and retest hypotheses is called intellectual humility. Increased clarity and from time to time, more creative approaches may emerge.

I admit that at times I may annoy people because of my insistence in getting a real reason behind the way things are done, and not being content, nor impressed, by authoritative answers. I prefer to examine the idea rather than the person who offers it. (Of course, there are limits to such analysis. For me, theological issues constitute areas of thinking where I do not feel a constant need to question my faith.)  

I wish to share a couple of examples about traditions, from my own career in organizational psychology at the University of California, and the importance of questioning the way things are.

  1. A manager at one enterprise challenged me to mediate a conflict between two employees. Not knowing anything about such intervention, I knelt in prayer before proceeding. I freely admit that I could have gotten into much trouble by jumping into such an endeavor without proper training. At any rate, I felt inspired to meet with each of the parties separately in a pre-caucus and only after listening to each of them, bringing them together for a joint session. I sat away from the two parties during the joint session, thus permitting them to solve the dispute with very little interference on my part. That was 1992, and today this method, Party-Directed Mediation, has gained much acceptance among mediators. But at the time, I was told it violated numerous pillars of effective mediation.   
  2. In organizational psychology courses, students are often taught that pay does not motivate performance. While this may often be true, the real matter should be a response to the question, “Can pay motivate performance?” The answer is a resounding, yes! In one enterprise, for instance, worker productivity was doubled while the organization greatly improved the bottom line. All this because throughout my career I put myself in both the shoes of the employer and employee as I studied compensation systems.

In search for an absurdly literal Bible translation and interlinear

So, back to our topic. I have invited people to give their best reasons why interlinears and/or absurdly literal Bible translations ought to be avoided—or valued. Many individuals refuse to give a motive for their rejection with such dogmatic comments as: “If you really want to learn Hebrew you should not use them,” “These will just lead you astray,” “I am a professor at X or Y University or Seminary and tell you not to use those tools,” and even, “My professor said that if you have an enemy you should gift them an interlinear.”  

By reading several papers and listening to well-articulated opinions, I believe most of the reasoning behind the negative responses may be subsumed by these two:   

  1. The over-dependence that some language students develop over such tools (such as interlinears, overly literal translations, and electronic Bible software programs). 
  2. An emphasis on one person’s translation, be it an interlinear or a very literal version, may result in a poor understanding of the nuances of the language (in contrast to learning the grammar and the proper use of lexicons (i.e., language dictionaries that give the Hebrew along with the various ways these words are translated throughout the Hebrew Bible).  

What makes these tools useful?

Interlinears and the absurdly literal Bible translations are reference tools that permit me, as a Hebrew student, to (1) carve out a specific word in Hebrew to see how it is translated into another tongue; and (2) test my own translations. This is particularly useful because of the syntax of Semitic languages, as well as the use of Biblical expressions, is not common to most of us.

The KJV renders Isaiah 29:12: “And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned” (לֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְתִּי סֵֽפֶר, Isaiah 29:12, emphasis added, BHS/WHM 4.2). As I studied this last clause, I am not learned, in Hebrew, I was thrilled to see some nuances that I was not aware of. Most especially, the word book, SEFER, סֵֽפֶר, jumped out at me. In Hebrew, it does not just say “not learned,” but rather, it is a matter of not being learned in the way of books (or scrolls).  

Although the KJV is among the literal translations, this piece of information is lost. Almost every modern version has some variation of either illiterate or not able to read, which certainly is not what the Hebrew says, either. Among the more literal versions, I did find a few that make it clear that this individual would not be book-learned (see, e.g., HRB, LITV, YLT, TLV and MKJV).

It was finding the word SEFER in the Hebrew text that made me turn to my interlinears to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. And then it was also instructive to do a survey of other Biblical translations to see how they dealt with this clause.  

Another interesting example is the use of idioms, such as that a person was a son of five years and seventy years rather than simply stating that he was a seventy-five-year-old man. With the right interlinear, the Biblical Hebrew student can clearly see (1) the use of the word son when dealing with age; (2) the repetition of the word year; and (3) the separation of the age into the five-year portion and the seventy-year portion. These details, then, help the student realize that she is on course when evaluating her own translation.  

Several interlinears, including Young’s interlinear, provide two levels of translation: a more literal version below the Hebrew words, and a translated column that irons out some of the quirks, so the material is more readable. I find both useful. I am often curious as to how an author will provide this one-step-removed translation.       

Although I could easily get carried away with examples, I will only mention one more. In Genesis 1:14, the Hebrew word between is twice dropped from most translations. For instance, the KJV has: “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night.” While arguably the word between may not add very important material in this case, and certainly does not need a double repetition as is found in the Hebrew, yet the Biblical Hebrew student benefits from checking his work against such a translation to make sure nothing was missed.  

Finding what I was looking for

In the example about preserving the word book in the Isaiah passage, I mentioned five translations that did so. Unfortunately for me, not one of these retains both instances of the word between in Genesis 1:14. Once again, the contribution of the absurdly literal interlinear, or the absurdly literal translation, can act as an excellent check on our understanding of the Hebrew text. And in some instances, this understanding illuminates the text in very rich ways (e.g., the idea of cutting covenants such as we see in Genesis 15:18 (בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא כָּרַ֧ת יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־אַבְרָ֖ם בְּרִ֣ית לֵאמֹ֑ר, BHS/WHM 4.2).

An acquaintance shared with me both the Concordant Version of the Old Testament; and the Concordant Interlinear (the latter includes both the interlinear as well as the column one-step-removed literal version in more readable English). Hebrew nouns have gender (as do most verbs and adjectives), and the interlinear preserves this and many other useful details for the language student. The column version, in order to avoid some of the more awkward constructions, substitutes symbols for words, such as the right chevron (>) for the letter LAMED, often translated as to. The PDFs of both of these tools are available as free downloads. So also, a very useful Scriptures for All software program.

