Etymology of book of mormon names

As early as 1831, eber howe, in his antimormon book mormonism unvailed, noted the use of names desolation and bountiful from pilgrims progress reappear in the book of mormon. Apologists note that many of the proper names in the book of mormon are hebrew names found in the bible e. Some have wondered whether this peculiarsounding name has any plausible ancient etymology. One of a number of common names based on types of people known to live in the desert, with tea referring to the herbal drink brewed from the plant.

Most of the text of the book of mormon consists of this compilation and his own writings. Many book of mormon names are not found in the bible, and were unknown to joseph smith. The hebrew origin of some book of mormon place names. Are there any names for girls in the book of mormon, besides. Mormon first name was found 76 times in 4 different countries.

For example, antion seems to be the base for antionah, antionum and antiomno. Internal textual evidence for the egyptian origin of nephis name, insights 22, no. Any discussion of the meaning of the name mormon, must start by dealing with a letter published in the times and seasons 4 15 may 1843. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints the real name of the mormon church is a worldwide church with over 16,000,000 members. Jan 27, 2016 when nephi and his family arrived at the end of their arabian trail, they named the body of water they encountered irreantum, which is interpreted by nephi as meaning many waters.

Some names seem to be just extensions of the same book of mormon word. The name nephi most likely derives from an egyptian word nfr. I also commonly suggested that what had once seemed a weakness in the book of mormon was now evidently an asset. Since the appearance of the book of mormon in 1830, critics and believers alike have sought to explain the origin and meaning of the more than 200 nonbiblical. The book of mormon uses the biblical name of antipas and builds on it to form these book of mormon names.

Parry, a member of the dead sea scrolls translation. Four suggestions on the origin of the name nephi i, nephi. Three that have drawn particular attention are the names cumorah jershon, and zarahemla. It is claimed that some book of mormon names are used improperly or in an inappropriate context. The hebrew origin of three book of mormon placenames they came down into the land which is called the land of zarahemla. Book of mormon greek and latin word chart life after ministry. It has been stated that this word mormon was derived from the greek word mormo. Irreantum is one of the few book of mormon names that is defined with a textual gloss in the book of mormon. As early as 1831, eber howe, in his antimormon book mormonism unvailed, noted the use of names desolation and bountiful from pilgrims progress reappear in. Mormons believe the following about the book of mormon. Hebrew origin, a third of the books of the proper names that we find in the book of mormon are of hebrew origin. Four suggestions on the origin of the name nephi book of.

In 1840 there were 4 mormon families living in indiana. If one uses writing styles found in ancient books that one has read over and over again like the kjv of the bible, that doesnt make the book of ancient origin. Nevertheless, since the 1820s scholars have been able to. This gloss signals that its meaning was not readily discernible to readers of the plates and was not in their language.

It is also used in the book of mormon as the name of a prophet. Supporters of the book of mormon claim it uses chiasmusa figure of speech utilizing inverted parallelismand claim it is evidence to support the books ancient origin. A synagogue is not just a vague term to mean any building, like church is. Like proper names in most languages, the proper names of the book of mormon probably had semantic meanings for book of mormon peoples. Alma is in fact an anciently attested semitic masculine personal name something that joseph smith would have been, to. The book of mormon occasionally uses the word christ in a way that is not interchangeable with messiah. Book of mormon names the encyclopedia of mormonism. But he soon found that female names were rather scarce there, and he had nearly given up the task when his wife suggested a change of the name of one of the. The origin of the name nephi is uncertain, and disputed. Lehi m mormon from an old testament place name meaning jawbone in hebrew, so called because it was the site where the hero samson defeated 1,000 warriors using only the jawbone of a donkey as a weapon. Why is the book of mormon named after mormon, who is he.

As non mormon scholars view the book of mormon as a work of fiction, and do not recognize nephi as a historical figure, the predominant scholarly view is that the name was selected or coined by joseph smith. Some other probable meanings of nephite names read as hebrew are shown in the chart below. To me, it seems most likely that the name is a combination of a prefix ze and the name enos, another name attested in the book of mormon. Sometimes people think of it as an american church, but there are more members outside the united states than in it.

In fact, the work done by scholars associated with the book of mormon onomasticon project have suggested possible. When it came to naming the baby he turned to his book and searched its pages for a name. According to most adherents of the latter day saint movement, the book of mormon is a. Indiana had the highest population of mormon families in 1840. The actual meaning of nephi and 3 other book of mormon names.

As is the majority of these comments many of which say, no. When i first looked upon him i was afraid, but the fear soon left me. The term mormon is taken from the title of the book of. Was this name or others like it in use around jerusalem in lehis day. Yet, these names have meaning in ancient languages andor have. Based on a non mormon or secular perspective, hypotheses for. An egyptian linguistic component in book of mormon names.

