The Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 20:1

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~588–570 BC

1830 Edition

Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel; yet they swear not in truth, nor in righteousness.

Influences

Isaiah 48:1 (KJV)
Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.

Changes

Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, whicho are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, wor out of the waters of bapticsm, who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel;, yet they swear not in truth, nor in righteousness.

Simple English

Listen to this, house of Jacob. You are called by the name Israel. You came from the land of Judah. You make promises using the Lord’s name and talk about the God of Israel. But you don’t make promises in truth or do right.

Paraphrase

Listen closely, house of Jacob—you who go by the name Israel, who came from Judah’s line, who invoke the Lord’s name and claim the God of Israel as yours. But you don’t mean it. Your words ring hollow.

Notes

20:1

The 1830 edition of 1 Nephi 20:1 read, "... and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord,..."

This was changed in 1840 to read, "...and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, (or out of the waters of baptism,).."

LDS scholar Hugh Nibley comments on this change, suggesting, "It is said that Parley P. Pratt suggested the phrase, and certainly Joseph Smith approved it, for it stands in all the early editions after the first..." -Since Cumorah, 2nd ed. (1981), p. 133.