BM-KJV and JE-2 Nephi 28

Annotation of 2 Nephi 28 – preliminary  

2 Nephi 28 is a good example because it shows that a high percentage of its language is also KJV language. Few of the KJV words/phrases are not also found in Edwards, including the so-called "blended" passages.

The blue Book of Mormon words/phrases in the annotation are nonbiblical and also not found in Edwards. In some cases noted below, the nonbiblical language is close to Edwards (e.g., plural instead of singular). There are several examples in the Book of Mormon of paraphrased or misquoted passages from the KJV that are identical to paraphrased or misquoted KJV passages in Edwards' works.

The red words/phrases are nonbiblical Book of Mormon wording that are also found in Edwards' works as available on the Yale database, which includes most but not all of the 1808 edition, as well as material not included in the 1808 edition.

Purple are nonbiblical Book of Mormon words/phrases similar to Edwards.

Naturally, Edwards is not the only person who ever used this nonbiblical Book of Mormon terminology. English is a common language or we couldn't understand one another. But the ready availability of Edwards' works in Palmyra during Joseph's youth indicates that Edwards was a possible source for Joseph's vocabulary that he used when translating the plates.

Bold = KJV 

Blue = nonbiblical BofM/D&C/PGP w/o JE 

Red = nonbiblical BofM/D&C/PGP and JE 

Purple = nonbiblical BofM/D&C/PGP similar to JE

Chapter 28

Many false churches will be built up in the last days—They will teach false, vain, and foolish doctrines—Apostasy will abound because of false teachers—The devil will rage in the hearts of men—He will teach all manner of false doctrines. About 559–545 B.C.

1 And now, behold, my brethren, I have spoken unto you, according as[1] the Spirit hath constrained[2] me; wherefore, I know that they must surely[3] come to pass.

2 And the things which shall be written[4] out of the book[5] shall be of great worth[6] unto the children of men[7], and especially[8] unto our seed, which is a remnant[9] of the house of Israel[10].

3 For it shall come to pass[11] in that day that the churches which are built up[12], and not unto the Lord, when the one shall say[13] unto the other: Behold, I, I am the Lord’s; and the others shall say[14]: I, I am the Lord’s; and thus shall every one say that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord—

4 And they shall contend one with another[15]; and their priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning[16], and deny the Holy Ghost[17], which giveth utterance[18].

5 And they deny the power[19] of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept[20]; for behold there is no God[21] today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work[22], and he hath given his power unto men;

6 Behold, hearken ye unto my precept[23]; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought[24] by the hand of the Lord[25], believe it not[26]; for this day he is not a God of miracles[27]; he hath done his work.

7 Yea, and there shall be many[28] which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry[29], for tomorrow we die[30]; and it shall be well[31] with us.

8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God[32]—he will justify[33] in committing a little sin[34]; yea, lie a little[35], take the advantage of one[36] because of his words[37], dig a pit[38] for thy neighbor; there is[39] no harm[40] in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be[41] that we are guilty[42], God will beat us with a few stripes[43], and at last[44] we shall be saved in the kingdom of God[45].

9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner[46], false and vain[47] and foolish[48] doctrines[49], and shall be puffed up[50] in their hearts, and shall seek deep[51] to hide their[52] counsels[53] from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark[54].

10 And the blood of the saints[55] shall cry from the ground[56] against them.

11 Yea, they have all gone out of the way[57]; they have become corrupted[58].

12 Because of pride[59], and because of false teachers[60], and false doctrine[61], their churches[62] have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up[63]; because of pride they are puffed up.

13 They rob the poor[64] because of their fine[65] sanctuaries[66]; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing[67]; and they persecute[68] the meek[69] and the poor in heart[70], because in their pride[71] they are puffed up[72].

14 They wear stiff necks[73] and high heads[74]; yea, and because of pride[75], and wickedness, and abominations[76], and whoredoms, they have all[77] gone astray[78] save it be a few, who are the humble followers[79] of Christ[80]; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances[81] they do err[82] because they are taught[83] by the precepts[84] of[85] men[86].

15 O the wise, and the learned[87], and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts[88], and all those who preach[89] false doctrines[90], and all those who commit whoredoms[91], and pervert[92] the right way[93] of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto[94] them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down[95] to hell!

16 Wo unto them that turn aside[96] the just for a thing of naught[97] and revile[98] against[99] that which is good[100], and say that it is of no worth[101]! For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily[102] visit[103] the inhabitants of the earth[104]; and in that day that they are fully ripe[105] in iniquity[106] they shall perish[107].

