Alma 30:2 Textual Variants

Here Oliver Cowdery initially wrote the singular number in the original manuscript; then somewhat later he inserted the plural s with heavier ink flow. This change probably occurred when Oliver read back the text to Joseph Smith. The correction does not appear to be due to editing since either the singular or plural is possible here. Elsewhere in the text we have examples of both singular number and plural numbers in reference to the greatness of a number; none of the following cases show any textual variation between number and numbers:

singular number (7 times)

• Mosiah 21:17 because of the greatness of their number that had been slain
• Alma 3:1 because of the greatness of their number
• Alma 44:21 because of the greatness of the number
• Alma 48:4 because of the greatness of the number of his people
• Helaman 1:25 notwithstanding the greatness of the number of the Nephites which were slain
• Helaman 4:20 because of the greatness of the number of the Lamanites
• Mormon 4:17 because of the greatness of their number

plural numbers (4 times)

• Alma 49:6 because of the greatness of their numbers
• Alma 62:19 and beholding the greatness of their numbers
• Helaman 11:31 because of the exceeding greatness of the numbers
• of those robbers
• Mormon 6:8 because of the greatness of their numbers

For each case involving greatness, we allow the earliest textual sources to determine whether we have number or numbers. The critical text will accept the plural numbers in Alma 30:2.