“Upon All the High Mountains, and Upon All the Hills”

Brant Gardner

Comparison: KJV Isaiah 2:14 reads: “And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills, that are lifted up.” Thus, the Book of Mormon adds “and upon all the nations” and “upon every people.” Lifting up people and nations fits roughly into Isaiah’s context, since the presence of cities (symbolized in the previous verse as the “cedars of Lebanon” and the “oaks of Bashan”) implies both nations and people. The Book of Mormon is here more specific and less symbolic than KJV Isaiah about Yahweh’s conquering all people who are lifted up.

Scripture: Isaiah’s mention of “high mountains and… hills” refers to foreign gods. When the Bible speaks of “high places,” particularly trees or gardens in high places or hills, it means worship carried on in mountain groves. These phrases are associated with the more specific mention of the destruction of the idols.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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