BM-KJV and JE-Alma 1
Alma 1 annotated
This annotation of Alma 1 shows intertextuality between the BofM, the KJV and Jonathan Edwards. The footnotes show the frequency of appearance in each source of specific phrases and terms, along with some examples and explanations. If a source isn’t listed, the term/phrase doesn’t appear in it. Words/phrases in black with no footnotes are common. Those in blue with no footnotes mean they appear only in this one passage in the Book of Mormon.
The annotation ignores common terms and phrases (e.g., it came to pass) and focuses on nonbiblical language. Naturally Edwards often quoted the KJV, but sometimes misquoted or paraphrased biblical passages. There are few KJV citations that are not also found in Edwards (such as babblings), but many Edwards citations not found in the KJV.
For Edwards citations (JE) mostly relies on edwards.yale.edu, which has gaps in the database that can be filled from the 1808 edition of Edwards’ works which may produce more references.
Bold = KJV (~234 words)
Blue = nonbiblical BofM/D&C w/o JE (~167 words)
Red = nonbiblical BofM/D&C and JE (~219 words)
This is a work in progress.
ALMA Chapter 1
Nehor teaches false doctrines, establishes a church, introduces priestcraft, and slays Gideon—Nehor is executed for his crimes—Priestcrafts and persecutions spread among the people—The priests support themselves, the people care for the poor, and the Church prospers. About 91–88 B.C.
1 Now it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, from this time forward[1], king Mosiah having gone the way of all the earth[2], having warred a good warfare[3], walking uprightly[4] before God, leaving none to reign in his stead; nevertheless he had established laws, and they were acknowledged by[5] the people; therefore they were obliged[6] to abide by[7] the laws[8] which he had made.
2 And it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of Alma in the judgment-seat, there was a man brought before him[9] to be judged[10], a man who was large, and was noted for[11] his much strength[12].
3 And he had gone about[13] among the people[14], preaching to them[15] that which he termed[16] to be the word of God[17], bearing down[18] against the church[19]; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular[20]; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by[21] the people.
4 And he also testified[22] unto the people that all mankind[23] should be saved at the last day[24], and that they need not fear[25] nor tremble[26], but that they might lift up their heads[27] and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life[28].
5 And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even so many that[29] they began to support him and give him money[30].
6 And he began to be lifted up in[31] the pride of his heart[32], and to wear very costly apparel[33], yea, and even began to establish a church[34] after the manner of his preaching.
7 And it came to pass as he was going, to preach to those who believed on his word, he met a man who belonged to[35] the church of God[36], yea, even one of their teachers; and he began to contend with him sharply[37], that he might lead away[38] the people of the church[39]; but the man withstood him[40], admonishing him with the words of God.
8 Now the name of the man was Gideon; and it was he who was an instrument in the hands of God[41] in delivering the people[42] of Limhi out of bondage[43].
9 Now, because Gideon withstood him with the words of God he was wroth with[44] Gideon, and drew his sword[45] and began to smite[46] him. Now Gideon being stricken[47] with many years, therefore he was not able to withstand his blows[48], therefore he was slain by the sword[49].
10 And the man who slew him was taken by the people of the church, and was brought before Alma, to be judged[50] according to[51] the crimes[52] which he had committed.
11 And it came to pass that he stood before Alma and pled for himself with much boldness[53].
12 But Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first time that priestcraft[54] has been introduced[55] among[56] this people. And behold, thou art not only guilty[57] of priestcraft, but hast endeavored[58] to enforce[59] it by the sword; and were priestcraft to be enforced[60] among this people it would prove[61] their entire destruction[62].
13 And thou hast shed the blood of a righteous man, yea, a man who has done much good[63] among this people; and were we to spare thee his blood would come upon us[64] for vengeance.
14 Therefore thou art condemned to die[65], according to the law which has been given us by Mosiah, our last king; and it has been acknowledged by[66] this people; therefore this people must abide[67] by the law.
