Textual Echoes from Jacob, 1
Textual Echoes from Jacob
Introduction
Jacob is a powerful figure in the Book of Mormon; he wrote 15,000 words of its text,
placing him only behind Mormon, Nephi, Alma, and Moroni in terms of the number of words
written.1 John Tanner notednotes, “Jacob's style is unique among Book of Mormon authors. He
simply sounds different. He used a more personal vocabulary than most and took a more intimate
approach to his audience.”2 Tanner focused focuses on specific words that are predominately
used by Jacob in the Book of Mormon.
“For example, half the book's references to anxiety occur in Jacob, and over two-thirds of
the references to grieve and tender (or their derivatives), as well as shame, are Jacob's. He
is the only person to have used delicate, contempt, and lonesome. Likewise, he is the only
Book of Mormon author to have employed wound in reference to emotions; and he never
used it, as everyone else did, to describe a physical injury. Similarly, Jacob used pierce or
its variants frequently (four of the ten instances in the Book of Mormon), and he used it
exclusively in a spiritual sense. Such evidence suggests an author who lived close to his
emotions and who knew how to express those emotions.”3
However, Tvedtnes pointed points out that Jacob’s literary style may have been
influenced by Lehi. He statedstates, “An examination of Jacob's two sermons and his treatise
show that he was clearly influenced by the admonitions addressed to him by his father Lehi in 2
1 This figure includes words that Jacob attributes to others (e.g. Isaiah and Zenos). 2 John S. Tanner, “Jacob and His Descendants as Authors,” in Rediscovering the Book of Mormon, Ed. John L.
Sorenson and Melvin J. Thorne (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1991) –need page ref 3 John S. Tanner, “Jacob and His Descendants as Authors,” in Rediscovering the Book of Mormon, Ed. John L.
Sorenson and Melvin J. Thorne (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1991). need page ref.
Comment [K1]: Many writers use the literary
present to talk about writer’s works, even if the book
was published long ago. You can use this technique
if you feel it helps your paper.
Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5"
Comment [K2]: I would suggest putting this
quote as a block quote because of its length.
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 2
Nephi 2.”4 Tevdtnes demonstrated demonstrates a series of textual parallels between Jacob and
Lehi’s words:
“Jacob's use of plain and truth in both of his discourses (2 Nephi 9:40, 47; Jacob 2:11;
4:13—14) likely derived from his father's comments in 2 Nephi 1:26. Jacob's frequent
reference to the heart (2 Nephi 9:33, 49; Jacob 2:10, 22; 3:1—3; 6:4—5) reminds us that
Lehi, too, spoke of the heart (2 Nephi 1:17, 21; 2:7). Both Lehi (2 Nephi 3:9—10, 16—
17) and Jacob (Jacob 4:5) spoke of Moses and the law of Moses. Jacob followed Lehi's
example in using the term Holy One to denote the Lord.”5
These findings from Tanner and Tvedtnes are at once remarkable and unsurprising. On
the one hand, it is remarkable that the The Book of Mormon shows great literary depth as ,
demonstrated by individuals with unique speaking style and intertextuality between a father and
a son. On the other hand, given that the The Book of Mormon is an ancient record, written by
real (and different) individuals, we shouldn’t be surprised to find that its authors act like real
individuals and quote each other.
The premise of the present article builds on the work of Tanner and Tvedtnes by asserting
that Jacob did record unique phrases and that these words were later quoted by other prophets in
the The Book of Mormon. I will demonstrate present four cases in which Jacob’s words were
cited by later prophets (each case containing several allusions), thus providing ademonstrating
Jacob’s words have a literary legacy of the use of Jacob’s words. Before turning to these specific
cases, a brief overview of textual echoes in the The Book of Mormon is in order.
Intertextuality in the The Book of Mormon
4 John A. Tvedtnes, “The Influence of Lehi’s Admonitions on the Teachings of His Son Jacob,” Journal of Book of
Mormon Studies 3.2 (1994): 35. 5 John A. Tvedtnes,“The Influence of Lehi’s Admonitions on the Teachings of His Son Jacob,” Journal of Book of
Mormon Studies 3.2 (1994): 35-36.
Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5", First line: 0"
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 3
Intertextuality has many facets, including how writers use similar words and phrases.
