Alma 7:19 Textual Variants

This passage begins with the sentence “for I perceive that ye are in the paths of righteousness”, which is then followed by the sentence “I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to the kingdom of God”. The virtual identity of the beginning of these two sentences led scribe 2 of 𝓟 to write the plural paths both times, but apparently the original manuscript (no longer extant here) read path in the second instance. Note also that the verb in the following relative clause is the third person singular leads, thus supporting the singular path (“the path which leads to the kingdom of God”). Scribe 2 of 𝓟 immediately caught his error here and erased the plural s at the end of the second instance of path(s). These two cases of path(s) are then followed by a third case: “yea I perceive that ye are making his paths straight”. Here we return to the plural paths.

Interestingly, this passage says there are various paths of righteousness, even God’s paths, but figuratively there is one path that leads to the kingdom of God. This distinction in number is preserved elsewhere in the text:

God’s paths of righteousness:

• 1 Nephi 16:5 that they would walk in the paths of righteousness
• 2 Nephi 9:41 remember that his paths are righteousness

a single path leads to eternal life (the kingdom of God):

• 2 Nephi 31:18 this straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life
• 2 Nephi 33:9 and walk in the strait path which leads to life and continue in the path

God’s paths are straight:

• 1 Nephi 10:8 and make his paths straight
• Alma 7:9 and walk in his paths which are straight
• Alma 37:12 and his paths are straight

Thus in Alma 7:19 the shifting in number for path(s) is actually consistent with usage elsewhere in the text.