An egyptian linguistic component in book of mormon names author eve koller there are several names in the book of mormonsuch as zenephi, zenos, and zenockthat look as though they are composed of scriptural names nephi, enos, enoch, and so forth with different forms of a zprefix that might mean son of or descendant of. This was about 40% of all the recorded mormon s in the usa. In 1842, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints published the angelic visitation to joseph smith as follows. Aug 09, 2007 thomas was an attentive student of the book of mormon, and a great admirer of the sacred record. If his explanation of the etymology of the word mormon is any indication of the existence of reformed egyptian, than it can safely be assumed that it has always been an nonexistent language. Missing indices indicate people in the index who are not in the book of mormon.

This list is intended as a quick reference for individuals mentioned in the book of mormon. Is the writing in the book of mormon characteristic of the hebrew. Both words have the meaning of anointed, and are used in the bible to refer to the anointed one. Hugh nibley adopted reynoldss and sjodahls reading liyah, but not their reading of on as heliopolis or sun city, george reynolds and janne sjodahl, commentary on the book of mormon i. Howes 1834 mormonism unvailed, it is claimed that the word mormon, the name given to his joseph smiths book, is the english termination of the greek word mormoo, which we find defined in an old, obsolete dictionary, to mean bugbear, hobgoblin, raw head, and bloody bones. Believers are called mormons after the book of mormon and have been since the 1830s, which takes its name from the prophet whom they believe compiled it andor the waters of mormon mentioned in it. They will probably point to sketchy hebrewegyptian aramaic word roots, hinting that the name could have derived from them. The hebrew origin of three book of mormon placenames. Hebrew names in the book of mormon to me it is fascinating to see how much credence is being given to the book of mormon, not in the sense of everybodys believing in its precepts, and joining the church, but at least in the belief that it is a serious subject for study. The most mormon families were found in the usa in 1880.

A look at the book of mormon onomasticon since the appearance of the book of mormon in 1830, critics. Does the name alma challenge the historicity of the book of. Ive received numerous requests for a full chart of all our findings on the greek and latin words found in the book of mormon. Oct 20, 2016 mormon was the primary author, editor, and compiler of the book of mormon. The rock is the divine kinsman, rock of the people, and their rock.

The book of mormon certainly doesnt look less ancient or less authentic because it features men named alma. Mormon definition is the ancient redactor and compiler of the book of mormon presented as divine revelation by joseph smith. However, the name mormon is also used in the book of mormon as a place name e. More names are created by adding such endings as hah. The book of mormon contains 337 proper names and 21 gentilics or. Antinephilehi, antiomno, antion, antionah, antionum, antiparah and antipus. The first three of the five are only slightly different from each other. Well, mormons believe that its a real name belonging to an ancient american who was descended from israelites years before he was born. Gideon in the book of mormon, gideon was a faithful leader of the church and an eventual enemy to the wicked king.

Why did king benjamin say that his people would be sons and daughters at gods right hand. Mar 14, 2020 the book of mormon onomasticon entry provides a couple of options in addition to mentioning nibleys cenezzenez proposal, neither of which i find terribly compelling. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. They include such names as laban and jacob and joseph, and one other that i would like to share with you that i would wish to discuss in just a moment is sam.

For example, laman and lemuel, those, i suggest are proper names of arabian origin. To make things easier for those who are interested in the findings were listing a synopsis of them all here if you want the exact location of each verse, send me an email and ill send it over to you via e. Traditions and trends lds smile said on january th, 2015 at 3. The mormon family name was found in the usa, the uk, and scotland between 1840 and 1920. This, too, might suggest why so many different types of names appear in the book of mormon which nibley and sorenson try to apply to specific peoples, like jaredites and mulekites, being involved because of a name rather than recognize that it was the custom of hebrews to use names of other peoples for their own children. This article explores several book of mormon proper names that are attested from hebrew. One meaning is sea captain see john gee, four suggestions on the origin of the name nephi, in pressing forward with the book of mormon. Tvedtnes the preface to the work, david noel freedman wrote, the editor is to be commended for his catholicity and courage and for his own original contributions in several domains including a unique treatment of the book of mormon. In addition, the book of mormon also contains proper names of other semitic languages. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. Book of mormon names, even though egyptian in origin, would be unusual in that country today. Origin of book of mormon names by stephen ricks 2010 fair conference i am going to be talking today about proper names in the book of mormon. Surname mormon is used at least 378 times in at least 7 countries. This study considers the book of mormon personal names josh, nahom, and.

Elder george reynolds apparently traced this name to an egyptian root. The hebrew origin of some book of mormon place names stephen d. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. When adding biographies, be sure to add a category link seen at bottom of this edit page so that it will be added. Gideon in the book of mormon, gideon was a faithful leader of the church and an eventual enemy to the wicked king noah. Book of mormon characters mormonism, the mormon church. Various implausible etymologies have been proposed, usually in attempts to discredit or defend the mormon faith. Mormon tea usually uncountable, plural mormon teas. The book of mormon has the names nephi and nephihah. Tvedtnes a number of scholars have discussed the possible hebrew meaning of some of the place names in the book of mormon. According to the book, mormon compiled nearly years of writings as well as chronicled events during his lifetime. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. Melech in the bible becomes melek in the book of mormon. How does the book of mormon use a hebrew pun on king noahs name.