Kerry Muhlestein has pointed out, “Intertextual studies have become important in biblical
scholarship as well as in the study of other sacred texts. In recent decades, biblical studies have
been greatly enhanced by an understanding of how certain scriptural themes and ideas developed
throughout Israelite history as evidenced by intertextual studies. Rarely has this type of work
been applied to the Book of Mormon.”6Intertextuality has many facets, including how writers
use similar words and phrases. In fact, Rresearchers have already found several instances of
textual allusions in the The Book of Mormon.7 It is important to note, however, that “little or no
consensus has emerged regarding what distinguishes a quotation from a mere verbal coincidence
or vague reminiscence.”8
Thus, one of the challenges in uncovering textual connections within scripture is
discerning whether one prophet was is quoting another, or if it the connection is simply a
coincidence. At times this can become very subjective. Scholars have wrestled with this issue as
they have searched for intertextual connections between the Old and New Testaments as well as
with other works of literature.
6 Kerry Muhlestein, “Insights Available as We Approach the Original Text,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies
15.1 (2006): 61. 7 For example, John Welch showed multiple examples of “internal textual consistency [that occurred] in the Book of
Mormon” such as Alma quoting verbatim twenty-one words from Lehi or Samuel the Lamanite’s twenty word
quotation from King Benjamin (See “Textual Consistency.” John W. Welch, ed. Reexploring the Book of Mormon
(Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co.; Provo, Utah : Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies,
1992), 21-23.) Noel Reynolds pointed out a variety of ways in which Zenos’s words are used across the Book of
Mormon (“Nephite Uses and Interpretations of Zenos,” in The Allegory of the Olive Tree, ed. Stephen D. Ricks and
John W. Welch (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1994).) . Close parallels exist between King Benjamin’s speech and
many of Alma’s words (John W. Welch and Stephen D. Ricks, ed., King Benjamin’s Speech: That Ye May Learn
Wisdom (Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1998), 44-45 and Grant Hardy, Understanding the
Book of Mormon (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010), 134.) Certain phrases (e.g. “firm, steadfast, and
immovable”) frequently appear together, demonstrating intertextuality throughout the text (Melvin J. Thorne and
John W. Welch, Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s (Provo, UT:
Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Texts, 1999), 213.) 8 Richard L. Schultz, The Search for Quotation, (Sheffield, England: Sheffield Academic Press, 1999), 18.
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 4
In his classic work, Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul, Richard Hays provides
seven criteria that can be used to distinguish between real and illusory allusions.
(1) Availability. Was the proposed source of the echo available to the author
and/or original readers?
(2) Volume. The volume of an echo is determined primarily by the degree of
explicit repetition of words or syntactical patterns, but other factors may also be
relevant [such as] how distinctive or prominent is the precursor text within
Scripture.
(3) Recurrence. How often does [the author] elsewhere cite or allude to the same
scriptural passage?
(4) Thematic Coherence. How well does the alleged echo fit into the line of
argument that [the author] is developing?
(5) Historical Plausibility. Could [the author] have intended the alleged meaning
effect?
(6) History of Interpretation. Have other readers, both critical and pre-critical,
heard the same echoes?
(7) Satisfaction. With or without clear confirmation from the other criteria listed
here, does the proposed reading make sense?9
Although Hays focused these criteria on the writings of Paul, they apply equally well to
textual allusions within the The Book of Mormon. While not explicitly referred to throughout
this chapter, these criteria were These criteria, while not explicitly referred to throughout this
paper, were used to evaluate the textual echoes from Jacob. As stated previously, the purpose of
this article is to demonstrate and examine a series of textual allusions that originated with Jacob
and were used by later prophets.
Four Cases of Textual Echoes from Jacob
Case #1 Nephi 9 and 2 Nephi 28
While we will see that Jacob influenced prophets who lived centuries after him, it appears
that Jacob affected Nephi’s choice of words. While it may seem strange to think of Nephi as
being influenced by his younger brother Jacob, the tight connections between 2 Nephi 9 (Jacob’s
9 Richard B. Hays, Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul (Yale University Press, 1993), 29-31.
Comment [K3]: Perhaps this point could be
changed to a question to match the format of the
other criteria., unless this is a quote and not a
paraphrase.