17 But behold, if the inhabitants of the earth shall repent of their wickedness and abominations they shall not be destroyed[108], saith the Lord of Hosts.

18 But behold, that great and[109] abominable[110] church, the whore of all the earth, must tumble[111] to the earth, and great must be the fall thereof[112].

19 For the kingdom of the devil[113] must shake[114], and they which belong to it must needs be[115] stirred up[116] unto repentance, or the devil will grasp[117] them with his everlasting chains[118], and they be stirred up to anger[119], and perish;

20 For behold, at that day[120] shall he rage[121] in the hearts of the children[122] of men[123], and stir them up to anger against that which is good.

21 And others will he pacify[124], and lull[125] them away into carnal security[126], that they will say: All is well[127] in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth[128] their souls, and leadeth them away carefully[129] down to hell[130].

22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell[131]; and he saith unto them: I am no devil[132], for there is none[133]—and thus he whispereth in their ears[134], until he grasps[135] them with his awful[136] chains, from whence there is no deliverance[137].

23 Yea, they are grasped[138] with death, and hell[139]; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized[140] therewith[141] must stand[142] before the throne of God[143], and be judged according to[144] their works[145], from whence they must go[146] into the place prepared[147] for them, even a lake of fire[148] and brimstone[149], which is endless torment[150].

24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is[151] at ease[152] in Zion[153]!

25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!

26 Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God[154], and the gift of the Holy Ghost[155]!

27 Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received[156], and we need no more[157]!

28 And in fine[158], wo unto all those who tremble[159], and are angry because of[160] the truth of God[161]! For behold, he that is built upon the rock[162] receiveth it with gladness[163]; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation[164] trembleth lest he[165] shall fall.

29 Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God[166], and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough[167]!

30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line[168], precept upon precept[169], here a little and there a little[170]; and blessed are those[171] who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear[172] unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom[173]; for unto him that receiveth I will give more[174]; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away[175] even that[176] which they have.

31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man[177], or maketh flesh his arm[178], or shall hearken[179] unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost[180].

32 Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding[181] I shall lengthen out[182] mine arm unto them from day to day[183], they will deny[184] me; nevertheless, I will be merciful[185] unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent[186] and come unto me[187]; for mine arm is lengthened out[188] all the day long[189], saith the Lord God of Hosts.

(2 Nephi 28–28:32)

[1] OT (23) NT (10) BM (21) DC (12) JE (200)

[2] OT (1) NT (5) BM (8) DC (2) JE (28)

[3] BM (9) JE (10)

[4] OT (2) BM (11) JE (5)

[5] OT (3) NT (2) BM (2) DC (1) JE (28)

[6] BM (10) JE (15)

[7] OT (23) BM (131) DC (39) PBP (15) JE (100)

[8] BM (2) DC (1) PGP (1) JE (100s)

[9] OT (8) NT (2) BM (21) DC (3) PGP (1) JE (40)

[10] OT (117) NT (5) BM (91) DC (5) JE (125)

[11] OT (115) NT (4) BM (60) DC (35) PGP (2) JE (90)

[12] OT (5) NT (2) BM (19) DC (6) JE (60) JE : « They were strangers that were improved to hew stones for the temple, and this temple was therein the more fit type of the Christian church that was built up by the Gentiles.”

[13] OT (2) BM (1) JE (10)

[14] BM (1) JE (1) JE: “Zechariah 8:21. "I will go also."] I.e. others shall say, "I will go also."”

[15] BM (3) DC (1) JE (3)

[16] BM (1)

[17] BM (2)

[18] NT (5) BM (6) DC (3) PGP (1) JE (10)

[19] BM (2) PGP (1) JE (3)

[20] BM (1)

[21] OT (16) BM (10) PGP (1) JE (80)

[22] BM (2) JE (14)

[23] BM (1) JE (1)

[24] BM (1) JE (1) JE: “when the images of Christ, in popish churches, are on some extraordinary occasions, made by priestcraft to appear to the people as if they wept, and shed fresh blood, and moved, and uttered such and such words; the people may be verily persuaded that it is a miracle wrought by Christ himself; and from thence may be confident there is a Christ,”

[25] OT (33) NT (3) BM (25) DC (2) JE (20)

[26] NT (2) BM (1) PGP (2) JE (1)

[27] BM (7)

[28] OT (1) BM (8) JE (1)

[29] NT (1) BM (2) JE (3)

[30] BM (2) JE (1) JE: “Let us enjoy our pleasures, for tomorrow we die.” 

