2 Nephi 4:5 Textual Variants

In his editing for the 1837 edition, Joseph Smith removed the relative pronoun that in this verse. The phrase “way that” does occur in the King James Bible, as in the following two cases which parallel the original text of 2 Nephi 4:5:

• 1 Samuel 9:6
  • peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go
• Isaiah 48:17
  • which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go

In modern English, the that could be deleted from both of these biblical instances.

Joseph Smith’s editing here in 2 Nephi 4:5 can be considered a question of style rather than grammatical usage. For further discussion regarding the deletion of the relative pronoun that in the Book of Mormon text, see under which in volume 3.