15 And it came to pass that they took him; and his name was Nehor; and they carried him upon the top[68] of the hill Manti, and there he was caused, or rather[69] did acknowledge, between[70] the heavens and the earth[71], that what he had taught to the people was contrary to the word of God[72]; and there he suffered an ignominious[73] death[74].
16 Nevertheless, this did not put an end[75] to the spreading[76] of priestcraft through the land[77]; for there were many who loved the vain things[78] of the world[79], and they went forth preaching false doctrines; and this they did for the sake of[80] riches and honor[81].
17 Nevertheless, they durst not[82] lie, if it were known, for fear of the law, for liars were punished; therefore they pretended to preach according to their belief; and now the law could have no power[83] on[84] any man for his belief.
18 And they durst not steal, for fear of the law, for such were punished; neither durst they rob, nor murder, for he that murdered[85] was punished[86] unto death.
19 But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong[87] to the church of God[88] began to persecute[89] those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon[90] them[91] the name of Christ[92].
20 Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them[93] with all manner of words[94], and this because of their humility; because they were not proud in their[95] own eyes[96], and because they did impart[97] the word of God, one with another, without money[98] and without price[99].
21 Now there was a strict law[100] among the people of the church, that there should not any man, belonging to the church[101], arise and persecute those that did not belong to the church[102], and that there should be no persecution among themselves.
22 Nevertheless, there were many among them[103] who began to be proud, and began to contend warmly with their adversaries[104], even unto blows; yea, they would smite one another with their fists[105].
23 Now this was in the second year of the reign of Alma, and it was a cause of much affliction[106] to the church; yea, it was the cause of much trial[107] with the church.
24 For the hearts of many[108] were hardened, and their names were blotted out[109], that they were remembered no more[110] among[111] the people of God[112]. And also many withdrew themselves from among them[113].
25 Now this was a great trial[114] to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable[115] in keeping the commandments of God[116], and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon[117] them.
26 And when the priests left their labor to impart the word[118] of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God[119]. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again[120] diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than[121] the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than[122] the learner[123]; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor[124], every man according to his strength.
27 And they did impart of their substance[125], every man according to that which[126] he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and[127] comely[128].
28 And thus they did establish the affairs of the church[129]; and thus they began to have continual peace[130] again, notwithstanding all[131] their persecutions.
29 And now, because of the steadiness[132] of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things[133] whatsoever they stood in need[134]—an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk and fine-twined linen[135], and all manner of good homely[136] cloth.
30 And thus, in their prosperous circumstances[137], they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts[138] upon riches[139]; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young[140], both bond and free[141], both male and female, whether out of the church[142] or in the church, having no respect[143] to persons as to those who stood in need.
31 And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy[144] than those who did not belong[145] to their church.
32 For those who did not belong to their church did indulge themselves[146] in sorceries, and in idolatry or idleness, and in babblings[147], and in envyings[148] and strife; wearing costly apparel; being lifted up in the pride[149] of their[150] own eyes; persecuting[151], lying, thieving, robbing[152], committing whoredoms, and murdering[153], and all manner of wickedness[154]; nevertheless, the law was put in force upon all those who did transgress it, inasmuch as it was possible[155].
33 And it came to pass that by thus exercising the law upon them, every man suffering according[156] to that which he had done, they became more still[157], and durst not[158] commit any wickedness if it were known; therefore, there was much peace among the people of Nephi until the fifth year of the reign of the judges.
(Alma 1–1:33)
[1] Time forward BM (5) JE (16) [both BM and JE use “from this” and “from that”]
[2] BM (3) only. OT=I am going/I go the way of all the earth. BM=I go/must very soon go the way of all the earth
[3] 1 Tim 1:18 “that thou by them mightiest war a good warfare”
[4] D&C 46:7. “Walk uprightly” OT (2) NT (0) BM (5) DC (5) PGP (0) JE (5)
[5] BM (2) JE (34). “Acknowledged” OT (2) NT (1) BM (3) DC (3) JE (335)
[6] BM (7) DC (1) JE (1310)
[7] OT (1) [abide by thy crib], BM (2) JE (8)
[8] BM: “abide by the laws, abide by the law” JE “abide by determination, judgment”
[9] OT (1) BM (5) JE (4) “All at last must be called to appear before Christ… All must be brought before him.”