Comment [K4]: Use was or were depending on
whether you are referring back to series or allusion
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 5
sermon) and 2 Nephi 28 (a later sermon given by Nephi) lead one to believe that this is in fact
the case.10
Nephi’s allusions to Jacob’s earlier words are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1
Nephi’s Allusions in 2 Nephi 28 to Jacob’s words in 2 Nephi 9
_______________________________________________________________________
Allusion # Nephi’s Words Jacob’s Words Allusion Times Exact Phrase is Used Elsewhere in Scripture
Allusion #1 2 Nephi 28:13 2 Nephi 9:30 They persecute the
meek
0
Allusion #2 2 Nephi 28:15 2 Nephi 9:42 The wise, and the
learned, and…the rich
who are puffed up
0
Allusion #3 2 Nephi 28:15 2 Nephi 9:36 Who commit
whoredoms
0
Allusion #4 2 Nephi 28:15 2 Nephi 9:36 They shall be thrust
down to hell
0
Allusion #5 2 Nephi 28:23 2 Nephi 9:19, 26 Death and hell and the
devil
0
Allusion #6 2 Nephi 28:23 2 Nephi 9:19, 26 Lake of fire and
brimstone, which is
endless torment
0
Allusion #7 2 Nephi 28:28 2 Nephi 9:38 And, in fine, wo unto
all those who…
0
_______________________________________________________________________
In 2 Nephi 28:13, Nephi states that the proud “rob the poor” because of their “fine
sanctuaries” and “fine clothing” and that “they persecute the meek because” of their pride. There
are both conceptual and textual echoes from Jacob’s earlier words. Jacob had said, “Because they
are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their
treasures” (2 Nephi 9:30). In both instances, the proud (wealthy) rob (or despise) the poor and
10 Nephi explicitly tells us that he is quoting from Jacob in 2 Nephi 6-10 (see 2 Nephi 6:1).
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 6
persecute the meek because of their pride (wealth). Pride and riches thus are pinpointed as the
cause of violating the second great commandment – to love one’s neighbor as oneself.11
Nephi further states that “The wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in
the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit
whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God
almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell” (2 Nephi 28:15). Each italicized phrase in the
preceding verse connects to Jacob’s words, either in 2 Nephi 9:42 or 2 Nephi 9:36. Jacob taught,
“Wo unto them who commit whoredoms, for they shall be thrust down to hell” (2 Nephi 9:36),
and Nephi expands this fate to “the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up” (2
Nephi 28:15).
In 2 Nephi 28:23, Nephi warns both those who are pacified and those who are angry with
the truth that “they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all
that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to
their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and
brimstone, which is endless torment.” In making this statement, Nephi clearly alludes to Jacob’s
previous statement that “the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who
have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell,
and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment” (2 Nephi 9:26, see
also 2 Nephi 9:19). While Jacob uses these phrases to illustrate the majesty of the Savior’s
atonement, Nephi uses them to warn those who are pacified and are “at ease in Zion…and are
angry because of the truth of God” (2 Nephi 28:24, 28).
11 An interesting difference between the two statements is Jacob’s focus on wealth, versus Nephi’s focus on pride.
Jacob states “wo unto the rich who are rich as to the things of the world,” not explicitly drawing any distinction
between the wealthy who are caught up in pride versus the wealthy who use their means to bless humanity. Later
however Jacob will target “they that are rich, who are puffed up…because of their riches” (2 Nephi 9:42).
Comment [K5]: This might be more suited for a
footnote.
Comment [K6]: See comment K6.
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 7
Nephi’s final allusion to Jacob in 2 Nephi 28 refers back to the tenth of the ten woes
given by Jacob. Nephi states, “And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry with the
truth of God!” (2 Nephi 28:28). Jacob had used a similar phrase as he capped his list of woes by
stating, “And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and
behold his face, and remain in their sins” (2 Nephi 9:38). John Welch stated that Jacob’s “‘ten
woes’ function as the equivalent of a contemporaneous Nephite set of ten commandments.”12
Perhaps Nephi referred to this final wo from Jacob to reemphasize all the warnings issued by
Jacob.
Jacob’s sermon in 2 Nephi 9 is a stern one; it contains more references to “hell” than any
other chapter in all of scripture.13
Thus it seems natural that when Nephi needs to sternly rebuke
the prideful he would turn to this text. But why would Nephi, the senior leader of the Nephites,
quote from his younger brother? One reason might be that Nephi was trying to prepare the
people for the eventual transfer of authority from himself to Jacob. Perhaps by quoting from
Jacob he added additional credibility to Jacob’s words. It may also be that the language Jacob
had used had been codified and retaught among the Nephites. In this case Nephi would have
been providing a second witness to principles the Nephites were already familiar with.
Case #2 2 Nephi 9 and King Benjamin’s Address
The rationale that King Benjamin could have alluded to Jacob’s words is easy to establish.
Amaleki, the last writer on the small plates (which contained Jacob’s words) delivered these
small plates to King Benjamin (see Omni 1:25). These records would have been of great interest
to Benjamin and it seems likely that he would have carefully studied them. The textual allusions
12 Reexploring the Book of Mormon: the F.A.R.M.S. Updates, Ed. John W. Welch (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book
Company, 1992), 72. 13 In addition, only one chapter in all scripture (Alma 12) has as many references to “death.”