Two important caveats before I conclude. First, in expressing how much I like and how useful the Concordant tools are, I am not agreeing with either the theology or the choice of vocabulary used. Nor am I suggesting that Concordance provides the best translation. Certainly, it is impossible to read, let alone translate, without interpreting the text. For this reason, an effort to avoid overdependence (in terms of accepting the translations without studying it out); and seeking of the guidance of the Spirit, are vital. Second, there are other good interlinears (e.g., the Lexham Hebrew-English Interlinear Bible, also see Bible Hub) as well as morphologically tagged Hebrew texts and diglots (e.g., Hebrew-English with side by side paragraphs, such as the Jewish Publication Society 1917 diglot) which are excellent tools. Furthermore, lexicons and studies of how various Hebrew words are translated throughout the Hebrew Bible can also be beneficial.  

Finally, no tool can make up for the hard work and long hours involved in learning another language, especially a Biblical one.

Conclusions   

Many traditions that are preserved today were often built on solid foundations. Even so, there is a need to constantly look for better ways of doing things. This means questioning the approaches we take without losing sight of the caveats. In the case of the absurdly literal Bible translations and interlinears, it is possible to use them to disadvantage when we avoid the hard work of learning Hebrew vocabulary, grammar and syntax. It is also a grave mistake to assume that the translations may not be improved upon. It is my hope that before we criticize others for how they go about learning—or doing something—that we give them the courtesy of considering how they are using the tools we disapprove of. The absurdly literal translations, as well as the well-designed interlinear, offer at least two very positive contributions for the Biblical Hebrew student: (1) being able to carve out specific words in the Hebrew text; and (2) testing our own translation of the Hebrew.

Photo Credit: Bethany Laird, unsplash

Isaiah During Advent

Tomorrow will be First Advent Sunday which is celebrated by many Christian communities worldwide and even though Advent is not part of our tradition in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you may find it a nice addition to how you “Light the World” this holiday season.

The term advent is Latin in origin and means “coming.” Bible verses that detail the coming of Jesus can prepare our hearts to receive Christ. Verses from Isaiah are some of the best to read with your family usher in the birth of Jesus!

Here is just one example:

  1. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots:
  2. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord…
  3. But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
  4. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. — Isaiah 11: 1–2; 4–5
During December, beginning four Sundays before Christmas, Christians who celebrate Advent light a candle each of the Sunday. Together they read from the Bible to help prepare them for Christmas.

I first experienced the celebration while serving as a missionary in Northern Germany.  It helped to make the Christmas season more Christ-centric, at least more than what I had known at home in Salt Lake City.

Advent Wreath

Traditionally this was a Catholic celebration, but living in Northern Germany, I came to see that it had become a Lutheran tradition too.

It was a tradition I brought home. Each Christmas we made an advent wreath and lit a candle for each of the four Sundays before Christmas. Then, on Christmas Eve, we lit all four to usher in the Christkindl. I loved it connecting back to that great tradition.

During Advent, formal readings are taken from Jeremiah, Baruch, Zephaniah, and Micah, but it is Isaiah’s voice that rings out over all the others. It is his prophetic voice that is the voice of Advent.

Suggested Verses for Family Reading

 
 
 
Chapter and Verse New Revised Standard Version
40: 1-3
1 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord ’s hand double for all her sins.
3 A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord , make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
7: 14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
40: 9  

9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”

60: 1

1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

60: 2-3

2 For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.
3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

9: 2

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.

9: 6

6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

35: 5-6; 10

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert…
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

40: 11

11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

Isaiah Tells the Nativity Story in Matthew and Luke

This month, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will continue to study Jesus’s early years in the new Come, Follow Me—for Individuals and Families, New Testament 2019 (pp 6–18). First with Matthew 1 and Luke 1, then Matthew 2 and Luke 2, and finishing the month with John 1.

The First Gospel does not claim to be written by Matthew, and nowhere does the author openly claim to be one of the early disciples of the Lord. Instead, readers have come to know this Gospel as the Gospel of Matthew through later traditions and remembrances. While Latter-day Saints tend to accept Matthew’s authorship of the First Gospel, the evidence for making that claim is rarely discussed in detail.1

Matthew and Luke both tell parts of the Nativity story quoting extensively from the Old Testament, including  Isaiah. They do this to help prove that Jesus was the predicted Messiah. While these gospel authors may have used Mark’s storyline, both add much to our understanding of the life and times of Jesus the Christ.

No one is sure who wrote the Gospel of Matthew; tradition is that he was one Jesus’s original disciples. If so, his first-hand recollection is valuable. However, he uses Old Testament quotes more directly than the other Gospel authors to prove that Jesus is fulfilling prophecy from long along and is indeed the Messiah. “These references are known as the formula quotations, and they explicitly set out an Old Testament foundation for the ministry of Jesus (Matthew1:22–23; 2:5–6; 2:15; 2:17–18; 2:23; 4:14–16; 8:17; 12:17–21; 13:35; 21:4–5; 27:9–10). Most of them directly represent the author’s insertion into the story.”2

For example, Matthew1:22–23:

Thomas Wayment’s The New Testament: A New Translation for Latter-day Saints
King James Version Isaiah 7
22 All of this took place to fulfill the word of the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23 “ Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel,” which is interpreted “God with us.” 314 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a signBehold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Even though the quote in Isaiah 7 referred to one of Isaiah’s unborn sons, it has a dual meaning in the Christian world. Thanks to Matthew we know that it also refers to the Son of God. Matthew may also have sourced Isaiah 8:8, 10:

And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

Similarly, First Nephi 11:13 uses the word virgin to describe Mary as a young girl before marriage, probably drawing upon Isaiah 7:14.

