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Question: Is there significance to the fact that both the Book of Mormon and Gilbert Hunt's ''The Late War'' mention a "rod of iron"?
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Question: Is there significance to the fact that both the Book of Mormon and Gilbert Hunt's The Late War mention a "rod of iron"?
Critics' comparison, quoting John Tvedtnes, notes a possessive or descriptive relationship between two nouns[1]
Chris Johnson, Duane Johnson, ""A Comparison of The Book of Mormon and The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain," http://wordtreefoundation.github.io/thelatewar/
The critics quote Latter-day Saint researcher John Tvedtnes:
When English shows a possessive or descriptive relationship between two nouns, it usually puts the possessive or descriptive noun first: the king's house or wood house. Hebrew, however, uses the opposite order: house the king (which would usually be translated house of the king) or house wood (house of wood). If the Hebrew word order is kept in the English translation, the word of must be added, even though it does not exist in the Hebrew. The Book of Mormon contains a large number of what appear to be translations from the Hebrew preserving the Hebrew word order: — The Hebrew Background of the Book of Mormon, by John A. Tvedtnes
19 And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
The Late War 3 (p. 15) off-site
3 Then will we rule them with a rod of iron; and they shall be, unto us, hewers of wood and drawers of water.
The phrase "rule them with a rod of iron" actually comes from the Bible, and the phrasing of The Late War is intentionally biblical
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Psalms even talks of "breaking" someone with a rod of iron:
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Of course, the Book of Mormon's use of the phrase "rod of iron" has nothing to do with ruling over or "breaking" anyone.
Notes
- ↑ Chris Johnson, Duane Johnson, "A Comparison of The Book of Mormon and The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain," http://wordtreefoundation.github.io/thelatewar/