[31] OT (9) BM (4) DC (2) JE (10)

[32] OT (6) NT (4) BM (1) DC (2) JE (40)

[33] BM (1) JE (1) JE: “Jesus Christ is to be their final judge, and he will justify them”

[34] BM (1) JE (4) JE: “ It may be we are sensible that we are going on in some way of sin but flatter our selves with that that tis a little sin “

[35] BM (1) JE (1) [the first principles of which lie a little out of the reach of ordinary capacities]

[36] BM (1) JE (3)

[37] BM (2)

[38] OT (2) BM (1) OT: “ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.” (Job 6:27)

[39] « there is no harm » BM (1) JE (1) JE: “For according to these principles, there is no harm at all in having the mind in a state of perfect indifference with respect to these crimes; nay, 'tis absolutely necessary in order to any virtue in avoiding them, or vice in doing them.”

[40] OT (5) NT (3) BM (5) DC (1) JE (30)

[41] BM (37) DC (3) “if it be so” OT (2) BM (2) JE (200)

[42] BM (1) JE (10)

[43] “few stripes” NT (1) BM (1) JE (5) “stripes” OT (8) NT (9) BM (2) JE (35)

[44] BM (2) JE (100s)

[45] BM (9) DC (2)

[46] OT (11) NT (5) BM (34) DC (2) JE (100)

[47] BM (1) JE (2)

[48] “vain and foolish” OT (1) BM (1) JE (2)

[49] BM (1)

[50] NT (6) BM (9) JE (40)

[51] OT (1) BM (2) JE (2)

[52] “hide their counsels” BM (1)

[53] OT (11) NT (1) BM (5) DC (4) PGP (1) JE (100s)

[54] OT (5) BM (3) PGP (2) JE (100)

[55] NT (1) BM (4) DC (1) JE (8)

[56] BM (2)

[57] NT (1) BM (1) DC (1) JE (20)

[58] BM (9) DC (1)

[59] BM (3) DC (1)

[60] NT (1) BM (1) JE (28)

[61] BM (1) JE (6) JE: “the prevailing sect among them were Pharisees, who openly professed the false doctrine of justification by the works of the law and external privileges”

[62] BM (3) JE (30) JE : « they brought in the worship of saints and set up images in their churches”

[63] OT (123) NT (22) BM (56) DC (6) PGP (8) JE (200)

[64] BM (2) OT/JE: “Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate” (Proverbs 22:22)

[65] OT (103) NT (10) BM (46) DC (1) JE (100s) (usually fine linen/brass)

[66] OT (5) BM (8) JE (1)

[67] OT (14) NT (5) BM (9) DC (2) PGP (1) JE (100)

[68] OT (16) NT (9) BM (13) DC (2) PGP (3) JE (90)

[69] “persecute the meek” BM (2)

[70] BM (3)

[71] OT (1) BM (5) JE (8) JE: “those of the sect of the Pharisees, in their pride and confidence in their privileges as the peculiar people of God, to exalt themselves exceedingly above other nations, and greatly to despise the Gentiles,”

[72] NT (6) BM (9) JE (40)

[73] BM (2)

[74] BM (2)

[75] BM (3) DC (1)

[76] BM (30) DC (2) JE : « the devil for the most part has reigned as god, and has greatly molested them, and which has been a scene of wickedness and abomination”

[77] “all gone astray” BM (4)

[78] OT (2) NT (3) BM (6) PGP (1) JE (10)

[79] BM (4)

[80] “followers of Christ” BM (2) JE (20) JE: “They who are true followers of Christ are of the same spirit towards Christ” “if all that were sincere followers of Christ , women as well as men”

[81] BM (3) DC (2) JE (80)

[82] OT (2) NT (2) BM (2) DC (1) JE (10)

[83] BM (3) DC (1) JE (20) JE: “they are not only taught by the Word, but by the works of God”

[84] OT (24) BM (6) DC (2) JE (100s)

[85] “precepts of” BM (4) DC (1) JE (100) JE: “precepts of Christ/religion/love/the gospel/the law/holiness, etc.” “The words of Christ whereby he taught men their duty, and gave his commands and counsels to his disciples and others, were spent very much in precepts of love.”