Echoes of Isaiah in Luke’s Gospel

As we turn to Luke, let’s acknowledge that he was not a first-hand witness of Christ, but composed his Gospel and Acts for Theophilus5  to explain the events of Jesus life and the Apostles who followed Him. Most often he used allusions and echoes of Isaiah’s teaching to make his points.

 In his first chapter, Luke uses these verses about John the Baptist preparing the way for Christ, which alludes to the words in Isaiah 40:

King James Version Luke 1
King James Version Isaiah 40:3

16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Then in the Annunciation in Luke 1:33 there are echoes to the promise found in Isaiah 9:7

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom, there shall be no end.Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

And again as the angel told the shepherds of the Savior’s birth in Luke 2, he echoed  Isaiah 43 and 7:

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 43:For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour

7:4 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a signBehold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (See also Acts:15:31)

Finally, Luke echoed Isaiah as he told the story of Simeon taking the baby Jesus in his arms in the Temple in Jerusalem:

25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
61:2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.
Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.
6 And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 

8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

11: 10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; unto Him shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant  of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands  of the sea.
12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

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FOOTNOTES

Wayment, Thomas A.. The New Testament: A New Translation for Latter-day Saints, Kindle Edition.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
Thomas Wayment suggests these as “echoes” of Isaiah in footnotes to Luke 2 in The New Testament: A New Translation for Latter-day Saints, Kindle Edition.
5 Luke 1: 1–3

The LORD said unto my Lord Divine power of attorney in Holy Writ

On at least two separate occasions, Christ testifies of His own divinity by quoting Psalms: “The LORD (i.e., Jehovah, יְהוָ֨ה) said unto my Lord (i.e., Christ, the Messiah, לַֽאדֹנִ֗י), Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalm 110:1). We will pay special attention to the clause, literally, “The LORD (Jehovah, יְהוָ֨ה) declares (נְאֻ֤ם) unto my Lord (Adonai, Lord, Master, לַֽאדֹנִ֗י)” (נְאֻ֤ם יְהוָ֨ה לַֽאדֹנִ֗י)[1].

Some English language translations explicitly name Jehovah here in Psalms, “Jehovah saith unto my Lord” (ASV, also see HRB, LEB, LITV, MKJV, TLB, TPT, WEB, WEBA, YLT), while most replace Jehovah with LORD, and the Bishops Bible replaces it with “God.” TS2009 does not translate it, but leaves the Hebrew, “יהוה said to my Master.”

In quoting the Psalms, our Savior confounded the learned while the unlearned rejoiced. But Christ also perplexes the modern reader, especially those of us who believe that Christ of the New Testament is the Jehovah of the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament. It is, of course, impossible to translate without interpreting. Nor is it possible to read without doing the same, even if we do so form the Hebrew Bible itself. Let us begin with the New Testament setting and then carefully examine the verse in Psalms.

Christ declares His Divinity and Pre-Mortal Existence

In Matthew we read: “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions” (Matthew 22:41–46).

In Mark we find: “And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:35–7).  

The people knew that the Messiah would be born from the house of David, so they expected Him to have this lineage. Many called Jesus “Son of David,” thus acknowledging His being the very Messiah (i.e., Christ). So, in quoting Psalms, our Savior is asking, in essence, “So, if Messiah is to be the son (i.e., descendant) of David, how was it that David was inspired by the Holy Ghost to call Messiah his Lord?”

Divine Investiture

What we find here in Psalm 110:1 is yet another example of Divine Investiture. In this case, of the Son speaking on behalf of His Father. Or, communicating through a divine power of attorney, as if He was the Father.

In an earlier article, “Isaiah Speaks through Divine Investiture,” I quoted President Joseph Fielding Smith, who taught: “All revelation since the fall has come through Jesus Christ, who is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. In all of the scriptures, where God is mentioned and where he has appeared, it was Jehovah who talked with Abraham, with Noah, Enoch, Moses and all the prophets. He is the God of Israel, the Holy One of Israel; the one who led that nation out of Egyptian bondage, and who gave and fulfilled the Law of Moses. The Father has never dealt with man directly and personally since the fall, and he has never appeared except to introduce and bear record of the Son” (Doctrines of Salvation 1:27).

In the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price, we find a wonderful example of Christ speaking about Himself, with the words of the Father, through Divine Investiture: “And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; but there is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all” (Moses 1:6).

For those interested in further reading on the topic of Divine Investiture, please see “Isaiah Speaks through Divine Investiture.”


[1] Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia: with Westminster Hebrew Morphology. (1996). (electronic ed.). Stuttgart; Glenside PA: German Bible Society; Westminster Seminary, for pointed Hebrew references.

I will walk among you, and will be your God

A most sublime Scripture is: “And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people” (Leviticus 26:12), or in Hebrew, וְהִתְהַלַּכְתִּי֙ בְּת֣וֹכְכֶ֔ם וְהָיִ֥יתִי לָכֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וְאַתֶּ֖ם תִּהְיוּ־לִ֥י לְעָֽם.

The context is related to the promises that the Holy One of Jacob, even the premortal Christ, offered Israel if she would do that which was right. Among all the wonderful promises offered in that chapter, my favorite is the one we quoted.   

Israel did not endure in doing that which was right. Nevertheless, the promise and invitation to follow Christ were reiterated with the last dispensation of the Gospel in mind, in relationship to the gathering of Israel and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon (Ezekiel 37:23, “so shall they be my people, and I will be their God”).

The expression “walk (בְּת֣וֹכְכֶ֔ם) among you,” or “in your midst,” points to God’s walking among His people. Hebrew has seven verbal constructions, one of them is called the Hitpael. Within this construct, the verbs with continual or iterative action are included.

