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Plural amplifications


In order to emphasize or amplify an idea or phrase, biblical Hebrew often uses a plural noun rather than a singular noun.  The King James translators changed these Hebrew plural nouns into English single nouns.  The following examples from the Old Testament show where the plural nouns were found in the original Hebrew.

  • Genesis 4:10 — “thy brother’s blood [bloods] crieth unto me from the ground”
  • Isaiah 33:6 — “…and strength of salvation [salvations]
  • Psalms 25:6 — “Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and they lovingkindnesses, for they have been ever of old.”
  • Psalms 94:1 — “O Lord God, to whom vengeance [vengeances] belongeth”
  • Proverbs 1:20 — “Wisdom [wisdoms] crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets”
  • Job 21:30 — “the wicked shall be brought forth to the day of wrath [wraths]

The Book of Mormon contains numerous examples of Hebraic plural nouns where the singular form would be expected:

  • 1 Nephi 2:11 — “…because of the foolish imaginations of his heart”
  • 1 Nephi 12:2 — “…great slaughters with the sword…”
  • 1 Nephi 15:5 — “…mine afflictions were great above all…”
  • 2 Nephi 1:12 — “…there shall be bloodsheds…”
  • 2 Nephi 6:15 — “…by bloodsheds…”
  • 2 Nephi 26:6 — “…and all manner of destructions…”
  • Jacob 2:35 — “…because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts…
  • Jacob 4:7 — “…and his great condescensions unto the children of men…”
  • Jacob 5:72 — “labor with their mights
  • Omni 1:13 — “…they were led by many preachings and prophesyings...”
  • Mosiah 8:20 — “the understandings of the children of men”
  • Mosiah 23:24 — “…and he did show forth his might power unto them, and great were their rejoicings.”
  • Alma 4:9 — “…envyings, .. persecutions…”
  • Alma 16:18 — “…the priests…did preach against all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, …and revilings…”
  • Alma 20:13 — “their cunning and their lyings
  • Mormon 1:19 — “…there were witchcrafts and magics…”

All of the above is further evidence that the Book of Mormon is indeed sacred, translated scripture, and not the crafty deceptions of a cunning, sinister young man, as the critics would propose.


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