[86] “precepts of men” BM (4) DC (1)

[87] OT (2) BM (9) DC (1) JE (100+)

[88] BM (10) DC (1) JE (5) JE : « They must abuse themselves, and do what the pride of their hearts makes dreadful resistance to. “

[89] BM (1) JE (2) JE: “ Judah represents the ministers of the word, who preach the word of Christ”

[90] BM (3) JE (12)

[91] OT (2) BM (8)

[92] OT (8) NT (2) BM (7) JE (40)

[93] OT (4) NT (1) BM (8) JE (100)

[94] BM (24) DC (2) PGP (1)

[95] NT (1) BM (3) DC (3) JE (12) NT: ‘And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.” (Luke 10:15)

[96] OT (20) BM (5) JE (60)

[97] “thing of naught” BM (3) “thing of nought” OT (4) JE (3)

[98] OT (1) NT (1) BM (18) DC (4) JE (28)

[99] “revile against” BM (13

[100] OT (10) NT (13) BM (17) DC (1) JE (85)

[101] BM (5) JE (1) JE: “blemish was looked upon of no worth”

[102] OT (18) NT (1) BM (23) DC (24) JE (100)

[103] “speedily visit” BM (1) DC (1) JE: “speedily pay us a visit”

[104] OT (7) NT (1) BM (6) DC (24) PGP (2) JE (65)

[105] NT (1) BM (6) DC (1) JE (20)

[106] “ripe in iniquity” BM (2) JE: “Yet because their Iniquity was not full. Gen 16 15 16. the Angel that had the sharp sickle was Command to Gather the Clusters of the Vine of the Earth and to Cast them into the Great Winepress of the wrath of God because they were fully Ripe Rev 14 18

[107] OT (5) NT (1) BM (9) JE (20)

[108] OT (2) BM (16) DC (1) JE (15)

[109] “great and abominable” BM (12) DC (1) JE: “The light of nature shows that the religion of heathens, consisting in the worship of idols, and sacrificing their children to them, and obscene and abominable rites and ceremonies, is wickedness. And the superstitions and idolatries and usurpations of the church of Rome, are no less contrary to the light of nature.” “If the Scriptures ben't the word, and the religion of the church of Christ ben't the true religion, then it must follow that 'tis a most wicked religion, nothing but a pack of lies and abominable delusions invented by the enemies of God themselves.” “To illustrate it by example: thus the filthiness of a snake or toad is much more abominable for being joined with life, which is in itself excellent, than the same filthiness and shape would be in lifeless matter. Thus again, the hatefulness of the devil is much greater for its being united with an angelical nature. So there is as much difference [between] the Church of Rome and heathens, Jews, or Mahometans, as there is between a viper or some loathsome, poisonous, crawling monster, and lifeless filthy matter of the same shape.”

[110] OT (20) NT (3) BM (28) DC (1) JE (100s)

[111] BM (7) JE (4) JE: “Your being itself is but a house of clay, which will quickly molder, and tumble down.”

[112] BM (3)

[113] BM (5) DC (1) JE (10)

[114] BM (1)

[115] OT (2) NT (3) BM (29) DC (23) JE (200)

[116] OT (11) NT (5) BM (13) DC (2) JE (90)

[117] BM (4) JE (3) JE 1808 : “through a grasping, covetous disposition”

[118] NT (1) BM (2) JE (6)

[119] “stirred up” with “anger” BM (8) JE: “ he stirred up anger and malice in the chief priests and leaders and elders of the people” “God was Provoked by them and stirred up in his Anger”

[120] OT (8) NT (3) BM (23) DC (1) PGP (1) JE (100)

[121] OT (17) NT (1) BM (1) DC (1) JE (200)

[122] OT (2) BM (14) DC (10) PGP (2) JE (10)

[123] “hearts of the children of men” OT (2) BM (14) DC (4) JE (9)

[124] OT (1) BM (3) JE (10)

[125] BM (1) JE (10)

[126] BM (1) JE (10) JE : (Brainerd) « roused out of carnal security”

[127] OT (2) BM (4) PGP (1)

[128] BM (1) “cheats” JE (10) JE : « when once they began to discover popish lies, cheats and impostures, and found out the falseness of the pretenses of the Romish clergy to apostolical power”

[129] OT (2) NT (2) BM (1) DC (3) PGP (1) JE (100)

[130] OT (3) NT (3) BM (11) DC (4) JE (60)

[131] BM (1) JE (5) JE: “hence we Learn that it is very Unreasonable for sinner to flatter themselves that there is no hell”

[132] BM (1) JE (2) JE: “but no devil shall ever be suffered to come there”

[133] OT (67) NT (12) BM (12) DC (8) JE (100s)

[134] OT (7) BM (1) DC (1) JE (4)

[135] BM (1)

[136] BM (47) JE (100s)

[137] BM (2) JE (5) JE: “without a sacrifice for sin there is no deliverance from punishment”

[138] BM (1) JE (4) JE (Brainerd) “My soul was drawn out very much for the world; I grasped for multitudes of souls.”

