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Book of Mormon Commentary
2 Nephi Chapter 8
NEPHI INTRODUCES MORE OF ISAIAH'S WORDS, VER. 1-16
2 Ne 8:2 And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah; for my soul delighteth in his words.
8:2 Nephi quoted from Isaiah, chapters 48, 49, in I Nephi 6 as it was recorded on the plates of
brass. The quote follows closely the wording of the Inspired Version. (See comments on I N. 6:4.)
Jacob drew on Isaiah in his sermon (II N. 5:17-114). He explained, "And they are the words which
my brother has desired that I should speak unto you" (II N. 5:11).
Nephi then quoted Isaiah quite literally as found in the Inspired Version (II N. 8:17 if.).
2 Ne 8:5 Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word.
8:5 This could refer to the law in Deuteronomy 17:6, " At the mouth of two witnesses, or three
witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall
not be put to death." Later it was stated, " At the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be
established" (19:15).
Nephi recorded that the truth of the book (of Mormon) should be established by the testimony of
three witnesses who should behold it "by the power of God" (II N. 11:133-135).
2 Ne 8:7 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ:
8:7 Isaiah declared, "In the year King Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high
and lifted up" (Isa. 6:1). So Nephi tied this in with his own testimony and also with that of Jacob
(II N. 8:3, 4). Much of the text used in the oratorio Messiah is taken from the Book of Isaiah.
Many share the conviction that his prophetic utterances predict the Messiah's birth, character, his
ministry, his crucifixion, resurrection, and final triumph as King of Kings.
2 Ne 8:11 Yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and his justice, and power, and mercy, in the great and
eternal plan of deliverance from death.
8:11 In many ways Nephi's understanding of the gospel rivaled that of Paul. Paul declared, "For as
in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive ...Afterwards cometh the end, when he
shall have delivered up the kingdom of God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all
rule, and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The
last enemy, death, shall be destroyed" (1 Cor. 15:22-26).
Christ broke the bonds of death and triumphed over the grave. This made possible the resurrection
from the dead of all mankind; however, most of us dread the adventure into the spirit world when
the spirit and body shall be temporarily separated. It is only when we have been beaten to our
knees by suffering and disease that death is a welcomed messenger.
THE WORDS OF ISAIAH, VER. 17-100
2 Ne 8:20 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat
their swords into plow shares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war any more.