Michael Williams, in speaking of the Hitpael observes: “In Job 1:7 and 2:2, when the Lord asks Satan where he has come from, Satan replies, ‘From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.’ The phrase ‘going back and forth’ translates a Hitpael Infinitive Construct: הִתְהַלֵּךְ. This is the iterative sense of the Hitpael. It communicates the scary truth that Satan doesn’t just occasionally venture forth from his dark domain to see what damage he can do on the earth. No, his activity is continuous and relentless.”

Williams explains that the expression “and I will walk” in Leviticus 26:12 (וְהִתְהַלַּכְתִּי) makes use of precisely the same Hebrew root (הלך) we found in Job. In contrast, the Savior “assures us that God’s care and protection are as powerfully enduring as He is and more than a match for Satan’s malevolent iterative activity” (Williams, M. (2015). The Biblical Hebrew Companion for Bible Software Users: Grammatical Terms Explained for Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan).

If we can remain worthy of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, this is yet another way in which God walks with us, or in our midst, in an iterative and constant way.

Isaiah in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

Paul Cites the Old Testament in Romans

Verses  Book
19         Isaiah
13         Psalms
7          Genesis
7          Deuteronomy
6           Exodus
2           Kings
2           Proverbs
2           Hosea
2           Joel
1           Leviticus
1           Samuel
1           Job
1           Jeremiah
1           Job
1          Nahum
1          Habakkuk
1          Malachi

Paul’s use of Isaiah in his epistle to the Romans is striking. Studying Roman’s this last month, I began to see Paul’s use of Isaiah early on; this, of course, led me to keep track. I found that he used sixteen books from the Old Testament, citing (or alluding to) sixty-three verses from the Law and the Prophets—nearly a third (19) of these quotes came from the book of Isaiah alone.

It was Christ himself who first set the pattern for citing Isaiah when quoting Isaiah 61:1-2, he proclaimed, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:18-21). In the Gospel’s both Matthew and Luke cite Isaiah to prove Christ was the promised Messiah and it likely was a custom of early Christian to use the Old Testament to help show how Christ had fulfilled the promises of the Law and the Prophets.

Paul being educated as a Pharisee in Jerusalem under the hand of Rabbi Gamaliel certainly would have known those ancient scriptures well and used them, to make his point. And, like modern Apostles, he clearly saw the Book of Isaiah as an ancient witness of the Messiah who had come as Jesus Christ.

EXPLANATIONROMANSISAIAH
Paul uses verses (17–24) to explain that being a chosen or elect people does not automatically put on them on the way to God—they must be righteous to be in good standing. 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed the Gentiles through you, as it is written.52:5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.
“The expression, ‘their feet are swift,’ etc., denotes the eagerness of the nation to commit crime, particularly deeds of injustice and cruelty… their conduct is to destroy the virtue, happiness, and peace of all with whom they come in contact. And the way of peace.” Barnes’ Notes on the Bible


3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
“The apostle replies in two ways [to verse 19]:first, by asserting the sovereignty of God, and affirming that he had a right to do it Romans 9:20-21; and secondly, by showing that he did it according to the principles of justice and mercy, or that it was involved of necessity in his dispensing justice and mercy to mankind.”—Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

9:19-21 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
29:16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
The task of the surviving remnant will, of course, be to accomplish the work of the Abrahamic covenant, to see to the work of converting the nations to peace and to the worship of the true God.— Joseph Spencer, The Vision of All9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness
10:22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return:  the
consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
aTG Israel, Remnant of
The Lord did not allow Judah to be entirely destroyed, but he intended a remnant to continue, possibly symbolized by the solitary shelter—Madsen and Hopkin, Opening Isaiah: a Harmony, p 3
9:29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.1:9 Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
The Messiah is referred to in the scriptures as a “stone” (see Genesis 49:24Psalm 118:22) and also as a “rock” (see Deuteronomy 32:4, 151 Samuel 2:2). The prophet here uses this expression to describe the rejection of the Savior, the stumbling and offence, by the unbelieving of Israel and Judah. The New Testament writers also cited this passage in showing how the Jews, for the most part, rejected the Savior (see 1 Peter 2:8)—Old Testament Student Manual9:33 As it is written, “Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained that the words in Romans 9:33 offwe a better offerionversion of this verse: “As it is written, ‘Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and 
rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.'”
9:33 (above), 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Abinadi gave a prophetic interpretation of Isaiah 52:7-10. He explained that those who follow Christ and the prophets are the seed of Christ, who as servants “are they [changing the singular “him” of Isa. 52:7 to a plural] who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth”—David Seeley in Studies in Scripture10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Those who reject the gospel and become darkened by sin and rebellion do not receive the blessing of sweet healing. …They could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them” (John 12:37–40).—Reg Christensen, Reg, Unlocking Isaiah, 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
The Prophet Joseph, in his inspired translation of the Bible, expanded the text and changed it: “I am found of them who seek after me, I give unto all them that ask of me; I am not found of them that sought me not, or that inquireth not after me. I said unto my servant, Behold me, look upon me; I will send you unto a nation that is not called after my name, for I have spread out my hands all the day to a people who walketh not in my ways, and their works are evil and not good, and they walk after their own thoughts.” (JST, Isaiah 65:1–2.)10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, “I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.”65:1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
There is a difference between those who know that they should call upon the Lord but do not and those who do not call upon Him because they do not know they should. The Gentiles are in the latter category. Paul wrote that God manifested Himself to the Gentiles but not to the Jews because He had “stretched forth [His] hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people” all day long (for many generations), and they would not respond (Romans 10:21). It is the Gentiles’ turn now. Isaiah 65:3–7describes the Lord’s attitude toward those who, having been given much, return but little to the Giver.—Old Testament Student Manual Kings-Malachi10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.65:2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
People would experience “the spirit of deep sleep,” and the prophets and seers would be covered, or removed from the people… the world would fall into a state of spiritual darkness. This falling away from truth is …the Great Apostasy.—Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual, Lesson 12211:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear😉 unto this day.29:10 For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
The concept of Israel gaining forgiveness is from Zechariah 1314; compare D&C 45:19–30,51–53. —Thomas Wayment, The New Testament, Deseret Book. 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord.
ibid. Wayment (above)11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.27:9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be apurged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.
The other verses emphasize through the impressive use of contrasts the greatness of God and the nothingness of mortal nations and the gods they worship.11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?Isaiah 40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
“The time will come when ‘every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess,’ and yet the vast majority of mankind will go into the telestial kingdom eternally. Let me read these verses: ‘The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just.’ [Mosiah 16:1–4.]
“It is a wonderful thing when men reach the stage when they will be willing to confess that the judgments against them are just, and they will bow the knee and will understand ‘eye to eye.’” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:30.)
14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.Isaiah 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Only one servant was given power of judgment (see 2 Nephi 9:41), and that is He upon whose law the isles shall wait (see Isaiah 42:451:560:9), the Mediator of Israel and the Savior of the Gentiles.14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.Isaiah 42:4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
D&C 113:5 What is the root of Jesse spoken of in the 10th verse of the 11th chapter?
6 Behold, thus saith the Lord, it is a descendant of Jesse, as well as of Joseph, unto whom rightly belongs the priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom, for an ensign, and for the gathering of my people in the last days.
15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.Isaiah 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible substitutes the word “gather” for “sprinkle” in this passage. The substitution makes excellent sense to Latter-day Saints who understand that through His atoning suffering, by being marred more than any, our Savior opened the way for us to be gathered, reunited, and made “at-one” with our Heavenly Father. —Terry Ball, Making Sense of Isaiah15:21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.52:15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

