View source for Question: What do the italicized words in the Bible represent, and why is it relevant to the Book of Mormon?

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==Question: What do the italicized words in the Bible represent, and why is it relevant to the Book of Mormon?==

===Italicized text is used in some Bible translations to indicate when a word has been "added" because of necessity of English grammar===

Often, the italicized word is a word which is implied in the original Greek or Hebrew text, but must be explicitly used in English. It is claimed by some that Joseph Smith was aware of this, and while copying the KJV passages, tended to alter the italicized words to make it look more like a translation.

Some members accept the possibility that the italicized words are often altered "intentionally," but disagree with what this means about the translation.  They do not see it as threatening Joseph's inspiration, the divine nature of the translation, or the reality of an ancient text on the plates. Others hold that there is no evidence that Joseph even had access to a Bible, nor that he was aware of the italics' meaning. (It should be noted that the Bible that Joseph had access to at age 14 in which he read James 1:5 prior to the First Vision belonged to his parents. At the time of the translation, Joseph did not have access to that Bible).

Either option is a viable response, and each has its strengths and weaknesses.  Hopefully more data will be forthcoming to help resolve the issue, that we might better understand the translation process of the Book of Mormon.
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[[es:Pregunta: ¿Qué significan las palabras en cursiva en la Biblia representan, y por qué es relevante para el Libro de Mormón?]]
[[pt:Pergunta: O que as palavras em itálico na Bíblia representam, e por que é relevante para o Livro de Mórmon?]]
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