2 Nephi 26:32-33

Brant Gardner

Nephi finishes this section by reprising some of the ten commandments. Nephi had said, early in this chapter, that the Nephites should continue to live the law of Moses. This reiteration ties back to that earlier command (see 2 Nephi 25:30 to 2 Nephi 26:1).

Nephi had also asked questions as reversals of expectations. In verse 33 he reprises those commands in their positive form. All should partake of Jehovah’s goodness, and none should be denied. The language of pairs, male and female, bond and free, echo language in Galatians 3:28 (which Nephi also echoed in 2 Nephi 10:16).

The addition of “black and white” is interesting as those terms are typically metaphorical in the Book of Mormon, but appear to refer to humankind here. This may be a translator’s choice to indicate that all races are equally invited.

Book of Mormon Minute

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