Paul, of course, was an unusually qualified missionary for the early Christian Church. He was born in Tarsus of Cilicia, which is in modern southeastern Turkey. “He was also a Roman citizen by birth, a rare privilege for a Jew at that time. Finally, he was familiar with the Greek language and culture through his early environment in the Hellenistic city of Tarsus. Thus, he was able to deal with Jews, Romans, and Greeks on their own cultural terms-a great advantage for his later missionary work.”[1]

In writing his letter to the Romans, it “was meant in part to prepare the Church there to receive him when he came” en route to Spain (15:23–25). “It may also be regarded as containing a statement of doctrines that had been in dispute with the Judaizing Christians and that Paul now regarded as finally established.”[2]

Romans is Paul’s longest letter and is rich with Christian theology. In it, he “signals an interest in describing a foundational statement about belief in Jesus Christ and what it means for the believer to be considered righteous and a full participant in the community of Christian believers.”[3] Naturally as he worked to persuade his readers of Christ’s divine mission, he turned to Isaiah, who is the “messianic prophet of the Old Testament and as such is the most penetrating prophetic voice in that record.”[4]


ENDNOTES

[1] Philip Schaelling, “Paul,” Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Brigham Young University, 2001
[2] Pauline Epistles, Bible Dictionary, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2013
[3] Thomas Wayment, The New Testament: A New Translation for Latter-day Saints; Religious Studies Center and Deseret Book, 2018
[4] Old Testament Prophets: Isaiah, Ensign, Sep 2014

Isaiah 29:17—24

Isaiah 29 testifies of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon
This is the fourth and final installment on Isaiah 29, the coming
forth of the Book of Mormon, comprising of verses 17–24.(Read 
Part I: Isaiah 29; Part II: Isaiah 29:1-8; and Part III:
Isaiah 29:9-16). 

Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field. The Book of Mormon will be searched by the deaf and by the blind. The poor and the humble will embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who oppose the restored Gospel will make the Brethren and the Church an offender by a word—especially because they will twist these words. At the end, however, the house of Israel will no longer feel humiliated and ashamed. Those who had been blinded by the false traditions of the fathers will find understanding through the Book of Mormon and the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. The words of Jewish and Christian exegetes not of our faith are also included, as they have much of interest to us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“17 But behold, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show unto the children of men that [Is] it is not* yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field; and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest? .”

* JST: restores “not” deleted in Book of Mormon.

But behold, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show unto the children of men that it is not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field; and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest.

Alexander explains regarding הֲלוֹא־עוֹד (not yet?): “The negative interrogation is one of the strongest forms of affirmation.” Barnes suggests that the uncultivated Lebanon would turn fruitful: “This is evidently a proverbial expression, denoting any great revolution of things. It is probable that in the times of Isaiah the whole chain of Lebanon was uncultivated, as the word is evidently used here in opposition to a fruitful field. The word which is rendered ‘fruitful field’ (כרמל) properly denotes ‘a fruitful field,’ or a finely cultivated country.”

Literal meaning. Cheyne says, “Most commentators prefer to take Isaiah 29:17 figuratively. But a comparison of the parallel passage favors a combined literal and symbolical interpretation.” Most LDS speak of the literal fulfillment of these promises associated with a period close to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.