[10] NT (1) BM (22) DC (1) JE (154).
[11] BM (1) JE (40) “noted for his pride, etc.”
[12] OT (1) BM (6) JE (5)
[13] OT (2) NT (1) BM (1) JE (14)
[14] OT (39) NT (11) BM (102) DC (4) PGP (5) JE (115)
[15] BM (1) JE (2) “my desire of preaching to them” “when Peter, preaching to them”
[16] OT (2) BM (3) DC (1) JE (49)
[17] OT (4) NT (45) BM (99) DC (1) PGP (2) JE (1179)
[18] BM (2) JE (3)
[19] NT (1) BM (1) JE (40)
[20] BM (3) PGP (1) JE (20)
[21] BM (3) JE (40) “supported by the plain dictates of common people” “supported by their subjects”
[22] BM (4) JE (1)
[23] OT (1) BM (20) DC (1) PGP (3) JE (578) “In some sense, redemption is universal of all mankind: all mankind now have an opportunity to be saved”
[24] NT (5) BM (49) DC (8) JE (108)
[25] BM (4) DC (1) JE (74)
[26] BM (1) JE (1)
[27] BM (3) JE (11)
[28] NT (4) BM (11) DC (5) PGP (1) JE (80)
[29] BM (4) JE (32)
[30] NT (2) BM (1)
[31] OT (2) BM (18) PGP (1) JE (13)
[32] OT (1) BM (1) JE (1)
[33] BM (8) JE (1)
[34] BM (3) DC (1) JE (1)
[35] OT (1) BM (11) DC (2) JE (191) Note: another 10 in OT in italics.
[36] NT (8) BM (33) DC (4) JE (587)
[37] OT (1) NT (1) BM (1) DC (1) JE (2)
[38] OT (1) BM (14) JE (8)
[39] BM (14) DC (1) JE (2)
[40] NT (1) BM (3) JE (1)
[41] BM (5) JE (1) – JE “an instrument in the hand of God”
[42] BM (1) JE (1)
[43] BM (26) DC (1) JE (4)
[44] OT (16) NT (1) BM (10) JE (11)
[45] NT (1) BM (4) JE (2)
[46] OT (2) BM (1) JE (2)
[47] OT (16) NT (2) BM (4) JE (27)
[48] BM (5) JE (88)
[49] OT (10) BM (3) JE (8)
[50] NT (1) BM (22) DC (1) JE (154)
[51] “judged according to” NT (2) BM (17) DC (6) JE (27)
[52] OT (1) NT (1) BM (12) JE (117)
[53] BM (2) JE (5)
[54] BM (4) JE (3)
[55] BM (1) JE (400)
[56] “introduced among” BM (1) JE (4)
[57] BM (1) JE (2)
[58] BM (1) DC (1) PGP (1) JE (~100)
[59] BM (2) DC (1) JE (137)
[60] BM (1) JE (73)
[61] BM (1) JE (3)
[62] BM (4) JE (2)
[63] OT (1) BM (2) DC (2) JE (57) [BM, DC, JE all “do, done, doing”]
[64] OT (13) BM (10) JE (17)
[65] BM (1) JE (3)
[66] BM (2) JE (34)
[67] NT (1) BM (1) DC (1) JE (2)
[68] OT (18) NT (1) BM (10) JE (23)
[69] NT (1) BM (12) JE (268) [related note: “in other words” BM (13) DC (23) PGP (1) JE (163)
[70] “between the heavens and the earth” unique to BM (1)
[71] OT (7) NT (1) BM (6) DC (5) PGP (3) JE (64)
[72] BM (1) JE (3)
[73] BM (1) JE (56)
[74] “ignominious death” BM (1) JE (13) JE: “God's sending his Son into the world to suffer such an ignominious death”
[75] BM (11) JE (169)
[76] OT (4) BM (4) JE (128)
[77] OT (15) BM (2) PGP (1) JE (16)
