Significant Words of the Book of Mormon
English Words Verify Hebrew Authenticity of The Book of Mormon
Merciful
The Ancient Hebrew word Merciful Means 'To Be Wrapped in Arms for Protection' Exactly as the Book of Mormon states.
English Bibles contain manly instances describing God as 'merciful.'
Psalms 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
But the English word 'merciful' does not fully express the original Hebrew meaning of merciful.
The Hebrew word for Merciful means "To Be Wrapped In Arms for Safety.
Hebrew scholar Jeff Benner's Hebrew English dictionary site contains this imporant definition of 'Merciful'presented in Strong's as Hebrew word 'racham' #7355.
Strong's concordance wasn't written until 1890, unavailable to Joseph Smith or people in his day.
But while Mr. Strong was a faithful pioneer defining biblical Hebrew and Greek to English speaking Christians, Hebrew is better understood by modern scholars with many words only becoming fully understood (by English scholars of Hebrew) recently, literally since the 1980s-1990s.Watch Jeff Benner's (modern Hebrew Scholar) video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaxKscjH_ko about the word Merciful as explained at 1:47 as:
For example:
2 Nephi 1:29 But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld His glory and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of His love! (=mercy)
Here is another fact: not only does the Book of Mormon associate being 'wrapped in arms with acts of mercy', but it presents the words in proper Hebrew grammar structure.
Classical Hebrew language has a specific way of grouping nouns where one noun 'has possession' of another noun, grouped together with the word 'of' in between. Grouping two nouns (one in possession) with 'of' inbetween is called 'the construct state.' (Further study of Construct State at Wikipedia)
Examples such as 'House of Israel,' 'Plates of Brass,' 'armor of Righteousness,' even the title 'Book of Mormon' are all examples of Hebrew 'construct state' found in the Book of Mormon. Hundreds more examples exist.
The 3 words in English (two nouns, one possesive with 'of' in between) are combined as one word in Hebrew.
The construct state phenomenon is particularly common in Semitic languages (such as Arabic, Hebrew, and Syriac), and in the extinct Egyptian language. In fact, Nephi states the Book of Mormon plates were written in 'the learning of the Jews, and the language of the Egyptians.' (Note these terms 'language of the Jews, Learning of the Eyptians...also Hebrew Construct State!)
So why mention Hebrew construct state??
The Book of Mormon not only associates 'arms' with Mercy (as defined by the Hebrew) but it presents them in proper 'construct state,' or in other words, as would be WRITTEN and SPOKEN in the Hebrew.
Examples of Construct State with 'arms' and Jesus' mercy found in the Book of Mormon:
An American, writing from an English mindset would likely write 'Merciful Arms' or 'Loving Arms,' but the Hebrew writer states 'Arms of Mercy' and 'Arms of Love.'
Alma 16:217 "And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice and encircles them in the arms of safety, While he that exerciseth no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; Therefore, only unto him that hath faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.
Several examples below combine the classical Hebrew description of protection within the arms of Jesus in the Book of Mormon.
2 Nephi 1:29 But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld His glory and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of His love! (=mercy)
Mosiah 8:86 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires, Having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended toward them; (i.e. didn’t receive mercy)
Mosiah 8:87 For the arms of mercy were extended toward them and they would not, They being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them,
Alma 3:57 "Behold, He sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended toward them, And He saith, ' Repent, and I will receive you ';
Mormon 2:38 For I know that such will sorrow for the calamity of the house of Israel, Yea, they will sorrow for the destruction of this people; They will sorrow that this people had not repented, that they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus. (REPENTANCE=TO HAVE MERCY)
Mormon 3:18 And my soul was rent with anguish because of the slain of my people, And I cried: "O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus who stood with open arms to receive you!
2 Nephi 12:41 Nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, " saith the Lord God, "if they will repent and come unto Me, For Mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, " saith the Lord God of Hosts.
Alma 15:62 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy, Then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that He hath heard my prayer, Yea, then do I remember His merciful arm which He extended toward me.
No King James verses combine the classical Hebrew 'arms of protection' with 'merciful,' yet the Book of Mormon correctly applies both the appropriate definition, grammar and context.
How could an uneducated American son of a farmer know not only the correct Hebrew definition of Merciful but also present it within the nuance of Classical Hebrew?
Perhaps the Book of Mormon is simply what it claims to be: an ancient Hebrew record.