Elder Orson Pratt explains: “As another evidence that the book of which Isaiah speaks was to come forth in latter times, he says in the seventeenth verse, is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as the forest?’ 18th verse: And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.’ This book could not mean the New Testament, for when that was written it was about the time that Lebanon was to be forsaken by the Jews and become a desolation, a forest, or wilderness for many generations. ‘Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers.’ (Isaiah 32:13.) Hence the land of Palestine, which includes Lebanon, was, when the New Testament was written, about to be cursed. But immediately after the unlearned should read the book, ‘Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as the forest.’ The book, therefore, that Isaiah prophesies of’ is to come forth just before the great day of the restoration of Israel to their own lands; at which time Lebanon and all the land of Canaan is again to be blessed, while the fruitful field occupied by the nations of the Gentiles, ‘will be esteemed as a forest;’ the multitude of the nations of the Gentiles are to perish, and their lands which are now like a fruitful field, are to be left desolate of inhabitants and become as Lebanon has been for many generations past; while Lebanon shall again be occupied by Israel, and be turned into a fruitful field. These great events could not take place until the Lord should first bring forth a book out of the ground.”[1]

In Conference, Elder Mark E. Peterson testified: “A sacred book was to come forth… Where is that book? It is one of the signs of the times. Not only did the prophets predict its appearance, but Isaiah set a limit on the time of its publication. That time limit was related to the period when fertility would return to Palestine. Isaiah said that the book would come forth first, and then added that in ‘a very little while . . . Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest’ (Isaiah 29:17). The time limit has expired. This new volume of scripture must have come forth before now or Isaiah was not a true prophet, for Palestine is fruitful again.”[2]

Simeon asks, “What is that book to which the attention of all men shall be called—” and we as LDS answer: the attention of men shall be called to the Book of Mormon together with the Bible as shown in Ezekiel 37.

“18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.”

And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book. Rawlinson says: “The spiritually deaf shall have their ears opened, many of them, and shall not only hear, but understand, the words of Scripture addressed to them by God’s messengers.” Delitzsch also has: “The people that are now blind and deaf, so far as the word of Jehovah is concerned, are changed into a people with open ears and seeing eyes.”

Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: “The gathering of Israel in the last days shall consist in bringing together ‘the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears,’ that is, the spiritually blind and deaf shall come to a knowledge of the things of God and they shall see and hear (Isaiah 43). In large part the opening of the eyes of the blind and the unstopping of the ears of the deaf shall take place by means of the Book of Mormon. ‘And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness’ (Isaiah 29:18).”[3] I am one who was blind to the things of God until I read the Book of Mormon. In our Come Unto Christ Sunday School lesson last Sunday, the teacher asked, who was the person who brought you the testimony of the Book of Mormon? The thought came to me that it was Alma, and Moroni, and Mormon, and Nephi and all of the prophets of the Book of Mormon who did that for me. After reading the Book of Mormon over a four-day period I had to call the missionaries and ask for baptism. They explained that I had to hear the lessons, first.

There is also a more literal fulfillment. Elder Orson Pratt explained, “‘In that day shalt the deaf hear the words of the book, the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.’ A great many people, perhaps, would want this spiritualized; but, whether it is spiritualized or not, I can bear testimony to one thing which I have seen with my own eyes, and that is that those who were deaf, so deaf that they could not hear the loudest sound, have been instantaneously restored by the administrations of the Elders of this Church and thus the deaf, the literally deaf, have been enabled to hear the words of the book. The eyes of the blind, not those alone who are spiritually blind, but of those who are blind physically, should see out of obscurity and out of darkness, when that book was revealed. Now I know that this, too, has been the case, and many in this congregation know it and have seen it; some have seen those who were born blind restored to their sight by the power of God since this book came forth. Thus have been fulfilled, literally, the words of our text.”[4] My daughter Andrea has retinitis pigmentosa and my wife got her a copy of the Book of Mormon in Braille. So it is yet another way that this prophecy is fulfilled, as not all the blind or all of the deaf will be healed in this lifetime.

And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. Nägelsbach wrote: “Is not the purport of these two verses, 18 and 19, reproduced in the saying of Christ, ‘The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:22)?” Bruce R. McConkie explained: “Jesus, as he ‘targumed’[5] Isaiah’s meaning from Hebrew to Aramaic, did what only inspired interpreters can do: he expanded the words and interpreted the meaning of the original utterance. ‘I am sent by the Father—not only to proclaim how deliverance from sin may be found, but to preach the recovering of spiritual sight to those who are blind spiritually.[6] Through me they shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.’ If a parallel passage for these added words is needed, it may be found in Isaiah’s prophecy about the latter-day coming forth of the Book of Mormon, for the promise is that through ‘the words of the book . . . the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness’ (Isaiah 29:8).”[7] 

“19 And the meek also shall increase, and [their] joy shall be in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.”

And the meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. The meek (עֲנָוִים) are the “poor afflicted, humble” (DBD). Rawlinson says, “The ‘evangelical prophet’ anticipates the gospel in this, among other points that he promises his choicest blessings, not to the rich and mighty, but to the poor and meek (compare Isaiah 57:15; 61:1).” 

Elder Orson Pratt writes, “Now during the long night of darkness there have been some humble, meek persons who have had a degree of light; but as the Church of Christ had fled from the earth there was no one that had authority to baptize or administer the ordinances of the gospel to those meek persons; therefore their joy was imperfect: but Isaiah says, when the book is revealed, ‘the meek shall increase their joy in the Lord.’ This is what the book is calculated to produce; for by its contents the meek learn that the time is at hand for them to inherit the earth, according to the blessings of our Savior on the Mount: ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’ This will be fulfilled after all the wicked nations are destroyed. ‘And the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.’ This also is promised as a result of the revelation of the book, and the means by which it is to be effected is by a general overthrow of the wicked; as, says Isaiah: ‘For the terrible one is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off; that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of naught.’ O how plainly it is declared that judgment was soon to fall upon all the wicked after the appearance of this book, this marvelous work and a wonder! And O how plainly it is also declared that the deaf, the blind, the meek and the poor among men were to be greatly benefited by the book.”[8]

“20 For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see that the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off;”

For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see that the terrible one is brought to nought. The Targum (𝔗) has, “For the oppressor is come to an end, and the plunderer is made to cease.” Those who watch for iniquity, says Faussett, are those who “watch for opportunities of committing it.” Gill agrees and adds: “[These are those who] cannot sleep unless they commit it, and seek for and take all opportunities of doing it; or watch for iniquity in others, in Christ, and the professors of his religion [i.e., the Saints or followers of Christ]; or for anything they could call so, that they might have something to accuse them of.” Or, as we see in the next verse, those who make a man an offender for a word.

