Alma 11:22 Textual Variants

The printer’s manuscript has unto thee. Apparently the original manuscript also did, based on the spacing between extant fragments (the actual phrase is not extant in 𝓞). The 1830 typesetter accidentally dropped the preposition unto, and no subsequent edition has ever restored it.

Of course, either reading is theoretically possible. Typically, the preposition is not expressed in the biblical passages cited in the Book of Mormon (in each instance the unto is also lacking in the King James text):

• 1 Nephi 17:55 (based on Exodus 20:12)
  • that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee
• 2 Nephi 24:3 (Isaiah 14:3)
  • the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow and from thy fear
• Mosiah 13:20 (Exodus 20:12)
  • that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee

In only one nonbiblical passage does the Book of Mormon text lack the preposition unto in the expression “give (unto) thee”:

• Jacob 2:11
  • get thou up into the temple on the morrow and declare the word which I shall give thee unto this people

Elsewhere, the Book of Mormon text uses the preposition unto in this context:

• 1 Nephi 11:7 this thing shall be given unto thee for a sign
• 2 Nephi 27:20 thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee
• Alma 11:25 these six onties which are of great worth I will give unto thee
• Alma 18:21 whatsoever thou desirest I will give unto thee
• Alma 26:27 and I will give unto thee success
• Alma 30:49 this will I give unto thee for a sign
• Helaman 10:4 the word which I have given unto thee
• Ether 3:23 these two stones will I give unto thee

Of particular importance for the reading here in Alma 11:22 is the similar phraseology nearby in Alma 11:25, where Amulek specifically refers to Zeezrom’s offer of six onties:

• Alma 11:25
  • for thou saidest unto me behold these six onties which are of great worth I will give unto thee

Interestingly, the language in the Jacob 2:11 passage (which lacks the unto) parallels the language in Helaman 10:4 (which has the unto):

• Jacob 2:11 declare the word which I shall give thee unto this people
• Helaman 10:4 declared the word which I have given unto thee unto this people

Although there is some possibility that an unto was lost in Jacob 2:11, the critical text will follow the earliest textual sources in that case—and in all other cases. Here in Alma 11:22, the original unto will be restored, but in Jacob 2:11 no unto will be supplied.