Alma 8:26 Textual Variants

In most instances the past participle for the verb take is the standard taken, but in at least six instances the original text read took, which is equivalent to the simple past-tense form for the verb. The critical text will in each case follow the evidence from the earliest reading. For a complete listing of the other instances of past participial took, see under past participles in volume 3. For discussion regarding a complicated example, see under Alma 47:1.

There is some possibility here in Alma 8:26 that the took could be interpreted as a simple past-tense form of the verb rather than as an implied instance of hast took. For discussion of this possibility, see under 1 Nephi 1:14 (which originally read “when my father had read and saw many great and marvelous things”). There are three other examples of conjoined took that could be interpreted as either a simple past-tense form or as a past participle:

• Alma 24:10
  • and also that he hath forgiven us of these our many sins and murders which we have committed and [took 01ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQS|taken RT] away the guilt from our hearts
• Helaman 11:24
  • there were a certain number of the dissenters from the people of Nephi which had some years before gone over unto the Lamanites and [took 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQS|taken RT] upon themselves the name of Lamanites
• 4 Nephi 1:20
  • and there was still peace in the land save it were a small part of the people which had revolted from the church and [took 1ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQS|taken RT] upon them the name of Lamanites As far as the critical text is concerned, the original took will be restored in all these cases.