Elder Orson Pratt wrote: “However much you may have erred, because you have been taught by the precepts of men; however much you may have walked in darkness and blindness, with the Prophets, seers, and revelations of God covered, and no voice of inspiration in your midst; however much you may have groped in outer darkness, yet if you have been meek before the lord, you will come to understanding when [the Book of Mormon] makes its appearance… when a certain book should come forth it should bless the meek and lowly in heart, for their joy should increase in the Lord. And the poor among men be gathered out from the nations.”[9]

“21 And they that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.”

And they that make a man an offender for a word. In New Testament times the Savior was constantly made an offender for a word. After the coming forth of the Book of Mormon the Prophet Joseph Smith was likewise made an offender for a word: so also today the Brethren are often accused. Ibn Ezra explains that to make a man an offender for a word means one who will “watch the words of man, and accuse him, in order to see him punished.”

Alexander writes: “Ewald… takes בְּדָבָר in the same sense with the English and many other early versions, which explain the clause to mean accusing or condemning men for a mere error of the tongue or lips.” Or better, for what the wicked believe is an error. The Geneva Bible notes correctly have: “They who went about to find fault with the prophets words, and would not abide admonitions, but would entangle them and bring them into danger.”

The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote: “…our souls were vexed from day to day. We refer you to Isaiah, who considers those who make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate. We believe that the old Prophet told the truth: and we have no retraction to make. We have reproved in the gate, and men have laid snares for us. We have spoken words, and men have made us offenders. And notwithstanding all this, our minds are not yet darkened, but feel strong in the Lord.”[10]

Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained: “The Lord acts through his servants. That is the pattern he has established to safeguard our agency in mortality. His servants are not perfect, which is another consequence of mortality. But if we act against them, we are working against the Lord and his cause and will soon find ourselves without the companionship of his Spirit. There are other such teachings in ancient and modern scriptures. The prophet Isaiah denounced those who ‘make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate’ (Isaiah 29:21; see also 2 Ne. 27:32). This modern revelation from the Doctrine and Covenants is to the same effect: ‘Cursed are all those that shall lift up the heel against mine anointed, saith the Lord, and cry they have sinned when they have not sinned before me, saith the Lord, but have done that which was meet in mine eyes, and which I commanded them. But those who cry transgression do it because they are the servants of sin, and are the children of disobedience themselves” (see D&C 121:16–22.)”[11]

Elder Neal A. Maxwell warned us against fault finding, “In a church established, among other reasons, for the perfecting of the Saints—an ongoing process—it is naive to expect, and certainly unfair to demand, perfection in our peers. A brief self-inventory is wise before we ‘cast the first stone.’ Possessing a few rocks in our own heads, it is especially dangerous to have rocks too ready in our hands. (‘Not My Will, But Thine’, p. 74.)”[12]

And lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought. Rawlinson explains: “‘The gate’ was the place where judgment was given and public assemblies held.” Cheyne writes regarding the gate: “In the chief place of concourse, where, too, the judges sat. So Amos, ‘They hate him that reproveth in the gate’ (Amos 5:10).” Regarding the second half of this clause Delitzsch writes: “And thrust away the righteous, i.e., forced him away from his just rights (Isaiah 10:2), בַתֹּהוּ, [for thing of naught—also see Genesis 1:2, without form], i.e., accusations and pretences of the utmost worthlessness; for these would all have been swept away… for with Isaiah תֹּהוּ is the synonym for all such words as signify nothingness, groundlessness, and fraud.”

“22 Therefore, thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.

Therefore, thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Ironside says of Isaiah 29:22–24, “Never, in times past, have these words had their fulfillment, but we may be assured that nothing that God has spoken will ever come to naught.” Barnes says, “The connection … would seem to imply that there was a reference to the promise which was made to Abraham that he should have a numerous posterity (see Isaiah 29:23).”

Elder Orson Pratt makes this scripture clear: “After Isaiah had foretold the great change that was to happen to Lebanon, to the deaf, etc., when the book should be revealed, he then describes more particularly the great benefit the book should be to the house of Jacob. He says, ‘Therefore, thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face wax pale. But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.’ The house of Jacob has been made ashamed, and his face has waxed pale, ever since he was driven away from Lebanon or Canaan, but the Lord has now brought forth out of the ground book which shall, accompanied by His power, restore the tribes of Jacob from the four quarters of the globe, and establish them in the land of Palestine and Lebanon forever; and His holy name they shall no more profane, but shall be a righteous people throughout all their generations, while the earth shall stand, and they shall possess their promised land again in eternity, nevermore to pass away; therefore, they shall never again be made ashamed. It is in vain for the Gentiles to seek the conversion of Jacob, and to bring about their great redemption, only in the way that the Lord God of Israel hath predicted and appointed: they may call meetings and conventions to convert the Jews, but let them know assuredly that the book spoken of by Isaiah is to accomplish the salvation of the house of Jacob, and bring about the restoration of all Israel, while the Gentiles who will not receive it and be numbered and identified with the house of Jacob, must surely perish, yeah and they shall be utterly wasted with storm and tempest, with earthquakes and famine, with the flame of devouring fire, and their fruitful lands shall be esteemed as a forest, while Jacob shall dwell in safety for ever.”[13]

