2 Ne 6:1-8:25

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Home > The Book of Mormon > Second Nephi > Chapters 6-10 > Chapters 6-8
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This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary[edit]

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Scope. Second Nephi 6:6-7; 6:16-8:25 is Jacob quotation of Isaiah 49:22-52:2. This wiki page and its subpages are not intended, however, to address Isaiah. They are intended only to address Jacob's use of Isaiah. It is therefore suggested that readers consult the wiki pages that do address Isaiah 49:22-52:2 before viewing the pages that address Second Nephi 6-8. Contributors are likewise asked to respect this distinction. The idea is that a reader should be able to find content about an original passage from Isaiah on the wiki page addressing that passage. The wiki pages addressing Second Nephi 6-8 should focus on added insights that come from Nephi's use of Isaiah.

The relationship of Chapters 6-8 to the rest of Chapters 6-10 is discussed at Chapters 6-10.

Discussion[edit]

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • 2 Ne 6:9. The question of whether a sixth-century BC reference to crucifixion is anachronistic is answered by reference to Deuteronomy 21:22-23, which describes hanging a man from a tree as a form of capital punishment. The reader is also referred to The History of Crucifixion, which describes crucifixion of Athenian pirates a century before this Book of Mormon record, as well as a nearly-contemporaneous mass crucifixion of Darius I's political opponents in 519 BC.
  • 2 Ne 6:14. In the context of Hebraic culture, it is clear that the dust of one's feet represents the condemnation of the world (John 13:5, see also Matt 10:14, Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5). Removing the dust from one's feet is akin to shaking the iniquities of the world from one's garments (2 Ne 9:44). In 2 Nephi 6, Jacob declares that Gentile kings and queens who bear up Israel will "lick up the dust of [the House of Israel's] feet" (2 Ne 6:7) and that the Gentiles who fight against Zion will do the same (2 Ne 6:13). One possible interpretation of these verses is that the Lord will use both Israel's allies and her enemies to cleanse her from the stains of the world. In affliction as well as in triumph, Israel will be lifted out of Babylon.

Unanswered questions[edit]

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Prompts for life application[edit]

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • 2 Ne 6:13. Here it says that the people of the Lord will not be ashamed. How wonderful will it be to stand in the presence of God with confidence?

Prompts for further study[edit]

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • Has Jacob used the chapters from Isaiah the way we might expect him to use them? We take them to be prophecies of Christ’s coming. How does he use them?
  • 2 Ne 6:2: What is the difference between being ordained and being consecrated? (Or is there a difference?) Why does Jacob remind them that he was consecrated by Nephi when he tells them of his priesthood calling? Was Nephi their king or not? 2 Ne 5:18 says that Nephi didn’t want to be their king, but indicates that he might have been anyway? though 2 Ne 5:19 suggests that he was something other than a king. If Nephi wasn’t their king, why does Jacob speak of Nephi in this way? How could the Nephites depend on one person, Nephi, for safety? What does it mean to say that he was their protector?
  • 2 Ne 6:4-5. Jacob says he is going to read them the words of Isaiah for they are meant for the house of Israel. What are the different senses of the phrase “house of Israel"? In what ways do they apply to each of the meanings of the phrase? In what ways might these words apply to us? In what ways do they apply to a narrower sense of “the house of Israel"?
  • 2 Ne 6:8-18. Compare what is in these verses to verses 6-7. Is this a question, a comment, or homework?
  • 2 Ne 6:12. What is the content of these covenants? What have the Gentiles been promised? This is homework.
  • 2 Ne 6:13. Jacob is interpreting the quotation from Isaiah in verse 7. What does Jacob mean in this verse? Who is licking the dust of whose feet?
  • 2 Ne 6:16-18. Jacob takes up his quotation from Isaiah again, taking up where he left off. (See Isa 49:24ff.) Notice that Jacob shifts back into quoting Isaiah without saying anything about the fact that he is doing so. Why not? Does that tell us anything about the office of a prophet?
  • 2 Ne 8: Isaiah 51. How would this speech, a speech from Isaiah 51 of consolation to Israel, be an appropriate thing for Jacob to repeat to the Nephites?
  • Jacob begins quoting Isaiah at Isa 49:22. The theme of Isa 49 is the redemption of Israel from captivity, and we understand the chapters from which Jacob reads (49-52) to be prophecies of the Messiah. Why does Jacob begin where he does rather than earlier? When the Lord says he will lift up his hand to the Gentiles (v. 6), what does he mean? What is the significance of lifting up the hand? What does “set up my standard” mean? As it is used here, a standard is a flag. Of what is it a symbol here? What does the Lord mean when he says he will set up his standard to the people? What service is it that the Gentiles will perform for Israel (v. 7)? What is the Lord promising the house of Israel?
  • vv. 51:4-6: These verses may help us understand 2 Ne 7:10-11 better: The Lord will give light to the earth by giving divine guidance, instruction, and salvation rather than that offered by the world. How do we distinguish between the two sources of light?
  • v. 52:1: Notice that the first part of this verse is a repetition of the first part of v. 9. Who was speaking there? Who is speaking here? The prophet? The Lord? Israel?

Resources[edit]

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

  • See this post buy Jacob J. at the New Cool Thang blog for parallels between vv. 6:9-11 and 2 Ne 10:3-8.

Notes[edit]

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.



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