Words of Mormon 1:7 Textual Variants

Ross Geddes has pointed out (personal communication, 12 September 2004) that the phraseology “it whispereth me” seems unusual. This construction, however, fits into a common pattern of verb construction where the verb refers to mental processes:

• it grieveth me 2 Nephi 32:8, Jacob 2:7, Jacob 5 (eight times), Moroni 8:4
• it sufficeth me 1 Nephi 6:2, 2 Nephi 5:4, 2 Nephi 5:34, Alma 40:5, Alma 56:5, Ether 3:17
• it supposeth me Jacob 2:8, the Words of Mormon 1:2, Alma 54:11 (two times)
• it sorroweth me 3 Nephi 27:32
• it seemeth me Moroni 9:5

The King James Bible has two examples of “it repenteth me” (Genesis 6:7 and 1 Samuel 15:11) and one of “it grieveth me” (Ruth 1:13). The verb whisper in the expression “it whispereth me” can be considered as one of these verbs involving the mind since the whispering of the Spirit leads to an inspired thought in the mind.