Alma 12:31 Textual Variants

Royal Skousen
they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal and becoming as [Gods 01AIJLMNOQRT|gods BCDEFGHKPS] knowing good from evil

The word Gods here should probably be capitalized; the current LDS text reads Gods, while the RLDS text reads gods. In the corresponding passage in the current King James Bible, this word is not capitalized, but in the original 1611 printing it was:

The meaning here in Alma 12:31 is that Adam and Eve would become like God by knowing good from evil, which is explained later in Genesis 3:

There is no reference here in Genesis 3 to Adam and Eve becoming lesser gods or pagan gods, which would require the lowercase usage. For further discussion regarding the capitalization of the singular god /God, see under 2 Nephi 9:30. For discussion regarding the capitalization of Messiah, Savior, and Christ, see under 1 Nephi 1:19.

Summary: Maintain the capitalized Gods in Alma 12:31; here the text intends to say that Adam and Eve would become as Gods, equal to God in knowing good and evil.

Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon, Part. 3

References