and now it came to pass that after Abinadi had spoken these words he stretched forth his [hands 1|hand ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] and said …
Here the 1830 typesetter changed the plural hands to the singular hand, probably because he expected the singular in the expression “to stretch forth one’s hand(s)”. It is quite
possible that for Mosiah 16:1 the plural hands in 𝓟 is a scribal error for hand. There are many other examples, especially in the manuscripts, where the text shows variation in
the number for hand:
- 2 Nephi 15:12 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓟)
- neither consider the operation of his [hand >+ hands 1|hands ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST]
- Mosiah 11:21 (error introduced in the 1858 Wright edition)
- and they shall be afflicted by the [hand 1ABCDEFIJLMNOPQRST|hands GHK] of their enemies
- Mosiah 27:4 (scribe 2’s initial error in 𝓟)
- laboring with their own [hand > hands 1|hands ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] for their support
- Alma 5:4 (change introduced in the 1830 edition)
- they were delivered out of the [hand 1|hands ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] of the people of king Noah
- Alma 43:44 (change introduced in the 1830 edition)
- and many of the Nephites were slain by their [hand >p hands 0|hand 1|hands ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST]
- Alma 44:7 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓟)
- ye are in our [hand > hands 1|hands ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST]
- Alma 46:7 (change introduced in the 1920 LDS edition)
- because of their deliverance by the [hands 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQS|hand RT] of the Lord
- Alma 46:24 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓞)
- so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the [hands >% hand 0|hand 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] of God
- Alma 52:10 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓞)
- and strengthen the cities round about which had not fallen into the [hand > hands 0|hands 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] of the Lamanites
- Alma 57:12 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in correcting 𝓟)
- therefore they yielded up the city [into our hands 0ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQS| NULL >+ into our hand > into our hands 1|unto our hands RT]
- Helaman 4:9 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓟)
- yea they retained many cities which had fallen into the [hand > hands 1|hands ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] of the Lamanites
- 3 Nephi 4:8 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓟)
- and deliver them out of the [hand > hands 1|hands ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] of their enemies
- Mormon 5:23 (scribe 2’s initial error in 𝓟)
- ye are in the [hand > hands 1|hands ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] of God
- Mormon 6:15 (scribe 2’s initial error in 𝓟)
- being left by the [hand > hands 1|hands ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] of those who slew them to molder upon the land
- Moroni 2:2 (Oliver Cowdery’s initial error in 𝓟)
- on him whom ye shall lay your [hand > hands 1|hands ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST]
(For each of these cases of variation, see the respective passage for analysis.) Most of these examples involve writing the singular hand in place of the plural hands. But the
example in Alma 46:24 clearly shows that the plural hands can be a mistake for hand. (In addition, Alma 46:7 may also be an example of such an error in the early transmission of
the text.) Thus there is some scribal evidence that in Mosiah 16:1 hands could be an error for hand.
Elsewhere in the Book of Mormon text, when someone starts speaking (or starts speaking again) to others, there are only examples of the singular hand in the expression “to stretch forth
one’s hand(s)”:
- Mosiah 12:2 stretch forth thy hand and prophesy saying …
- Alma 10:25 but Amulek stretched forth his hand and cried the mightier unto them saying …
- Alma 13:21 he stretched forth his hand unto them and cried with a mighty voice saying …
- Alma 19:12 and as he arose he stretched forth his hand unto the woman and said …
- Alma 32:7 but he stretched forth his hand and cried unto those … and saith unto them …
- Helaman 13:4–5 he ... stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud voice … and he said unto them …
- 3 Nephi 11:9 he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people saying …
- 3 Nephi 12:1 and behold he stretched forth his hand unto the multitude and cried unto them saying …
Thus the 1830 typesetter’s change from hands to hand in Mosiah 16:1 is wholly consistent with all parallel examples in the Book of Mormon.
In other contexts, the phrase “stretch forth one’s hand(s)” usually occurs in the singular, but there are a few examples in the plural. We typically get the singular hand in situations
where one would normally use only one hand (as in striking or touching):
to strike or use power against
- 1 Nephi 17:53 stretch forth thine hand again unto thy brethren
- 1 Nephi 17:54 I stretched forth my hand unto my brethren
- 2 Nephi 15:25 and he hath stretched forth his hand against them
- Alma 14:11 I must not stretch forth mine hand
- Alma 20:20 and he stretched forth his hand to slay Ammon
to touch
- Ether 3:6 the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones
There is also one occurrence in the parable of the olive tree where the Lord of the vineyard stretches forth his hand as he works in his vineyard, perhaps as he works with tools:
- Jacob 5:47
- I have nourished it and I have digged about it and I have pruned it and I have dunged it and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all the day long
If the text refers to more than one individual doing an action with the hand, we can get the plural:
- Alma 14:10
- therefore let us stretch forth our hands and exercise the power of God which is in us and save them from the flames
In this passage Amulek refers to both Alma and himself as stretching forth their hands, but presumably each one would stretch forth his own hand, not both of his hands, which is precisely what
Alma says in reply:
- Alma 14:11
- but Alma saith unto him the spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand
On the other hand, beseeching and praying seem to involve stretching out both hands:
- Jacob 6:4
- and how merciful is our God unto us for he remembereth the house of Israel both roots and branches and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long
- Alma 31:14
- therefore whosoever desired to worship must go forth and stand upon the top thereof and stretch forth his hands towards the heavens and cry with a loud voice saying …
Yet the singular is also possible, especially in the case of Zeezrom when he is in a weakened condition:
- Alma 15:5
- and they went in unto the house unto Zeezrom and they found him upon his bed sick being very low with a burning fever … and when he saw them he stretched forth his
hand and besought them that they would heal him
The examples involving beseeching suggest that in Mosiah 16:1 Abinadi might have extended both hands in an act of pleading with king Noah and his priests, although it is also possible that here
Abinadi simply extended both hands as he continued speaking. In other words, the use of the plural hands in Mosiah 16:1 is possible, even though it would be a unique reading in the text;
elsewhere we have only “stretch forth one’s hand” when a person begins speaking (or begins speaking again) to others. The critical text will accept the plural hands here in Mosiah 16:1,
although it could very well be an error for hand.