[78] OT (1) NT (1) BM (12) JE (10)
[79] “vain things of the world” BM (9) JE (1)
[80] BM (6) DC (2) PGP (1) JE (~600)
[81] BM (1) JE (11)
[82] OT (1) NT (3) BM (32) JE (76)
[83] OT (3) NT (1) BM (10) DC (3) JE (44)
[84] “no power on” BM (1)
[85] BM (28) DC (2) JE (42)
[86] “punished unto death” BM (1)
[87] BM (10) JE (33)
[88] “belong to the church of God” BM (3) JE (1)
[89] BM (3)
[90] OT (2) BM (6) JE (23)
[91] “take upon you the name of Christ” BM (5) DC (1)
[92] NT (2) BM (23) DC (3) PGP (1) JE (74)
[93] OT (6) BM (2) JE (17)
[94] “all manner of words” BM (1)
[95] “proud in their own eyes: BM (1)
[96] OT (13) NT (1) BM (7) PGP (1) JE (~200)
[97] NT (2) BM (16) DC (12) JE (70)
[98] OT (4) BM (4) JE (38)
[99] “without money and without price” OT (1) BM (3) JE (24)
[100] BM (2) JE (10)
[101] BM (1) DC (1) JE (3)
[102] BM (8) JE (1)
[103] OT (1) BM (4) JE (18)
[104] OT (3) BM (2) JE (13)
[105] BM (1) JE (2)
[106] NT (2) BM (6) JE (6)
[107] BM (2) JE (2)
[108] OT (1) BM (6) JE (11)
[109] OT (5) NT (1) BM (8) DC (4) JE (58)
[110] BM (1) JE (3)
[111] “among the people of God” BM (1) JE (4)
[112] OT (2) NT (3) BM (9) DC (1) PGP (4) JE (234)
[113] OT (6) NT (3) BM (10) DC (1) JE (24)
[114] NT (1) BM (1) JE (57)
[115] BM (4) JE (2)
[116] BM (10) DC (1) JE (4)
[117] BM (3) JE (5)
[118] “impart the word” unique to BM.
[119] NT (5) BM (3) JE (22)
[120] NT (3) BM (13) JE (22)
[121] BM (2) JE (63)
[122] BM (1) JE (20)
[123] BM (1) JE (5)
[124] BM (1) JE (4)
[125] OT (1) NT (1) BM (5) DC (1) JE (28)
[126] OT (6) NT (2) BM (25) DC (14) JE (7)
[127] “neat and comely” BM (1)
[128] OT (13) NT (3) BM (2) JE (87)
[129] BM (4) DC (3) JE (13)
[130] BM (14) JE (1)
[131] BM (8) JE (194)
[132] BM (4) JE (30)
[133] OT (1) BM (1)
[134] BM (4) JE (20)
[135] BM (6) JE (1)
[136] BM (1) JE (10)
[137] BM (2) JE (9)
[138] OT (1) BM (6) JE (111)
[139] “set their hearts upon riches” BM (3) JE (13) [also “on riches”]
[140] OT (3) BM (5) DC (1) JE (50)
[141] BM (6) DC (1) JE (3)
[142] NT (1) BM (1) DC (2) JE (28)
[143] BM (1) JE (5)
[144] BM (1) JE (3)
[145] BM (10) JE (32)
[146] BM (2) JE (16)
[147] NT (2) BM (1)
[148] NT (2) BM (8) DC (1) JE (19)
[149] BM 13 [NT lifted up with pride]
[150] “pride of their” BM (15) DC (1) JE (16) [pride of their hearts, privileges, knowledge, etc.]
[151] NT (1) BM (1) PGP (1) JE (120)
[152] BM (4) JE (25)
[153] BM (8) JE (31)
[154] BM (9) JE (19)
[155] BM (4) DC (1) JE (34)
[156] BM (1) JE (1)
[157] BM (1) JE (20)
[158] OT (1) NT (3) BM (32) JE (76)