Philip Reynolds explains, “Commentators note that there is no reference in the Old Testament to any incident in the life of the Patriarch [Abraham] to which this redemption can refer specially, but that there is a tradition that he, at some time, was threatened with the fire of a burning furnace. In the Book of Abraham, Pearl of Great Price, I think, we find the story of the redemption of Abraham to which Isaiah (29:22) and Nephi here refer … a time came, when the priests of Pharaoh seized Abraham, intending to take his life on the altar. But when he lifted up his voice to God, the ‘Angel of his (God’s) Presence’ appeared, unloosened the bands of the intended victim, promised him the Priesthood, and declared that: ‘Through thy ministry my name shall be known in the earth forever, for I am thy God’ … It was thus that God redeemed Abraham by almighty power …”[14]

Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. Alexander correctly explains לֹא־עַתָּה:[15] “The Hebrew phrase not now does not imply that it shall be so hereafter, but on the contrary, that it shall be so no more. Redak has, “Since all Jews are descendants of Jacob, if there are wicked among them, it is as though Jacob is ashamed, as he would be were he alive, for a father is embarrassed if his son abandons the faith” (in Rabbi Rosenberg). Not just the Jews, but all of the house of Israel.

Elder Orson Pratt explained, “Now how is this book to affect the house of Israel? Is it for their benefit particularly? They have been a long time scattered, a long time abroad among the nations; are they to be affected by this book that is spoken of by Isaiah? Yes. Read the 22nd verse, which I have already once read before you—‘Therefore, thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob, shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.’ Why? Because this book [has] come forth to bring the house of Jacob from all the nations and kingdoms of the earth; and this will commence just as soon as the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled; not until then. We must be warned first; we Gentiles must hear the word first; and when we count ourselves unworthy of eternal life, and fight against the book, and against the Zion and people of God, behold the Lord will then remember the house of Jacob, and they will no longer be ashamed.”[16] Why will Jacob not be ashamed? We find the answer in Isaiah 29:23, because the children of Israel will turn to the Lord God.

“23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.”

But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him. Redak has “When Jacob sees his children, who are truly his children by following the ways of God” (in Rabbi Rosenberg). Elder Orson Pratt continues: “The lord says, in the 23rd verse, that Jacob, when he shall see his children, the work of his hands, in the midst of him, that is, gathered out from among the nations, they shall sanctify my name, and shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. Where will this work commence among the house of Israel? Among the remnant that we call the American Indians, who are the literal descendants of Israel.”[17]

They shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob,[18] and shall fear the God of Israel. Delitzsch well says, “The end of Israel will correspond to the holy root of its origin. Just as Abraham was separated from the human race that was sunk in heathenism, to become the ancestor of a nation of Jehovah, so would a remnant be separated from the great mass of Israel that was sunk in apostasy from Jehovah; and this remnant would be the foundation of a holy community well pleasing to God.” Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: “When Isaiah condemned the critics of his day, he concluded with a prophecy. He said that in time the children of God would ‘fear the God of Israel’ and ‘sanctify [his] name.’”[19]

“24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.”

Who are those who murmured? The clear answer: the descendants of Israel. Barnes says, “All that the prophet teaches is, that at some future period in the history of the Jews, there would be such a reform that they should be regarded as the worthy descendants of the pious patriarch Jacob.” Gill explains, “The doctrine of the Messiah… which Christ ‘received’ from his Father, as the word (לקח) used signifies, and his disciples received from him, and the church has received from them, and has been transmitted to [the] Gentiles, and will be to the Jews in the latter day, who  will learn the true knowledge of it.” And indeed, the Book of Mormon is given “… to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God.”

Elder Orson Pratt’s testimony feels me with joy: “Oh, How precious must be the contents of a book which shall deliver us from all the errors taught by the precepts of uninspired men! Oh, how gratifying to poor, ignorant, erring mortals who have murmured because of the multiplicity of contradictory doctrines that have perplexed and distracted their minds, to read the plain, pure and most precious word of God, revealed in the Book of Mormon! It is like bread to the hungry, like the cool refreshing fountain to him that is ready to perish with thirst.”[20]


[1] Pratt, Orson. Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, number 6, Prophetic evidence in favor of the Book of Mormon, Latter-day tracts, p. 90.

[2] Elder Mark E. Petersen, Conference Report, October 1965, Second Day-Morning Meeting, p.61.

[3] Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., p.184.

[4] Pratt, Orson. July 18, 1875; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p. 165.

[5] That is, paraphrased from Hebrew to Aramaic.

[6] See Luke 4:18 ff.

[7] Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary, pp.22–23.

[8] Pratt, Orson. Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, number 6, Prophetic evidence in favor of the Book of Mormon, Latter-day tracts, p. 90.

[9] Elder Orson Pratt, July 18, 1875; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p. 166.

[10] TPJS, p. 124.

[11] Dallin H. Oaks, The Lord’s Way, p.197–198.

[12] Maxwell, Cory H., ed. The Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1997.

[13] Pratt, Orson. Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, number 6, Prophetic evidence in favor of the Book of Mormon, Latter-day tracts, p. 90–91.

[14] Reynolds, Philip C., ed. Commentary on the Book of Mormon. 6 vols. Salt Lake City, Utah, vol. I, pp. 400–401.

[15] עַתָּה, from the Hebrew meaning “at the present moment,” (2017). The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

[16] Elder Orson Pratt, July 18, 1875; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p. 166–168.

[17] Elder Orson Pratt, July 18, 1875; Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p. 166–168.

[18] Delitzsch, in defending the unity of Isaiah says, “There is the same interchange of Jacob and Israel here which we so frequently met with in chapters 40ff. And, in fact, throughout this undisputedly genuine prophecy of Isaiah, we can detect the language of chapters 40–66. Through the whole of the first part, indeed, we may trace the gradual development of the thoughts and forms which predominate there.”

[19] Dallin H. Oaks, The Lord’s Way, p.207.

[20] Pratt, Orson. Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, number 6, Prophetic evidence in favor of the Book of Mormon, Latter-day tracts, p. 91.