The reader should be aware that the word “mights” as found in the Printers Manuscript was changed in later editions of the Book of Mormon to the word “might” (Alma 26:5). According to Angela Crowell, one usage of the Hebrew plural form is called the “plural of amplification.” One good example of this is found in Alma 26:5, “and did reap with your mights.” These plural forms are used to intensify or heighten the idea of the singular. In English we would use the singular form, “reap with your might.” [Angela M. Crowell, Hebraisms in the Book of Mormon,“ in Recent Book of Mormon Developments, Vol. 2, p. 8]
Reap with Your Mights
Allen & David Richardson and Anthony Bentley note that a common characteristic of the Hebrew language is to use some words only in their plural form. For example, the Hebrew word shamayim (heavens) is always rendered in the plural number. In the Book of Mormon the word heavens is always used rather than the singular heaven. Also waters (from the Hebrew mayim) is found much more often in the Book of Mormon than is water. (see Tvedtnes, ”Hebraisms,“ 1970, pp. 51-52.) The Book of Mormon also speaks of ”great slaughters with the sword“ (1 Nephi 12:2); and ”I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul“ (1 Nephi 15:25); ”and by bloodsheds and by pestilence“ (2 Nephi 6:15); and ”did reap with your mights“ (Alma 26:5) [Note that the word ”mights“ has been corrected in the present edition to read ”might."]
William Gesenius indicates that these plural forms are used to intensify or heighten the idea of the singular, while in English we would use the singular form. [Allen H. Richardson, David E. Richardson, and Anthony E. Bentley, Voice from the Dust-500 Evidences Supporting the Book of Mormon, p. 266]
Note* The term “bloodsheds” is also found in 2 Nephi 1:12; 6:15; Alma 35:15; and 62:39. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]