In one of the most poorly researched books on the Book of Mormon I have ever read (and that says a lot), a Baptist critic of the Church wrote:
[B]oth the Book of Mormon and the King James Bible originally contained an unusual mistake. The King James scholar used the word “seraphims” for a plural Hebrew word for angels when they translated Isaiah 6:2-6. Unfortunately, the correct plural for the word “seraph” is “seraphim,” not “seraphims.” There was no such word as “seraphims.” When the Book of Mormon passage, which is now 2 Nephi16:2-6, was originally translated and published, it was identical to Isaiah 6:2-6, including the grammatical mistake. The “seraphims” in II Nephi changed to “seraphim” in later editions of the Book of Mormon. If God quoted Isaiah as He revealed 2 Nephi 16:2-6 to Joseph Smith then He was obviously so satisfied with the original translation of the King James scholars that He left the passage unchanged. (Carl L. George, Thank You for the Book of Mormon: A Christian Friend’s Response [2007], 63)
George is simply wrong in his assessment here. With respect to the 1830 Book of Mormon using “seraphims” (as well as cherubims). It is true that the Hebrew masculine plural ים is properly transliterated –im, and not –ims. It is also correct that the 1830 Book of Mormon (as well as the Original and Printer’s Manuscripts) follow the KJV in this regard when the OT is being quoted by BOM authors. Furthermore, it is true that the KJV adds an “s” to the plural of cherub and seraph in those passages (and many more [see below]). However, notice an important question is begged: why did the KJV translators who knew Hebrew consistently add an “s” to the plurals for cherub and seraph? The truth is, the nouns cherub and seraph were part of the English language when the KJV translators produced the KJV. It is common for a foreign word, when it is adopted into the English language, to take on English rules of grammar (in such an instance, the use of an “s” in a plural). The rather obvious fact (lost on many critics) is that the Book of Mormon purports to be a translation (and not a transliteration); it stands to reason that the language into which the Book of Mormon was rendered by Joseph Smith is not that from which, according to its very own claims, it was translated.
In a note for this paragraph, we read:
Some argue that 2 Nephi 16:2-6 simply needed to be corrected because Joseph Smith’s scribe made a mistake. If so, Smith’s scribe made the same obscure mistake King James’ scholars did 200 years before. (Ibid., 64 n. 29)
The author is simply wrong. Firstly, the use of –ims to transliterate the Hebrew masculine plural as opposed to –im is found many times in the KJV. With respect to seraphims and cherubims, we find the following in the KJV (taken from a search on Bibleworks 10):
KJV Gen. 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
KJV Exod. 25:18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
KJV Exod. 25:19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
KJV Exod. 25:20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
KJV Exod. 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
KJV Exod. 26:1 Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.
KJV Exod. 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
KJV Exod. 36:8 And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.
KJV Exod. 36:35 And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.
KJV Exod. 37:7 And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat;
KJV Exod. 37:8 One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
KJV Exod. 37:9 And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims.
KJV Num. 7:89 And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.
KJV 1 Sam. 4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
KJV 2 Sam. 6:2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.
KJV 1 Ki. 6:23 And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.
KJV 1 Ki. 6:25 And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.
KJV 1 Ki. 6:27 And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.
KJV 1 Ki. 6:28 And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.
KJV 1 Ki. 6:29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.
KJV 1 Ki. 6:32 The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.
KJV 1 Ki. 6:35 And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.
KJV 1 Ki. 7:29 And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work.
KJV 1 Ki. 7:36 For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.
KJV 1 Ki. 8:6 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.
KJV 1 Ki. 8:7 For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
KJV 2 Ki. 19:15 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.
KJV 1 Chr. 13:6 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.
KJV 1 Chr. 28:18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.
KJV 2 Chr. 3:7 He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls.
KJV 2 Chr. 3:10 And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.
KJV 2 Chr. 3:11 And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.
KJV 2 Chr. 3:13 The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.
KJV 2 Chr. 3:14 And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.
KJV 2 Chr. 5:7 And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims:
KJV 2 Chr. 5:8 For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.
KJV Ps. 80:1 <To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph.> Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
KJV Ps. 99:1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
KJV Isa. 6:2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
KJV Isa. 6:6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
KJV Isa. 37:16 O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.
KJV Ezek. 10:1 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
KJV Ezek. 10:2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
KJV Ezek. 10:3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
KJV Ezek. 10:6 And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
KJV Ezek. 10:7 And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
KJV Ezek. 10:8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings.
KJV Ezek. 10:9 And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone.