[139] NT (3) BM (6) JE (20)

[140] OT (1) BM (1) DC (1) PGP (2) JE (100)

[141] OT (31) NT (5) BM (2) DC (1) JE (45)

[142] BM (3) JE (40) JE: “as God he should judge the world, and that he must stand trembling and astonished before his judgment seat.” “ we must stand before the Judge together, who will do impartial justice between us.”

[143] NT (6) BM (3) DC (1) PGP (3) JE (80)

[144] NT (2) BM (17) DC (6) JE (20)

[145] “according to their works” NT (3) BM (13) DC (5) JE (40)

[146] OT (4) NT (1) BM (7) DC (1) JE (100) JE : « If you are wicked when you die, you must go to hell and never come out” “Consider when you die, if you have no mansion in the house of God in heaven, you must have your place of abode in the habitation of devils. There is no middle place between them but that; and when you go hence, you must go to one or the other of these. Some have a mansion prepared for 'em in heaven from the foundation {of the world}. Others are sent away as cursed into everlasting burnings prepared for the devil's”

[147] NT (1) BM (3) DC (1) JE (8)

[148] NT (4) BM (10) DC (1) JE (80)

[149] NT (1) BM (10) DC (1) JE (15)

[150] BM (7) DC (1) JE (2)

[151] “is at east” OT (1) BM (1) JE (1)

[152] OT (12) BM (1) JE (50)

[153] OT (25) BM (6) DC (26) JE (200)

[154] NT (14) BM (56) DC (12) JE (200)

[155] NT (2) BM (3) DC (7) PGP (4) JE (10)

[156] NT (5) BM (3) DC (1) JE (30)

[157] BM (3) JE (7) JE: “ If a sinner be once convinced of the veracity of God, and that the Scriptures are his Word, he'll need no more to convince and satisfy him that he is invited”

[158] BM (18) JE (20) JE: “And in fine , love would dispose men to do to others as they would that others should do to them”

[159] OT (28) NT (1) BM (28) DC (16) PGP (1) JE (200)

[160] BM (7) JE (1) JE: “if I grieve at the prosperity of others; if I am anyway uncharitable; if I am angry because of injuries;”

[161] NT (3) BM (1) JE (30)

[162] BM (1) JE (4) JE: “his is one of those things that Cannot be shaken because built upon the Rock”

[163] OT (10) NT (2) BM (3) DC (2) JE (30)

[164] BM (3) JE (7) JE: “ that they might enjoy the benefits of his future kingdom, was built on a sandy foundation”

[165] OT (22) NT (6) BM (10) DC (4) PGP (2) JE (50)

[166] OT (4) NT (45) BM (99) DC (1) PGP (2) JE (100s)

[167] BM (2) JE (1) JE: “We have enough of his writings, by which to learn his language and way of speaking about sin, condemnation, punishment, death and suffering.”

[168] OT (4) BM (1) DC (2) JE (12) OT : “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:10)

[169] OT (3) BM (1) DC (2) JE (12)

[170] OT (2) BM (1) DC (1) JE (6)

[171] NT (2) BM (2) JE (2)

[172] BM (1) JE (1) JE: “the devil can't stop him in his course; he is not at leisure to lend an ear to what he has to say.”

[173] BM (6) DC (2) JE (1) JE: “"Folly is naturally so rooted and confirmed in men that if God leaves them to themselves, let what will be done with them, they will not learn wisdom ." paraphrasing Proverbs 27 :22 22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

[174] OT (1) BM (1) DC (1) JE (15)

[175] OT (6) NT (6) BM (7) DC (2) JE (20)

[176] “taken away even that” NT (2) BM (1) DC (1) JE (5)

[177] BM (2) JE (7) JE: “Whereas they that trust in man are pronounced cursed.“

[178] OT (1) BM (2) JE (5)

[179] OT (4) BM (4) JE (8)

[180] NT (1) BM (25) DC (5) JE (15)

[181] BM (3) DC (1) PGP (1) JE (7) JE: « For notwithstanding any discovery that is made therein of spiritual things unto the mind, it finds not an immediate, direct, spiritual excellency in them”

[182] BM (3) JE (15)

[183] OT (5) NT (1) BM (10) JE (100)

[184] BM (1) JE (1)

[185] OT (12) NT (2) BM (15) DC (4) PGP (1) JE (22)

[186] OT (4) NT (1) BM (19) DC (2) PGP (1) JE (16)

[187] OT (18) NT (8) BM (37) DC (4) JE (75)

[188] BM (1) JE (15) JE (Brainerd) “my strength was surprisingly lengthened out , and my thoughts quick and lively”

[189] OT (12) NT (1) BM (12) DC (1) JE (8)