“Nd Shalt Not Remember the Reproach of Thy Youth”

Alan C. Miner

John Tvedtnes writes that in comparing the Isaiah text from the King James Bible with the Book of Mormon, we find that in 3 Nephi 22:4 (compare Isaiah 54:4) after the words "thy youth," the Book of Mormon adds the phrase "and shalt not remember the reproach of thy youth." This phrase was not in the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon, nor is it found in the RLDS version. It is apparently a printer's error, post-dating the 1830 edition. It was caused when the printer began setting the type for the next part, which reads, "and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more." After the word "reproach," his eye returned to the last word in the pervious section, "youth," which he then added. He then continued from the word "youth," where it occurs in the original text, and did the last part of the verse again, this time properly, for he put "thy widowhood any more" in place of "thy youth." [John A. Tvedtnes, "The Isaiah Variants in the Book of Mormon," FARMS, p. 94]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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