Variant/translation: The bolded words in the Book of Mormon Isaiah are additions to the received text: “And the mean man boweth not down, and the great man humbleth himself not: therefore forgive themhim not” (Isa. 2:9). The effect of these changes shift the verse’s meaning and alter Isaiah’s historical statement to a theological one, since it is better, theologically speaking, to be humble. Victor Ludlow comments: “The Book of Mormon clarifies what would otherwise be a confusing verse. The Old Testament seems to suggest that one should not forgive those who repent and humble themselves. The account in 2 Nephi, on the other hand, explains that the people did not humble themselves. And therefore were not forgiven.”
In isolation, these changes clarify the necessity of humility, solving the reading difficulties of this verse; but such changes are inconsistent with the larger context. As verse 8 makes clear, Isaiah is talking about bowing down and humbling oneself before the idols, not before God; therefore, those who bow should not be forgiven. In other words, in context, the problem is not humility but idolatry. The Book of Mormon removes the connection to the idols and shifts the meaning to the virtues of humility. These variants apparently emerge from a narrow focus on the verse, not on the verse in context.
John Tvedtnes further points out, “The first ‘not’ is not to be found in the 1830 Book of Mormon. Probably the second was added by scribal error (it no doubt made sense). Later a new edition noted the discrepancy and rather than delete the “not” added another in the earlier part of the verse.” Skousen agrees with Tvedtnes’s suggestion.
Blenkinsopp’s translation reads: “Humanity is humbled, and all people are brought low; Do not forgive them!”
Verses 9 and 10 are missing in one of the Qumran copies of Isaiah but appear in two others.
Vocabulary: The mean man is one of low status and is a reverse parallel of the great man.