Jacob 2:23 Textual Variants

The 1830 typesetter changed the present-tense are to past-tense were, probably unintentionally. Since the biblical text can be thought of as existing in the eternal present, there is nothing wrong with the original reading, as represented by the printer’s manuscript (the original manuscript is not extant here).

The Book of Mormon text has quite a few references to the biblical text in the present tense, as either “is written” or “are written”:

• 1 Nephi 14:23
  • wherefore the things which he shall write are just and true and behold they are written in the book which thou beheld proceeding out of the mouth of the Jew
• 1 Nephi 19:21
  • for he surely did shew unto prophets of old all things concerning them … wherefore it must needs be that we know concerning them for they are written upon the plates of brass
• 2 Nephi 2:17
  • and I Lehi according to the things which I have read must needs suppose that an angel of God according to that which is written had fallen from heaven
• 2 Nephi 4:2
  • and he prophesied concerning us and our future generations and they are written upon the plates of brass
• 2 Nephi 6:3
  • and I have spoken unto you concerning all things which are written from the creation of the world
• Mosiah 12:20
  • what meaneth the words which are written and which have been taught by our fathers saying how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings
• 3 Nephi 20:11
  • ye remember that I spake unto you and said that when the words of Isaiah should be fulfilled —behold they are written ye have them before you therefore search them—

In 3 Nephi, when citing scriptures, Jesus always uses the present tense, either “it is written” or “which is written” (six times in all).

The past tense (either “was written” or “were written”) is also used to refer to the scriptures:

• 1 Nephi 14:23
  • and at the time they proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew or at the time the book proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew the things which were written were plain and pure and most precious and easy to the understanding of all men
• 1 Nephi 19:23
  • wherefore I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah
• 3 Nephi 11:15
  • until they had all gone forth and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands and did know of a surety and did bear record that it was he of whom it was written by the prophets that should come

So theoretically either the present tense or past tense is possible when referring to the scriptures. In each case we allow the earliest textual sources to determine the tense. Here in Jacob 2:23, the critical text will restore the present-tense “are written”, the reading of the printer’s manuscript.

David Calabro (personal communication) points out a systematic difference between these two lists. The three past-tense examples are each found within a past-tense historical narrative; thus the past-tense verb form was or were is appropriate. On the other hand, the present-tense examples all occur in discourse or dialogue (including two cases where the writer is directly speaking to us as Book of Mormon readers, in 1 Nephi 19:21 and 2 Nephi 4:2). Here in Jacob 2:23, we have a case of discourse where Jacob is speaking to the people of Nephi; thus the present tense is appropriate.