Mindy J. Anderson and Dr. Donald W. Parry, Asian and Near Eastern Languages
The aim of this research is to show where the Book of Mormon Isaiah texts and the Isaiah Scroll complete parallelisms in the King James translation of Isaiah. The following represents a summary of my findings.
Discovered in 1947, the Great Isaiah Scroll is the oldest extant text of Isaiah. Dated at approximately 250 BC, it precedes the Masoretic Text (900 AD), from which the King James translation derives. The Isaiah texts in the Book of Mormon originate from the Brass Plates, which date to at least 600 BC. In the time difference between these various texts many scribal errors occurred. Our King James translation of Isaiah is incomplete. On occasion, we lack completion of parallelisms.
The Prophet Isaiah wrote in parallelistic structure. There are approximately 1150 poetic parallelisms in the book of Isaiah. Parallelism is a literary device where one concept is expressed in two (or more) different ways in adjoining lines. To illustrate parallelism:
…though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
Parallel aspects of the parallelism are shown with italics and underlining. The translation used comes from Donald Parry’s Harmonizing Isaiah: Combining Ancient Sources. Additions to the Masoretic Text are enclosed in brackets.
Parallelisms completed by the Isaiah Scroll
And when you spread forth your palms, I will hide mine eyes from you;
even when you make many prayers, I will not hear.
Your hands are full of blood,
[your fingers with iniquity.] (1:15)
Isaiah 1 contains a number of parallelisms but the Masoretic Text leaves verse 15 incomplete. The Isaiah Scroll restores the parallel as the subject hands parallel fingers and blood to iniquity. The additional line of the Isaiah Scroll clarifies the meaning of blood, indicating its use as symbolic rather than literal.
Yea, O LORD, we wait in the path of your judgments,
(our) soul’s desire are for your name and [your laws.] (26:8)
The parallel your is found in both lines, while judgments parallels laws.
And [your] seed will be known among the nations,
and [your] offspring among the peoples. (61:9)
The Isaiah Scroll clarified the parallel between seed and offspring by with another parallel, the pronoun your.
[And upon all the ships of the sea],
and upon all the ships of Tarshish,
and upon all [luxury ships]. (2:16)
The parallel all the ships of Tarshish, is completed by luxury ships.
See also other examples: Isaiah 57:14; 61:10
Parallelisms completed by the Book of Mormon
Come, O house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the LORD;
[yea, come, for you have all gone astray, every one to his wicked ways]. (2:5)
This antithetical, or opposing, parallel clarifies why the house of Jacob must walk in the light of the LORD.
And the people will take them and bring them to their place;
[yea, from far, unto the ends of the earth; and they will return to their lands of
promise.] (14:2)
Lands of promise parallels their place, defining more precisely the meaning of the text.
[Hearken, O you house of Israel,
all you that are broken off and are driven out because of the wickedness of the pastors of
my people; yea, all you that are broken off, that are scattered abroad, who are of my
people, O house of Israel.] (49:1)
This addition is a chiasmus as well as a parallel. The phrase broken off is found in both lines, while driven out parallels scattered abroad.
for fear of the LORD [will come upon them],
and the [majesty of the Lord] [will smite them] (2:21)
The restoration inserts a complete parallel, the phrase will come upon corresponding to will smite followed by the shared object them. The parallel gives information concerning the attitude of the Lord toward the wicked.
Every one [who is proud] will be thrust through;
[yea], and every one who is joined [to the wicked] will fall by the sword. (13:15)
Those who are proud are those who are joined to the wicked. Proud and wicked are synonymous terms, as are the physical punishments that will come upon them.
See also other examples: Isaiah 2:9; 2:10; 2:14; 2:20; 3:11; 5:9; 48:1; 48:2; 48:14
As the Isaiah Scroll and Book of Mormon Isaiah demonstrate, completed parallelisms are more than literary devices. Completed parallels clarify symbols and increase understanding, thus aiding our understanding of the biblical text. In my research I found 6 examples of parallelism in the Isaiah Scroll, and 16 examples in the Book of Mormon that complete parallels in the King James translation.
Sources Consulted
- Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1990.
- Parry, Donald W., Harmonizing Isaiah: Combining Ancient Sources, Provo, UT: FARMS, 2001
- Parry, Donald W., and Elisha Qimron. The Great Isaiah Scroll: Transcription and Photographs. Boston: E.J. Brill, 1999.