A “construct state” can be defined as when
two nouns are placed one after the other because they are
in close grammatical relationship to one another. An example in English would
be “the book of Jack” as opposed to “Jack’s book.” (source)
The Book of Mormon reflects the “construct state” on many occasions,
such as the phrases “altar of stones,” “words of plainness,” “plates of
brass/gold,” “rod of iron,” and “bands of death.”
One of the most deceptive individuals I have encountered once claimed
that “Temple of Solomon” was a problem for the Book of Mormon’s historicity. To
see why this is simply false, see:
The Book of Mormon does not always
reflect this Hebraic construction (e.g., “name’s sake”). The same applies for
the KJV.
For a number of years, I
have been convinced that Joseph Smith used the KJV when he encountered biblical
chapters (e.g., Malachi 3-4 when quoted by Jesus) as the “base text.” I think a
convincing case for this thesis can be made. One case I think should be strong
evidence, if not proof of such, is the Book of Mormon following the KJV’s
inconsistent translation of the construct state.
Note that the text of the
Book of Mormon I am using here is Royal Skousen, The
Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text:
|
Isaiah 2:2 |
2 Nephi 12:2 |
|
And it shall come
to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the
mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow
unto it. |
And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the
mountain of the Lord’s house shall be
established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills,
and all nations shall flow unto it. |
|
Isaiah 7:3 |
2 Nephi 17:3 |
|
Then said the Lord
unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the
end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s
field. |
Then said the Lord unto
Isaiah: Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end
of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field. |
|
Isaiah 7:9 |
2 Nephi 17:9 |
|
And the head of
Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be
established. |
And the head of Ephraim
is Samaria and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son.
If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. |
|
Isaiah 7:17 |
2 Nephi 17:17 |
|
The Lord shall
bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that
Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria. |
The Lord shall
bring upon thee and upon thy people and upon thy father’s house days that have not come from the day that
Ephraim departed from Judah, the king of Assyria. |
|
Isaiah 8:1 |
2 Nephi 18:1 |
|
Moreover the Lord said unto me, Take thee a great
roll, and write in it with a man’s pen
concerning Mahershalalhashbaz. |
Moreover the word of the Lord said unto me: Take
thee a great roll and write in it with a man’s pen concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz. |
|
Isaiah 8:6 |
2 Nephi 18:6 |
|
Forasmuch as this
people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin
and Remaliah’s son. |
Forasmuch as this
people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly and rejoice in Rezin and
Remaliah’s son. |
|
Isaiah 13:7 |
2 Nephi 23:7 |
|
Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt. |
Therefore shall all
hands be faint. Every man’s heart shall melt. |
|
Isaiah 14:29 |
2 Nephi 24:29 |
|
Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod
of him that smote thee is broken; for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit
shall be a fiery flying serpent. |
Rejoice not thou,
whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken. For out of
the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit
shall be a fiery flying serpent. |
|
Isaiah 48:9 |
1 Nephi 20:9 |
|
For my name’s sake will I defer my anger, and for will I refrain
for thee, that I cut thee not off. |
Nevertheless for my
name’s sake will I defer mine anger. And for my praise
will I refrain from thee, ath I cut thee not off. |
|
Isaiah 50:1 |
2 Nephi 7:1 |
|
Thus saith the
Lord, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or
which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your
iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your
mother put away. |
Yea, for thus saith
the Lord: Have I put thee away or have I cast thee off forever? For thus saith
the Lord: Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement?
To whom have I put thee away? Or to which of my creditors have I sold you?
Yea, to whom have I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold
yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. |
|
Malachi 3:2 |
3 Nephi 24:2 |
|
But who may abide
the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like
a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap. |
But who may abide
the way of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like
a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. |
|
Matthew 5:34 |
3 Nephi 12:34 |
|
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by
heaven, for it is God’s throne. |
But verily verily I say unto you: Swear not at all,
neither by heaven—for it is God’s throne. |
|
Matthew 7:3 |
3 Nephi 14:3 |
|
And why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do
not notice the log in your own eye? |
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine
own eye? |
|
Matthew 7:5 |
3 Nephi 14:5 |
|
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine
own eye; and then shall thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. |
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine
own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. |
|
Matthew 7:15 |
3 Nephi 14:15 |
|
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. |
Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. |
There is one difference that
is noteworthy:
|
Matthew 5:10 |
3 Nephi 12:10 |
|
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. |
And blessed are all they which are persecuted for my
name’s sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. |
Instead of KJV “righteousness’
sake,” the Book of Mormon as “name’s sake.” However, “name’s sake” appears in
the KJV as a reference to Jesus. In Matthew, see Matt 10:22; 19:29; 24:9.
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