Jacob 2 All

From Feast upon the Word (http://feastupontheword.org). Copyright, Feast upon the Word.

Note: this page allows you to see all the commentary pages for Jacob chapter 2 together. Click on the heading to go to a specific page.

Jacob 2:1-5

The Book of Mormon > Jacob > Chapter 2

Previous (Jacob 1:16-19)

Next (Jacob 2:6-10)

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Questions

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Verse 1

Who is narrating here? Jacob? If so, why write of himself in the third person?
What is the significance of stating that these teachings were given "after the death of Nephi"? Is there a connection between Nephi's death and these teachings, or are we just being told that to place it somehow within a chronology?

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Verse 2

Beloved brethren. What does Jacob mean by "beloved brethren"? Are these all his literal relatives? How big is the Nephite group at this point?
Under. What does it mean to be "under" a responsibility to God?
Magnify. What does Jacob mean by magnifying his office.
Soberness. Why does Jacob mention soberness here?
Rid garments of sins. What does this phrase mean? What is the connection between garments and sins? Jacob explains this teaching a bit in Jacob 1:19, but it is hard to see a teaching like this in the Old Testament. Where does this understanding come from?

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Verse 3

What exactly is Jacob's calling in the temple?
Why is Jacob "weighed down with...desire and anxiety"? Should we feel the same way about those around us?

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Verse 4

If the people have been obedient to Jacob's teachings so far, why is he "weighed down with...anxiety"?

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Verse 5

Is Jacob preaching against the Nephite's actions, or just against their thoughts and intentions?
How might evil thoughts be considered laboring in sin?
How can thoughts be "very abominable"?
How does God help Jacob know the thoughts of the people?
Why does Jacob refer to God here as "the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth"?

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Lexical notes

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Exegesis

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Questions

Why does the wickedness of Jacob's people cause him to "shrink with shame" before God? (vs.6)

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Lexical notes

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Exegesis

It seems that vs. 6 all ties back into Jacob 1:19 where it reads "And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence..." In Jacob 2:6, Jacob is lamenting that these wicked people are not listening, and that perhaps he is not teaching the them in a way that they will listen to him. He is literally answering their wickness upon his own head, and shrinking with shame for it.

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Questions

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Verse 11

What might Jacob have been praying about when he obtained his errand from the Lord? Is it significant that he obtained it while already praying, as opposed to out of the blue?

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Verse 13

In what ways does material progress lead to pride? Is this inevitable, or are there ways to obtain riches and avoid pride?

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Verse 15

What does it mean to be pierced by the eye of God?

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Lexical notes

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Exegesis

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Questions

What does it mean to be "familiar with all" (verse 17)?
Verse 19 tell us that after we have a hope in Christ we will get riches if we seek them. Then it says "and ye will seek them for the intent to do good." How should we interpret this statement. Is this something like "Those who truly have first a hope in Christ who choose to seek for riches will do so with the intent to do good"? Or, is this prescriptive--something like "Once you really have hope in Christ, seek for riches so that you can do good"?

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