2 Nephi 29
People in this chapter
This is the chapter where the Book of Mormon anticipates its most common objection. When it comes forth, the Lord says, many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible (v. 3).
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2 Nephi 29:1-3A Marvelous Work among Them
1But behold, there shall be many—at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel; 2And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel;
The Lord says He will do a marvelous work in the last days to keep His covenants and gather Israel the second time.
The Lord promised Lehi and Nephi to remember their descendants. Their words would hiss forth, like a signal, to the ends of the earth.
3And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
Many people will say, We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible. The Lord's concern is the idea that God has finished speaking.
2 Nephi 29:4-6What Thank They the Jews?
4But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles? 5O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people. 6Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?
The Bible came to the world through the Jews. The Lord asks whether the Gentiles have remembered the travails and labors it cost them to bring it forth.
Instead of thanking the Jews, many Gentiles cursed and hated them. The Lord says He has not forgotten His people.
2 Nephi 29:7-10Know Ye Not That There Are More Nations Than One?
7Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? 8Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
God created everyone and remembers everyone, even people on far-off islands. So of course He speaks to more than one nation.
Two nations, two records, one testimony. When the Bible and the Book of Mormon come together, their witness of God comes together too.
9And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. 10Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
God speaking once doesn't mean He can't speak again. His work isn't finished, so His words aren't either.
2 Nephi 29:11-14My Word Also Shall Be Gathered in One
11For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written. 12For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it. 13And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.
The Lord commands every nation to write what He tells them. The Jews, the Nephites, and the lost tribes will each have the others' records, and the world will be judged by what is written.
14And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever.
Two gatherings happen together: Israel gathered home, and God's word gathered into one.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- BibleHow Latter-day Saints view the Bible as the word of God and use it alongside the other standard works.
- Book of MormonThe Book of Mormon as another testament of Jesus Christ, a companion to the Bible.
- ScripturesWhat scripture is, which books make up the standard works, and the scriptures' own references to lost and future records.
- Abrahamic CovenantThe covenant the Lord recalls in verse 14, and its promises to Abraham's seed.
Where this echoes in Scripture
A Marvelous Work among Them
- Isaiah 29:14I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder.
- Isaiah 11:11-12The Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people… And he shall set up an ensign for the nations.
- Isaiah 5:26He will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth.
- 2 Nephi 3:12That which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together.The same promise given to Joseph of Egypt.
What Thank They the Jews?
- 1 Nephi 13:24-25When it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord.
- Romans 3:1-2What advantage then hath the Jew?… Chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
- Romans 11:28As touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
- John 4:22Salvation is of the Jews.The Savior to the woman at the well.
- Articles of Faith 1:8We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
Know Ye Not That There Are More Nations Than One?
- Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
- John 1:3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
- Ezekiel 37:16-17Join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
- Alma 29:8The Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word.
- Articles of Faith 1:9We believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
My Word Also Shall Be Gathered in One
- Revelation 20:12The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
- 3 Nephi 17:4I go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel.
- Galatians 3:16, 29And to thy seed, which is Christ… if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed.
- Genesis 22:18In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
- D&C 128:18Things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world… shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times.