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 8
Benjamin makes to Jacob are striking. At least thirteen connections exist between Jacob’s words
in 2 Nephi 9 and King Benjamin’s words. These allusions are outlined in Table 2.
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 9
Table 2
King Benjamin’s Allusions to Jacob’s words in 2 Nephi 9
_______________________________________________________________________
Allusion # Benjamin’s Words Jacob’s Words Allusion Times Exact Phrase is Used Elsewhere in Scripture14
Allusion #1 Mosiah 2:15, 17 2 Nephi 9:1, 3 These things that ye 1 (Helaman 5:8)
Allusion #2 Mosiah 2:26 2 Nephi 9:7 Its mother earth 0 (but Mormon 6:15
is very close).
Allusion #3 Mosiah 2:28 2 Nephi 9:44 Rid…Garments 3 (Jacob 2:2,
Mormon 9:35, D&C
61:34)
Allusion #4 Mosiah 2:33 2 Nephi 9:38 Wo…remain and die
in…sins
0
Allusion #5 Mosiah 2:38 2 Nephi 9:16 Whose flame ascendeth
up forever and ever
1 (Alma 12:17)
Allusion #6 Mosiah 2:41 2 Nephi 9:24 To the end…The Lord
God…has spoken it
0
Allusion #7 Mosiah 3:19 2 Nephi 9:39 Yield to the enticings 0
Allusion #8 Mosiah 3:23 2 Nephi 9:40 I have spoken the
words
0 (But Mosiah 13:4,
and Mosiah 5:6 are
nearly identical).
Allusion #9 Mosiah 3:27 2 Nephi 9:16 And their torment is as
a lake of fire and
brimstone
0 (but Alma 12:17 is
very close).
Allusion #10 Mosiah 4:4 2 Nephi 9:54 The remainder of my
words
0
Allusion #11 Mosiah 4:11 2 Nephi 9:40 Remember…the
greatness of [the Lord]
0
Allusion #12 Mosiah 4:11 2 Nephi 9:42 In the depths of
humility
2 (Mosiah 21:14,
Alma 62:41).
Allusion #13 Mosiah 4:23 2 Nephi 9:30 Who are rich as…to
the things of the world
0
_______________________________________________________________________
These allusions can be divided into two sections – structural and doctrinal allusions. Five
of Benjamin’s allusions to Jacob follow the structural outline or commentaries with which Jacob
taught. After Jacob quoted Isaiah 50–51, he began the main body of his address by explaining
14 Later references to the phrase in the Book of Mormon may be allusions to Jacob or Benjamin (or both).
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 10
why he had read the words of Isaiah. He saidsays, “I have read these things that ye might
know…I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice” (2 Nephi 9:1, 3). Similarly, after
explaining the how he had labored as their king, Benjamin saidsays, “I tell you these things that
ye may know…I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom” (Mosiah 2:15, 17).15
King
Benjamin used uses Jacob’s words to explain that he is not responsible for the sins of the people,
saying, “I have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together that I might rid my garments
of your blood” (Mosiah 2:28). This echoes Jacob’s sentiment in 2 Nephi 9:44 when he shook his
“garments” before the people, saying, “I shook your iniquities from my soul…and am rid of your
blood” (2 Nephi 9:44).16
Later, both said say that they had have spoken the words which God had commanded
them to say (2 Nephi 9:40, Mosiah 3:23).17
Finally, both had have breaks in their discourses
(Jacob’s at the end of 2 Nephi 9, King Benjamin’s at the end of Mosiah 3). Jacob prefaced
prefaces his break by saying, “On the morrow I will declare unto you the remainder of my words,”
and King Benjamin resumed resumes his address by saying, “I would again call your attention,
that ye may hear and understand the remainder of my words” (2 Nephi 9:54, Mosiah 4:4).
A second section of allusions are more doctrinal in nature. King Benjamin uses Jacob’s
language to describe his impending death. He states, “I am also of the dust. And ye behold that I
am old, and am about to yield up this mortal frame to its mother earth” (Mosiah 2:26). Jacob too
had described a time when “this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother
earth” (2 Nephi 9:7). King Benjamin plainly outlines the consequences of not repenting, stating,
“there is a wo pronounced upon him who… remaineth and dieth in his sins…having
15 Note that the phrase is used twice in quick succession by both Jacob and Benjamin. 16 Another connection with Jacob’s words comes from Jacob 2:2 in which Jacob says that he is speaking to the
people, “That I might rid my garments of your sins.” 17 Note that in Mosiah 3:23 it may be the angel speaking as opposed to King Benjamin.
