Alma 32:16-20/Even

Webster's 1828 definition of even explains that even notes the "application of something to that which is less probably included in the phrase." The two examples Webster provides are: "The common people are addicted to this vice, and even the great are not free from it;" and "He made several discoveries which are new, even to the learned."

In this verse the phrases are in cast in the negative which makes the definition of even a little more complicated to apply. By negative, we mean that Alma is saying "blessed is he that believeth ... without ..." versus blessing those in these categories. Of the two categories that are described 1) those "brought to know the word," and 2) those "compelled to know," the 2nd category is the one more obviously included. In other words, we would more expect Alma to say that blessed are they who believe without being compelled to know and less expect him to say blessed are they who believe without being brought to know. This is why it is odd that even modifies the second category.

Clearly though, Alma does modify compelled to know with even versus brought to know. The point of explaining in detail why this is counter-intuitive is to make explicit the assumptions behind that interpretation hoping that a future reader/editor can explain another reading which makes better sense of this.