Hebrew Parallelistic Writing in the Book of Mormon

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By Garth Norman
With excerpts from Angela Crowell, Donald W. Parry, Restored Covenant Edition of the Book of Mormon, and Alan C. Miner (Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon)

Angela Crowell's linguistic study of the Book of Mormon identified a range of Hebraisms including parallelistic and repetition style that helps authenticate the translated record and appreciate its antiquity (In Zarahemla Record, issues No. 17, 18; reprinted in Recent Book of Mormon Developments, Zarahemla Research Foundation: 1984). Crowell states: "In English usage, repetition of the same word is usually avoided. The reverse is true in Hebrew. Repetition was commonly used in biblical Hebrew for emphasis, or to intensify an attribute, or express a continuous progress (e.g., higher and higher, lower and lower). This is readily seen in the Hebrew text [of the Bible] but it is not as discernable in the English version, since the translators do not carry this over."
After FARMS reported on Crowell's research, Donald W. Perry expanded the research with publication of The Book of Mormon Text Reformatted according to Parallelistic Patterns, 1992, pp. xx, 291-292, 294]. The following excerpts from Perry's study illustrate this style of writing:
Parallelistic Writing
Donald Parry outlines Alma 41:13-15 according to Hebrew parallelistic structure:
O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again
evil for
evil, or
carnal for
carnal, or
devilish for
devilish--
good for that which is
good;
righteous for that which is
righteous;
just for that which is
just;
merciful for that which is
merciful. (climax)

a. Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren;
b. deal justly
c. judge righteously,
d. and do good continually;
e. and if ye do all these things
f. then shall ye receive your reward;
a' yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again;
b' ye shall have justice restored unto you again;
c' ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again;
d' and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.
e' For that which ye do send out
f'' shall return unto you again, and be restored; (extended alternate)

The above outline helps us recognize this writing style obscured by verse formating in the Book of Mormon. It can be appreciated more fully by reading it in poetic formating that more closely replicates Hebrew style, as seen in The Book of Mormon: Restored Covenant Edition (Zarahemla Research Foundation 1999, p. 485):

But the meaning of the word "restoration" is
to bring back again evil for evil,
or carnal for carnal,
or devilish for devilish,
good for that which is good,
righteous for that which is righteous,
just for that which is just,
merciful for that which is merciful.

Therefore, my son, see that ye are merciful unto your brethren,
Deal justly, judge righteously and do good continually;
And if ye do all these things, then shall ye receive your reward--

Yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again,
Ye shall have justice restored unto you again,
Ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you agian,
And ye shall have good rewarded unto you again;

For that which ye doth send out shall return
unto you again and be restored;
Therefore, the word "restoration" more fully
condemneth the sinner and justifieth him not at all.


Climax Ascension of Expression
According to Donald Parry, another style of parallelism involves ascension of expression, from a beginning point to a climatic situation. A good example is found in Alma 42:22-23:

But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would
cease to be God. But God
ceaseth not to be God, and
mercy claimeth the penitent, and
mercy cometh because of the
atonement; and the
atonement bringeth to pass the
resurrection of the dead; and the
resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the
presence of God; and thus they are restored into his
presence, to be judged according to their words.

Awareness of parallelistic style can help us appreciate the Book of Mormon more fully in our reading, and not be distracted by expressions that might be considered poor English style.

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Here is what some scholars had to say about it:
YouTube - pt 10 Hebrew poetry in The Book of Mormon (full-length)