Alma 12:31 Textual Variants

they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal and becoming as [Gods 01AIJLMNOQRT|gods BCDEFGHKPS] knowing good from evil

The word Gods here should probably be capitalized; the current LDS text reads Gods, while the RLDS text reads gods. In the corresponding passage in the current King James Bible, this word is not capitalized, but in the original 1611 printing it was:

Genesis 3:5
- 1979 LDS Bible (with modern accidentals):
  - For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
- 1611 text (with original accidentals):
  - For God doeth know, that in the day ye eate thereof, then your eyes shalbee opened: and yee shall bee as Gods, knowing good and euill.

The meaning here in Alma 12:31 is that Adam and Eve would become like God by knowing good from evil, which is explained later in Genesis 3:

Genesis 3:22 (King James Bible)
- and the LORD God said behold the man is become as one of us to know good and evil

There is no reference here in Genesis 3 to Adam and Eve becoming lesser gods or pagan gods, which would require the lowercase usage. For further discussion regarding the capitalization of the singular god /God, see under 2 Nephi 9:30. For discussion regarding the capitalization of Messiah, Savior, and Christ, see under 1 Nephi 1:19.

Summary: Maintain the capitalized Gods in Alma 12:31; here the text intends to say that Adam and Eve would become as Gods, equal to God in knowing good and evil.

Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon, Part. 3

References