Construct state
In the English language, a noun is usually preceded by a descriptive adjective (red house rather than house of red). However, in Hebrew and Semitic languages, a noun usually followed by a descriptive adjective phrase (house of red rather than red house). Following are examples of the ‘construct state’ in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. If Joseph Smith was a fraudulent author of a fictitious ‘Book of Mormon’, he would have used the English language phrasing, which is not the case.
From the Hebrew Bible:
- Genesis 15:4 — the word of the Lord (not the Lord’s word)
- Exodus 24:12 — tables of stone (not stone tables)
From the Book of Mormon:
- 1 Nephi 3:3 — plates of brass (not brass plates)
- 1 Nephi 3:24 — plates of brass (not brass plates)
- 1 Nephi 8:19 — rod of iron (not iron rod)
- 1 Nephi 11:25 — “…I beheld that the rod of iron…was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life, which waters are a representation of the love of God, and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.” (There are SEVEN construct states in one verse; Joseph Smith would have probably written iron rod, God’s word, water fountain, living tree, and God’s love had he written this book himself.)
- 2 Nephi 5:16 — temple of Solomon (not Solomon’s temple)
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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