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 11
transgressed the law of God” (Mosiah 2:33). In describing a “wo” that had been pronounced,
King Benjamin may have been referring to Jacob, who had earlier proclaimed, “Wo unto all
those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their
sins…remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God” (2 Nephi 9:38-39).
Benjamin later refers to another one of Jacob’s “wo’s.” King Benjamin taughtteaches, “Wo be
unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those
who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world” (Mosiah 4:23). Jacob had saidsays,: “Wo
unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world” (2 Nephi 9:30).
King Benjamin speaks of specific consequences for the unrepentant sinner. He states that
those who die as enemies to God will feel “like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up
forever and ever” (Mosiah 2:38). Benjamin also quotes the Lord as saying (speaking of the
wicked), “their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and
whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever” (Mosiah 3:27). This directly echoes Jacob’s
teaching that, (speaking of the filthy), “their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose
flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end” (2 Nephi 9:16).18
As King Benjamin explains to his people how they can avoid this fate and “retain a
remission” of their sins, he exhorts them to “remember, and always retain in remembrance, the
greatness of God, and…humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of
the Lord daily” (Mosiah 4:11).19
Similarly, Jacob told tells his people to “remember the
greatness of the Holy One of Israel” and said says that those who “come down in the depths of
humility” will receive answers to their prayers (2 Nephi 9:40, 42).
18 An even stronger connection with these verses may be in Jacob 6:10. 19 The phrase “retain in remembrance” in this verse may be an allusion to Jacob 1:11.
Formatted: Font: Italic
Formatted: Font: Italic
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 12
There are two instances in which Benjamin appears to use Jacob’s words to make a
contrast with the point Jacob made. Benjamin saidsays, “If they hold out faithful to the end they
are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending
happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it”
(Mosiah 2:41). The This text is similar to Jacob’s, although Jacob’s words represent the opposite
end of the spectrum: “If they will not…endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord God,
the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it” (2 Nephi 9:24). By using similar words, Benjamin may
have been juxtaposing the happiness that awaits the righteous with the damnation Jacob spoke of
that awaits those who do not repent.
A second example of what appears to be textual contrasting occurs between Mosiah 3:19
and 2 Nephi 9:39. Benjamin taughtteaches,20
“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has
been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the
Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ
the Lord” (Mosiah 3:19). By yielding to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, one can overcome the
natural man. In contrast, Jacob taughtteaches, “Remember…the awfulness of yielding to the
enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death” (2 Nephi 9:39). Thus
Benjamin turns Jacob’s statement about the awful consequences of yielding to the enticings of
the devil into a positive statement about yielding to the enticings of the Spirit.
In addition to the textual allusions noted above, there are additional echoes that, while
lacking specific textual similarities, demonstrate important doctrinal connections between 2
Nephi 9 and Mosiah 2--5. Jacob was the first to explicate that “the atonement satisfieth the
demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them” (2 Nephi 9:26). This
doctrine is not stated before or after in the The Book of Mormon until King Benjamin states that
20 At this point in the text, Benjamin may be quoting the angel who spoke to him.
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 13
Christ’s “blood atoneth for the sins of those…who have died not knowing the will of God
concerning them” (Mosiah 3:11). Another doctrinal connection between the two sermons comes
in thatis that Jacob was told by an angel that the Redeemer’s name would be “Christ,” and
Benjamin had an angel tell him that the Lord would be called “Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the
Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning” (2 Nephi 10:3, Mosiah
3:8).
From the foregoing, it is evident that Benjamin utilized what we have asnow know as 2
Nephi 9 in the creation of his final address to his people. Why was this speech of particular
interest to Benjamin? While the exact circumstances of Jacob’s address in 2 Nephi 6--10 are
unknown, some have speculated that that Jacob was teaching a combined group of people--some
of whom were Nephites, others being who were indigenous people with whom the Nephites had
come in contact.21
If this is in fact the case, it may add relevance to why King Benjamin,
speaking to a relatively recently unified group of Nephites and Mulekties, would have turned to
Jacob’s discourse given on a similar occasion.
Case #3 Jacob and Samuel the Lamanite
Samuel the Lamanite demonstrated a proclivity for quoting from other prophets,
including Jacob.22
It may be that, as a Lamanite, he felt the need to buttress his words with those
of previous Nephite prophets. Samuel the Lamanite’s allusions to Jacob are summarized in Table
3.
21 See for example Brant Gardner, Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon,
Vol. 2 (Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2007). 22 Other prophets Samuel the Lamanite alludes to include Nephi, King Benjamin, and Alma2.
