I have studied and posted previously on the intricate way the Book of Mormon writers occasionally quote the brass plates. Some examples are here, here, here and here. I learned about a few Isaiah references that are not quotations but rather references or allusions used in passing by Book of Mormon authors. Isaiah was obviously held in high esteem and the Nephite prophets seemed very familiar with his writings. I will share these as, like I said, they are not direct quotes and just weaved into the text without any kind of announcement so they may easily go unnoticed. But once you compare with the actual verse in Isaiah it is quite clear nonetheless that the author has this reference in mind.
|
Book of Mormon |
Isaiah |
||
|
Helaman 12:16 |
And behold, also, if
he say unto the waters of the great deep—Be thou
dried up—it is done. |
51:10 |
Art thou not it
which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that
hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to
pass over? |
|
1 Nephi 17:36 |
Behold, the Lord hath
created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath
created his children that they should possess it. |
45:18 |
For thus saith
the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that
formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in
vain, he formed it to be inhabited |
|
Alma 5:57 |
come ye out from the
wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things |
52:11 |
Depart ye, depart ye,
go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing |
|
2 Nephi 26:25 |
Behold, doth he cry
unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he
saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the
earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price. |
55:1 |
Ho, every one
that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money;
come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money
and without price |
The last one is also quoted by Jacob in 2 Nephi 9:50 but there as a more direct quote (e.g. "wine and milk" instead of "milk and honey"). There are probably several other examples. Obviously, Book of Mormon authors were very familiar with the Hebrew scriptures and often weaved them into their text, sometimes with their own twist as in these examples. Isaiah stands out but it also makes me wonder how much a prophet like Zenos is referenced without announcement in this way. We wouldn't be able to tell.
