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Source:Rediscovering the Book of Mormon:Ch:8:10:Hebraisms:Interchangable prepositions
Hebrew influence on Book of Mormon text: Interchangeable Prepositions
Parent page: Book of Mormon/Anthropology/Language/Hebraisms/Prepositions
Hebrew influence on Book of Mormon text: Interchangeable Prepositions
In biblical Hebrew, the prepositions that are translated in and to in English are often interchangeable. This would not usually work in English. In at least two Book of Mormon passages, the 1830 edition used to and in in ways that reflect the Hebrew usage, although later editions were changed to reflect the normal English use.
In 1 Nephi 7:12, the 1830 edition read "let us be faithful in him." Both in and to are possible in biblical Hebrew, but, when speaking of God, faithful in is usual. Faithful to is more normal in English, and in was changed to to in later editions of the Book of Mormon.
In 1 Nephi 17:14, the 1830 edition read "after ye have arrived to the promised land." Both in and to are possible in biblical Hebrew, but arrive to< is much more common. English prefers arrive at.[1]
Notes
- Jump up ↑ John A. Tvedtnes, "The Hebrew Background of the Book of Mormon," in Rediscovering the Book of Mormon, edited by John L. Sorenson and Melvin J. Thorne (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co.; Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1991), Chapter 8.