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 14
Table 3
Samuel the Lamanite’s Allusions to Jacob
_______________________________________________________________________
Allusion # Samuel’s Words Jacob’s Words Allusion Times Exact Phrase is Used Elsewhere in Scripture
Allusion #1 Helaman 13:14 Jacob 3:3 The righteous…from
among you
1 (Alma 10:23)
Allusion #2 Helaman 14:30 2 Nephi 10:23 Ye are free…act for
yourselves
0
Allusion #3 Helaman 14:31 2 Nephi 10:23 Choose life or death 1
Allusion #4 Helaman 15:12 2 Nephi 6:11 Driven to and fro 2
Allusion #5 Helaman 15:12 2 Nephi 6:11 Be scattered and
smitten…The Lord will
be merciful unto them
0
Allusion #6 Helaman 15:13 2 Nephi 10:2 The true knowledge of
their Redeemer
0
_______________________________________________________________________
Four of Samuel the Lamanite’s allusions to Jacob involve taking Jacob’s words about the
Nephites or Jews and applying them in Samuel’s later context. Jacob had saidsays to the
Nephites, “Except ye repent the land is cursed for your sakes…except ye repent they [the
Lamanites] shall possess the land of your inheritance, and the Lord God will lead away the
righteous out from among you” (Jacob 3:3-4). This prophecy was fulfilled in the days of Mosiah
(see Omni 1:12), but by moving Jacob’s words forward in time, Samuel gave gives them
relevance to his day. He saidsays, “The time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye shall cast out
the righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe for destruction…A curse shall come upon
the land…because of the people’s sake” (Helaman 13:13, 17).
In a similar way, Samuel took takes words stated about the Nephites and applied applies
them to the Lamanites. Jacob had taught that “Our children shall be restored, that they may come
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 15
to that which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer” (2 Nephi 10:2). Samuel the
Lamanite saidsays, “And this is according to the prophecy, that they [the Lamanites] shall again
be brought to the true knowledge, which is the knowledge of their Redeemer” (Helaman 15:13).
Samuel the Lamanite also brought brings Jacob’s words forward in time by taking
statements he Jacob made about the Jews and applying them to the Lamanites. Speaking of the
Jews, Jacob saidsays, “After they are driven to and fro…they shall be scattered, and smitten, and
hated; nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them” (2 Nephi 6:11). Samuel applied applies
these words to the Lamanites, saying, “Notwithstanding they [the Lamanites] shall be driven to
and fro upon the face of the earth, and be hunted, and shall be smitten and scattered abroad,
having no place for refuge, the Lord shall be merciful unto them” (Helaman 15:12).
While there is not the same tight textual connection as with those verses previously
discussed, Samuel the Lamanite may have made another reference to Jacob’s words in this same
section. In speaking of the Jews, Jacob had saidsays, speaking of the Jews, “There is none other
nation on earth that would crucify their God. For should the mighty miracles be wrought among
other nations they would repent” (2 Nephi 10:3-4). Samuel took takes this concept and applied
applies it to the Lamanites, saying, “Had the mighty works been shown unto them which have
been shown unto you…ye can see of yourselves that they never would again have dwindled in
unbelief” (Helaman 15:15).
In addition to the allusions described (which take phrases about the Nephites or Jews and
then pull them forward in time), two of Samuel the Lamanite’s allusions to Jacob come from 2
Nephi 10:23. Jacob had taughtteaches, “Remember that ye are free to act for yourselves – to
choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.” Samuel saidsays, “Ye are free; ye
are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God…hath given unto you that ye might choose
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 16
life or death” (Helaman 14:30-31). 2 Nephi 10:23 comes at the end of the concluding chapter of
Jacob’s sermon to the Nephites in 2 Nephi 6-10. It may have beenbe that Samuel used uses these
verses to emphasize that one of the overarching messages of 2 Nephi 10 – that the Lord will
fulfill his promises (see 2 Nephi 10:2, 9, 17, 21), applied applies just as much to the Lamanites as
to the Nephties. Ultimately, the Lord’s promises are extendedextend to all; each individual is free
to choose whether to accept the promise of eternal life or the consequence of everlasting death.
Samuel the Lamanite appears to use Jacob’s words in a unique way--shifting primarily by
them forward in time to takeby taking statements about the Nephites or Jews and applying them
to his day. It is interesting that while Jacob points to the Lamanites as the ones who will
eventually destroy unrepentant Nephites (see Jacob 3:3)., Samuel, --though he speaks about the
destruction of the Nephites, --never explicitly identifies the Lamanites as the ones who will do so.
