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Several such constructions exist. | Several such constructions exist. | ||
+ | ===Colophones=== | ||
+ | * The use of colophones in the Book of Mormon reflects ancient practice unknown to Joseph.{{ref|colophone1}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Jershon=== | ||
* For example, in Alma 27:22, the Nephites give the land Jershon to the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's "for an inheritance." Jershon follows a common Hebrew practice of creating names by suffixing -on to the tri-consonantal root. In this case, we have the root y-r-sh, which means among other things, "to inherit." (Hebrew /y/ is usually represented in English with a j.) In other words, the Nephites give the land "Inheritance" to the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's for an inheritance. If making up names at random, one could eventually make some that fit Hebrew patterns. However, the extreme unlikelihood of an imaginary name making sense in a reconstructed Hebrew original argues against this being the case with Jershon. | * For example, in Alma 27:22, the Nephites give the land Jershon to the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's "for an inheritance." Jershon follows a common Hebrew practice of creating names by suffixing -on to the tri-consonantal root. In this case, we have the root y-r-sh, which means among other things, "to inherit." (Hebrew /y/ is usually represented in English with a j.) In other words, the Nephites give the land "Inheritance" to the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's for an inheritance. If making up names at random, one could eventually make some that fit Hebrew patterns. However, the extreme unlikelihood of an imaginary name making sense in a reconstructed Hebrew original argues against this being the case with Jershon. | ||
+ | ===Names=== | ||
* Other proper [[Book of Mormon anachronisms:Names|names]] within the Book of Mormon also qualify, since they are unknown in the Bible, but have since been attested to in other ancient documents. | * Other proper [[Book of Mormon anachronisms:Names|names]] within the Book of Mormon also qualify, since they are unknown in the Bible, but have since been attested to in other ancient documents. | ||
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+ | ==="Up" to Jerusalem=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nephi always describes going to Jerusalem as going ''up'' (e.g., 1 Nephi 3:9; 4:4; 5:6; 7:3–4), and leaving Jerusalem as going ''down'' (e.g., 1 Nephi 2:5; 3:4, 16, 22; 4:35; 5:1; 7:2, 5). This is consistent with Biblical usage in both the Old and New Testaments (e.g., ''down'': 2 Samuel 5:17; Luke 10:30; and Acts 8:15; ''up'': 2 Chronicles 2:16 and Matthew 20:18).{{ref|updown1}} | ||
{{nw}} | {{nw}} | ||
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#{{note|colophones1}} {{rediscovering|author=John A. Tvedtnes|article=Colophones in the Book of Mormon|start=32 | end=37}}{{GL1|url=http://gospelink.com/library/doc?book_doc_id=296770}} | #{{note|colophones1}} {{rediscovering|author=John A. Tvedtnes|article=Colophones in the Book of Mormon|start=32 | end=37}}{{GL1|url=http://gospelink.com/library/doc?book_doc_id=296770}} | ||
+ | #{{note|updown1}} {{GlimpsesLehiJerusalem|author=Jeffrey R. Chadwick|article=Lehi's House at Jerusalem and the Land of His Inheritance|start=81|end=130}}{{link1|url=http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/bookschapter.php?bookid=2&chapid=23}} | ||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== |
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
The Book of Mormon does not contain Hebraic or Semitic language, as one should expect.
Many LDS sources argue that Hebraisms exist. Some have been overly enthusiastic or operated using problematic methodology. For example, Hebrew and other Semitic languages frequently give give a verb a cognate direct object for emphasis, eg. "he dreamed a dream" or "He hit him a hitting." Since the KJV translators were frequently literal in rendering the Hebrew, the Old Testament contains many English examples of this. Thus, the presence of the cognate accusative throughout the Book of Mormon, though a valid Semiticism, cannot be used as strong evidence for the Book of Mormon. (An appreciation of such devices can enhance our appreciation of the text, however.)
For a Semiticism to be strong evidence it must be
Several such constructions exist.
Nephi always describes going to Jerusalem as going up (e.g., 1 Nephi 3:9; 4:4; 5:6; 7:3–4), and leaving Jerusalem as going down (e.g., 1 Nephi 2:5; 3:4, 16, 22; 4:35; 5:1; 7:2, 5). This is consistent with Biblical usage in both the Old and New Testaments (e.g., down: 2 Samuel 5:17; Luke 10:30; and Acts 8:15; up: 2 Chronicles 2:16 and Matthew 20:18).[2] [needs work]
The Book of Mormon does indeed have authentic Semitic constructions in it, but LDS need to tread cautiously in establishing them. Each must be evaluated on its own merits. Hebraisms that could have been known to Joseph Smith may still be authentic, and may still enhance our appreciation of the text, but they are weak evidence for Book of Mormon antiquity.
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