KJV Ezek. 10:15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
KJV Ezek. 10:16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
KJV Ezek. 10:18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
KJV Ezek. 10:19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
KJV Ezek. 10:20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims.
KJV Ezek. 11:22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
KJV Ezek. 41:18 And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces;
KJV Ezek. 41:20 From the ground unto above the door were cherubims and palm trees made, and on the wall of the temple.
KJV Ezek. 41:25 And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubims and palm trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without.
KJV Heb. 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
66 instances in 58 verses is not "rare."
Furthermore, in literature pre-dating 1830, seraphims was common, not rate, and was seen as a correct/real noun:
Let the bright Seraphims in burning row . . . (George Frideric Handel, Let the Bright Seraphims: As Sung by Madame Storace in Samson, p. 103)
Little children which represent the seraphims . . . (Encyclopædia Britannica: Or, A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature, Volume 2, Part 2, p. 796)
Christ leads the Way, the Cherubims attend, the Seraphims burn . . . . that the Lord of heaven should deny the Dignity of Power, Principalities, Cherubims, Seraphims . . . . Lo, here a blessed Company indeed, there are the heavenly Choristers eternally singing Jehovah's Praise: The Seraphims cry aloud, Holy, holy, holy . . . . (A. Ingram, J. Dechman, J. Hamilton, & J. Glasford, Complete Works Isaac Ambrose [1737], 89, 118, 154)
Nor shall we offend to enlarge this meditation further, to conceive as some of the fathers did, that as the angels fell from several hierarchies, some from being seraphims, some cherubims . . . . (Methodist Review, vol. 7 [1824], p. 365)
If you would know to what end they had these wings or what use they made of them, the Prophet Esay tells you in the practice of the Seraphims, that it was from these three special ends . . . .(Griffith Williams, Several Sermons on Solemn Occasions, and Treatises, vol. 4 [1663], p. 39)
A painter being employed to represent some cherubims and seraphims, in a country church . . . (H.D. Symmonds, The Monthly Visitor, and Entertaining Pocket Companion, volume 6 [1799], p. 343)
Asham'd that our world, now, can show
Nests of new seraphims here below. (The Works of the English Poets from Chaucer to Cowper [1810], p. 597)
Nests of new seraphims here below. (The Works of the English Poets from Chaucer to Cowper [1810], p. 597)
We cannot therefore say, as some boldy do, that these Seraphims were a peculiar order of Angels, the highest and nearest to God of all; for though it may be probably gathered from some other places of Scripture, that there is some order amongst the Angels; yet this word Seraphims setting forth the nature, qualities, and imployments of the Angels in general, it cannot be concluded from hence that the Seraphims were an order of Angels . . . (Annotations Upon the Whole Book of Isaiah, ed. J. Jackson [1682], p. 59)
Finally, on the topic of the Book of Mormon following the King James when the Book of Mormon prophets quote from the Bible, the author writes the following:
If God, on the other hand, cared enough to insert King James’ passages like this one into the Nephite record, it logically follows that He cared enough to inspire and translate the entire King James Bible. (p. 64)
This is honestly one of the most illogical and dumbest “arguments” I have ever heard from an anti-Mormon author, and that says a lot. For the author, if the translation of the Book of Mormon follows the KJV, the KJV must be as inspired as the Book of Mormon. The author, a Baptist, if he were consistent, must claim that, as the NT follows the LXX, ipso facto, the LXX must be inspired, too, which is absurd.
Indeed, the Greek of the New Testament not only follows the LXX when the LXX disagrees with the Hebrew but often times makes theological points where the LXX and Hebrew disagrees!
In Heb 8:8-10, we read:
God finds fault with them when he says: "The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; not like the covenant that I made with their ancestors, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and so I had no concern for them, says the Lord. This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and write them out on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (NRSV)
When Heb 8:9 quotes from Jer 31:32, the Hebrew does not use "no concern" (Greek: αμελεω [to neglect/to be unconcerned]) which the author of Hebrews attaches theological importance to, but בּעל (lord, husband). “Disdain” in Hebrew is a similar-looking term געל, perhaps the source of the difference between the MT and LXX readings.
Using George's "logic," and if he were to be consistent, he would have to conclude thusly:
If God, on the other hand, cared enough to insert LXX passages like this one into the New Testament record, it logically follows that He cared enough to inspire and translate the entire LXX.
For scholarly treatments of the Book of Mormon, instead of this drivel, I would suggest one peruse the Book of Mormon Central Website and/or solid books such as Brant Gardner's solid 6-volume commentary, Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon (Greg Kofford Books, 2007).