It may be that it was not expedient for a Lamanite to tell the Nephites that the Lamanites would
destroy them, but by alluding to Jacob’s words those who had ears to hear may have remembered
Jacob’s earlier prophecy that the Lamanites had also been given many promises, and would
eventually “scourge” the Nephites, “even unto destruction” (Jacob 3:3).
Case #4 Jacob and Moroni2
Moroni, the final author of the Book of Mormon, has been noted as one who has ais
fondness for of alluding to previous Book of Mormon writers.23
Moroni frequently uses phrases
similar to ones stated by Jacob, and there are at least nine phrases that are exclusively (or nearly
exclusively) used (or nearly so) by Jacob and Moroni. These allusions are summarized in Table 4.
23 Grant Hardy, Understanding the Book of Mormon (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010), p. 250-263.
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 17
Table 4
Moroni’s Allusions to Jacob
_______________________________________________________________________
Allusion # Moroni’s Words Jacob’s Words Allusion Times Exact Phrase is Used Elsewhere in Scripture
Allusion #1 Mormon 8:37, 39 Jacob 2:19 The naked and…the
sick and the afflicted
0
Allusion #2 Mormon 9:2, 5 Jacob 3:8 When ye shall be
brought
0
Allusion #3 Mormon 9:14 2 Nephi 9:15 And then cometh the
judgment
0
Allusion #4 Mormon 9:14 2 Nephi 9:16 Righteous shall be
righteous still…filthy
shall be filthy still
0
Allusion #5 Mormon 9:17 Jacob 4:9 By the power of his
word man
0
Allusion #6 Ether 8:25 2 Nephi 9:9 Who beguiled our first
parents
0
Allusion #7 Moroni 10:26 2 Nephi 9:38 Wo…die in their sins 1 (Mosiah 2:33)
Allusion #8 Moroni 10:34 2 Nephi 9:13 The paradise of God…
spirit…body
0
Allusion #9 Moroni 10:34 Jacob 6:13 Meet you before the
pleasing bar
0
_____________________________________________________________________
Five of these allusions come from Moroni’s first farewell message that appears in
Mormon 8–9. Moroni chastises future readers, statingasking, “Why do ye adorn yourselves with
that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and
the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?” (Mormon 8:39). Perhaps Moroni intentionally
alluded to Jacob’s words to illustrate that latter-day readers are not so much better than former-
day Nephites. Perhaps Moroni wanted us to see that Jacob’s counsel on riches to the materialistic
Nephites of what to do with riches still applies today: “Ye will seek [riches] for the intent to do
good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer
relief to the sick and the afflicted” (Jacob 2:18–19).
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 18
Moroni continues his rebuke to modern readers stating, “When ye shall be brought to see
your nakedness before God…it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon you. O then…cry
mightily unto the Father in the name of Jesus, that perhaps ye may be found spotless, pure, fair,
and white” (Mormon 9:5-6). Jacob also discussed the dread that would come to those who had to
stand before God in their sins. He said, “O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of your
sins that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the
throne of God” (Jacob 3:8). Moroni tells us these things because he wants modern readers to
prepare for the Judgment. He states that “all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and
loosed from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death. And then cometh the
judgment of the Holy One upon them” (Mormon 9:13–14). This echoes Jacob’s statement that
“when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become
immortal, they must appear before the judgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel; and then cometh
the judgment” (2 Nephi 9:15).
The allusion just mentioned was between Mormon 9:13–14 and 2 Nephi 9:15. The case
for an intentional echo is strengthened by the following connection between Mormon 9:14 and 2
Nephi 9:16. Continuing his thoughts on judgment, Moroni says that the time will come when “he
that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is righteous shall be righteous still” (Mormon 9:14).
This appears to be a direct echo of Jacob’s words that at the day of final judgment: “they who are
righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still” (2 Nephi 9:16).
As Moroni turns his attention toward the miraculous power of God, he again alludes to
Jacob. Moroni says, “Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his word the heaven and the
earth should be; and by the power of his word man was created of the dust of the earth; and by
the power of his word have miracles been wrought?” (Mormon 9:17). This is related to Jacob’s
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 19
statement, “For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which
earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world
was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the earth…?” (Jacob
4:9). By making these allusions to Jacob at the end of the The Book of Mormon, Moroni may be
urging his readers to go back and read Jacob’s words more carefully, with the understanding that
they are meant for latter-day readers.
One of Moroni’s allusions to Jacob comes in Ether 8 as Moroni discusses the evils of
secret combinations. He states that secret combinations are “built up by the devil, who is the
father of all lies24
; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar
who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of
men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the
beginning” (Ether 8:25). Similarly, Jacob speaks of secret combinations, stating that the wicked
“become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain
with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first
parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men
unto secret combinations of murder” (2 Nephi 9:9). Perhaps by alluding to Jacob’s stern words
(which include the context of dwelling eternally with Satan) Moroni hoped to underscore to
modern readers the serious dangers of secret combinations.
