Alma 17:16 Textual Variants

therefore this was the cause for which the sons of Mosiah had undertaken the work that perhaps they might bring them unto repentance that perhaps they might bring them to know [of 1ABCDEFGIJLMNOPQRST| HK] the plan of redemption

Here the 1874 RLDS edition accidentally omitted the preposition of after the verb know. It was restored to the RLDS text in the 1908 RLDS edition. The verb form “to know of something” is quite common in the text. Consider, for instance, the following similar examples where of could theoretically be omitted:

1 Nephi 2:16 and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God
Alma 2:21 that he might know of their plans and their plots
Alma 10:17 now they knew not that Amulek could know of their design
3 Nephi 21:6 and know of the true points of my doctrine

There has been some tendency in the textual transmission to omit the of from “to know of something” (besides here in Alma 17:16):

Helaman 8:8 (1840 edition)
- as he knoweth [of 1ABDEFIJLMNOPQRST| CGHK] our iniquities
Helaman 9:41 (Oliver Cowdery, initially in 𝓟)
- he could not know [NULL >– of 1|of ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] all things
Helaman 15:7 (1874 RLDS edition)
- and to know [of 1ABCDEFGIJLMNOPQRST| HK] the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers
3 Nephi 3:4 (Oliver Cowdery, initially in 𝓟)
- and I knowing [NULL >+ of 1|of ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRST] their unconquerable spirit

On the other hand, there is no evidence for accidentally inserting of after the verb know. In any event, either reading with or without the of is possible in Alma 17:16. The critical text will follow the earliest reading by maintaining the of in this passage.

Summary: Maintain in Alma 17:16 the of in “to know of the plan of salvation”, the earliest reading; such usage is found elsewhere in the text.

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

References