Stephen D. Ricks et al. discuss the etymology of "Ezias" (alt. Ezaias) in Helaman 8:20.

Date
2022
Type
Book
Source
Stephen D. Ricks
LDS
Hearsay
Direct
Reference

Dictionary of Proper Names and Foreign Words in the Book of Mormon, ed. Stephen D. Ricks, Paul Y. Hoskisson, Robert F. Smith, and John Gee (Orem, Utah: The Interpreter Foundation, 2022), 110-11

Scribe/Publisher
Interpreter Foundation
People
Robert F. Smith, Stephen D. Ricks, John Gee, Paul Y. Hoskisson
Audience
Reading Public
PDF
Transcription

Ezias/Ezaias

Biblical PN Prophet who testified of the coming of Christ, apparently during the Classical Israelite period (Helaman 8:20)

Brief Etymology: The PN Ezias appeared as Ezaias in the printer’s manuscript but was erroneously printed as Ezias in the 1830 and most subsequent editions.

Extended Discussion: The spelling of the PN Ezias is an 1830 edition made by the printer. The printer’s manuscript reads Ezaias. This error continues in all editions, except the 1908 RLDS edition and the 1999 Book of Mormon: Restored Covenant Edition. The correct spelling may reflect the King James Version New Testament PS Esaias = Greek hēsaias (Matthew 3:3), which is simply another form of the Old Testament Isaiah = Hebrew yěša’yāh(û). As George Reynolds observes: “Orson Pratt suggests . . . that ‘Ezias may have been identical with Esaias,’” which would accord with the LXX and Matthew 3:3 Ēsaias. Since Esaias is listed in Jethro’s line of authority (Doctrine and Covenants 84:11-13), he is therefore a good candidate for the Old world prophet in the Book of Mormon. If this latter is the case, then it is doubtful that the printer’s manuscript Ezias is a variant form of the New Testament rendering in Greek of Isaiah, Ēsaias (contra JAT).

BHR Staff Commentary

"JAT" refers to John A. Tvedtnes.

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