3 Nephi 17
People in this chapter
Jesus has taught the multitude all day, and He knows they cannot take in any more. He tells them to go home, ponder what He has said, pray to understand it, and come back tomorrow (vv. 2-3). He has somewhere else to be: now I go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel (v. 4).
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3 Nephi 17:1-4Go Ye unto Your Homes, and Ponder
1Behold, now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked round about again on the multitude, and he said unto them: Behold, my time is at hand. 2I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time. 3Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.
Jesus knows the people cannot understand everything yet. He tells them to go home, think about what He taught, pray to the Father in His name to understand, and get ready for tomorrow.
4But now I go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them.
Jesus says He is going to the Father and to the lost tribes of Israel. They are lost to the world, but the Father knows exactly where He took them.
3 Nephi 17:5-10My Bowels Are Filled with Compassion
5And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them. 6And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you. 7Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy. 8For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you.
The people are in tears. They do not want Jesus to leave, and they look at Him as if asking Him to stay a little longer.
Jesus invites them to bring all who are sick or afflicted. He sees that they want to see what He did in Jerusalem, and that their faith is enough for Him to heal them.
9And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him. 10And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears.
The whole multitude brings their sick, and Jesus heals every one of them. Then everyone, healed and whole, bows at His feet and worships Him, washing His feet with their tears.
3 Nephi 17:11-18He Prayed unto the Father
11And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children should be brought. 12So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him. 13And it came to pass that when they had all been brought, and Jesus stood in the midst, he commanded the multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground. 14And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.
Jesus asks for the children. The people set them on the ground around Him, and He stands in the middle of them. Then He asks everyone to kneel.
Surrounded by children and kneeling people, Jesus tells the Father He is troubled by the wickedness of the house of Israel.
15And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him. 16And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father; 17And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father. 18And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome.
Jesus kneels and prays to the Father. His words were so great they could not be written. The people say no one can imagine the joy they felt hearing Him pray for them.
3 Nephi 17:19-25Behold Your Little Ones
19And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise. 20And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.
Jesus tells the people to stand up. He says they are blessed because of their faith, and that His joy is full.
21And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. 22And when he had done this he wept again; 23And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones. 24And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.
Jesus tells the people to look at their children. They look up and see angels coming down from heaven in fire. The angels encircle the children and minister to them.
25And the multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they know that their record is true for they all of them did see and hear, every man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children.
About 2,500 men, women, and children saw and heard these things. Each one was a witness for himself or herself.
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.
- CompassionScriptures on the Savior's compassion, including verses 6-7.
- Heal, HealingsThe Savior's physical and spiritual healings, in the Bible and the Book of Mormon (vv. 7-9).
- PrayerScriptures on prayer to the Father in the name of Christ, the pattern Jesus shows in verses 14-21.
- IsraelBackground on the tribes of Israel that were led away, whom Jesus says He is going to visit (v. 4).
Where this echoes in Scripture
Go Ye unto Your Homes, and Ponder
- John 16:12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
- 1 Nephi 11:1As I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord.
- Moroni 10:3-4Ponder it in your hearts... ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ.
- 2 Nephi 29:12I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it.
My Bowels Are Filled with Compassion
- Alma 7:11-12That his bowels may be filled with mercy... that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
- Matthew 14:14Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
- Luke 24:29They constrained him, saying, Abide with us.
- Moroni 7:37It is by faith that miracles are wrought.
- D&C 42:48He that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed.
He Prayed unto the Father
- Matthew 19:14Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
- Luke 22:41He was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
- John 17:20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.
Behold Your Little Ones
- Mark 10:16He took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
- Matthew 18:10In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
- John 17:13That they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
- 3 Nephi 26:14He did loose their tongues, and they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things.The children again, later in His ministry.
- Moroni 8:8Little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin.