Richardson, Richardson and Bentley write that the expression "beyond the mark" used in Jacob 4:14 is a characteristic of the languages of the ancient cultures of the Middle East, the area from which the peoples of the Book of Mormon emigrated. In the early writings contained in the Gospel of Truth it is written that Israel turns to error when the people look for that which is beyond the mark (Nibley, Since Cumorah, p. 167)
[Allen H. Richardson, David E. Richardson and Anthony E. Bentley, 1000 Evidences for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Part Two-A Voice from the Dust: 500 Evidences in Support of the Book of Mormon, p. 273]