In his recent book on KJV quotations in the Book of Mormon, Royal Skousen offered this suggestion to explain the differences one finds between Isa 51:19-20 in the KJV and 2 Nephi 8:19-20 when it is quoted by Jacob:
There are a few differences in the Book of
Mormon quotations that appear to be fully intended:
Isaiah 51:19-20 these two things are come unto thee . . .thy
sons have fainted.
2 Nephi 8:19-20 these two sons
are come unto thee . . . thy sons have fainted save these two
In this passage, the Book of Mormon emends
the Isaiah passage by replacing the italicized things in verse 19 with sons and
then later adding the phrase “save these two” in verse 20. The revised Book of
Mormon reading appears to be referring to Revelation 11:1-12 and its prophecy
about two prophets who will use incredible powers to hold back the armies of
the nations that will surround the temple mount in Jerusalem prior to the
second coming of Christ. (Royal Skousen, The
History of the Text of the Book of Mormon, Part 5: The King James Quotations in
the Book of Mormon [Provo, Utah: The Foundation for Ancient Research and
Mormon Studies and Brigham Young University Press, 2019], 141)
While I do not agree with Skousen, I am sure such would lend itself somewhat to Blake Ostler's "expansion theory" (though I do not see that being Skousen's intention).
