BoM Translation Guide Notes

The original text of the Book of Mormon was based on the Hebrew language, circa 600 B.C.

Note: Aramaic words were introduced into Hebrew during the Babylonian captivity (586 B.C. to 538 B.C.), so Aramaic words should not appear in the Book of Mormon.

The language written in the Book of Mormon used Reformed Egyptian characters.

The Book of Mormon 7th Century B.C. Hebrew was translated into 1830's English.

Note: 1830's English is closer to 1611 King James English than to today's English. So, there are a number of cases where the Hebrew has to be mapped to the 1828 Webster's Dictionary since the meaning of the words in modern English is different than the meaning of the words in 1830's English.

Old Testament Books written using Hebrew words known in 600 B.C. (Daniel and Ezekiel begin to include Aramaic words). The words in the below books define the Hebrew language that the original words in the Book of Mormon came from.

The original manuscript of the Book of Mormon contained few punctuation marks or paragraph breaks.

John H. Gilbert was the typesetter at the Grandin Press, where the Book of Mormon was printed. And, he added most of the punctuation.

Thus, while the translation was performed by a prophet based on inspiration, the paragraphing, sentence breaks, and punctuation were performed by a typical, educated man based on 1830's English grammar principles.

Subsequent versions of the Book of Mormon have updated the punctuation. But, punctuation changes were just another perspective of another editor, and there was no criteria used to determine 'correct' punctuation

Note: Hebrew words consist of the root word plus prefixes and suffixes to the root word. It would be inappropriate to add punctuation that split a prefix or suffix from the root Hebrew word. The Translation Guide brackets the prefixes and suffixes with the root word. If punctuation is found that splits a prefix or suffix from the root word, then the Guide adds text '(incorrect punctuation)' to mark those occurrences. Translations into another language should ignore those punctuation.

For Example, Psalm 84:2 begins (reading right to left), ... נכספה וגם כלתה נפשי, in English is 'longs and yea even faints my soul ...' and in English word order with KJV punctuation is 'My soul longs, yea, even faints ...' if punctuated according to the Hebrew words - נפשי נכספה, וגם, כלתה - would read, 'My soul longs, and yea even, faints ...'. Note that the comma in '..., yea, even ...' splits the Hebrew word גם (yea even) and should be punctuated as "..., yea even, ...'

Words Unique to the Book of Mormon

Here are words used in the Book of Mormon that do not appear in the Old Testament (OT) Hebrew:

• anchor (Ether 5:4 [LDS 12:4], Mormon 2:47 [LDS 5:18]) - The OT doesn't record the word used for 'anchor' but they were made of stone, so using <'eben> 'stone / sinking in water' (see Exo 15:5) - anchors in 600 B.C. were stones with holes in them, Anchors of Antiquity, Douglas Haldane, The Biblical Archaeologist, Vol. 53, No. 1, An Underwater View of the Ancient World (Mar., 1990), pp. 19-24
• hen (3 Nephi 4:55 [LDS 10:3]) - <tarnegolet> 'hen' is found in the Talmud Berakhot (circa 50 BCE to 200 CE). Jesus was speaking in the verse, so <tarnegolet> is comensurate with the Hebrew used by Jesus. 'hen' <tarnegolet> does not appear in the OT.
• pore (Mosiah 1:101 [LDS 3:7]) - Using 'place / spot on the skin' for 'pore' <maqowm-`al-`owr>. The OT doesn't record what word was used for 'pore'.

Here are interesting words in the Book of Mormon that are not used in the English translation of the Old Testament:

• etc. (used 51 times) - Research indicates the best Hebrew translation is 'and other words' <'acher-dabar>. Similar patterns exist in the OT (i.e. more words that I'm not recording) - Isaiah 28:11 - 'and another 'acher> tongue <lashown> will he speak <dabar>'; Jeremiah 36:32 - 'and there were added <yacaph> besides <`owd> unto them many <rab> like <hadar> words <dabar>'.
• adieu (used 1 time) - Research indicates the best Hebrew translation is 'peace to you' <shalowm-lakem>'.

• The Hebrew word for plain = <nakoach> (adjective)
• Definition: Straight, used of a way going straight on, he who walks straight (is righteous)
• It does not mean 'simple' or 'ordinary' or 'easy to understand' (these are English definitions for 'plain')
• Note: The word 'plain' does not have an entry in the 1828 Webster's Dictionary
• 1 Nephi 3:168 [LDS 13:26] - For behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious;
• 'Plain' means the parts which describe the straight paths of God, for example:
• Proverbs 8:8 - All the words of my mouth are in righteousness <tsedeq>; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
• Proverbs 8:9 - They are all plain <nakoach> (straight) to him that understandeth, and right <yashar> to them that find knowledge.