Three final allusions to Jacob appear in Moroni’s last words. Moroni writes, “Wo unto
them who shall do these things away and die, for they die in their sins, and they cannot be saved”
(Moroni 10:26). As seen with King Benjamin, Moroni alludes to the tenth of Jacob’s ten woes
(see 2 Nephi 9:38), which may have been a way of reminding readers of all ten.
24 The phrase father of all lies appears in 2 Nephi 2:18 and Moses 4:4. The statement father of lies is only used by
Jacob, in 2 Nephi 9:9).
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 20
In his final verse, Moroni says, “And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the
paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite” (Moroni 10:34). Moroni’s
imminent death must have made these words from Jacob increasingly relevant: “O how great the
plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the
righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is
restored to itself again” (2 Nephi 9:13). One last allusion to Jacob’s words is found in Moroni’s
final phrase. Moroni says, “[I will] meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah...
Amen” (Moroni 10:34), echoing an earlier farewell from Jacob: “I shall meet you before the
pleasing bar of God…Amen” (Jacob 6:13). Why does Moroni twice echo Jacob twice in his final
words? Although there is no way to be certain tell for sure, it is possible that Moroni felt a
special relationship with Jacob. Just as Jacob stood in the giant shadow of his mighty older
brother Nephi, perhaps Moroni felt small compared to Mormon and looked to Jacob as tofor
guidance on how to play the role of the junior author. Moreover, Moroni likely identified with
Jacob’s words in Jacob 7:26 (“We being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out
from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren”) in ways that
Jacob may not have fully foreseen.
By frequently quoting from Jacob, Moroni brings applies Jacob’s words forward to
modern readers. Jacob originally spoke to Nephites, and it isn’t clear that his words were
specifically intended for modern readers. But by using phrases such as the naked and … the sick
and the afflicted, the righteous shall be righteous still…[and the] filthy shall be filthy still,
Moroni brings images from the sermons from Jacob 2 and 2 Nephi 9 directly to the latter-day
readers. His frequent allusions to Jacob reinforce the importance of Jacob’s words.
Conclusion
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 21
Jacob is an important figure in the The Book of Mormon and his words had a lasting
impact – not only in their original form, but also in how later Book of Mormon prophets used
these phrases. Jacob’s stern address in 2 Nephi 9 produced phrases such as their torment is as a
lake of fire and brimstone, later alluded to by Nephi, King Benjamin and Alma2. His ten woes,
also included in that same chapter, are alluded to by Nephi, King Benjamin and Moroni,
suggesting that they had become a well-known feature of Nephite theology.
Individuals in The Book of Mormon appear to have used Jacob’s words in different ways.
Nephi used Jacob’s words to underscore the serious consequences of sin. He also may have
emphasized Jacob’s words to pave the way for Jacob’s succession as the spiritual leader of his
people. King Benjamin appears to have used Jacob’s words to provide both doctrinal and
structural underpinnings for his address. Samuel the Lamanite took Jacob’s words (made six
centuries previously) about the Nephites and Jews and likened them to the Nephites and
Lamanites of his day. Moroni frequently quotes from Jacob, perhaps with a desire to urge us to
carefully return to Jacob’s words, and perhaps because he felt a kinship with him.
Textual allusions to Jacob are not limited to those discussed in this article. Additional
phrases from Jacob echoed by later Book of Mormon speakers include infinite atonement,25
first
death unto life,26
plan of redemption,27
and mighty miracles.28
More work remains for
exploration of how doctrines, concepts, and phrases first used by Jacob are later alluded to or
remade by later Book of Mormon prophets. This study underscores the fact that, while often
standing in Nephi’s shadow, Jacob was a powerful literary figure in the Book of Mormon. His
25 2 Nephi 9:7 and Alma 34:12 26 2 Nephi 9:15 and Alma 11:45 27 Jacob 6:8, Alma 12:25, and thirteen other times in the book of Alma (Alma2 appears to have used this phrase
regularly). 28 2 Nephi 10:4, 2 Nephi 26:13, and eight other references.
Comment [K7]: Change to em dash.
Comment [K8]: I feel that these reasons were
already stated right after each section, so maybe they
do not need to be repeated here (or maybe they can
all be tied together somehow?)
Textual Echoes from Jacob, 22
words influenced not only future generations of modern readers, but also later prophets in his
own dispensation.
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