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“But That Thou Wouldst Clear My Way Before Me”: A Note on the Personal and Emotional Rendering of an Ancient Idiom in 2 Nephi 4:33

Title“But That Thou Wouldst Clear My Way Before Me”: A Note on the Personal and Emotional Rendering of an Ancient Idiom in 2 Nephi 4:33
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsBowen, Matthew L.
JournalInterpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship
Volume53
Pagination31–36
KeywordsIdiom; Language - Hebrew; Nephi (Son of Lehi); Psalm of Nephi; Zenos
Abstract

The biblical Hebrew collocation pinnâ derek or pannû derek (cf. Egyptian Ἰr wꜣ.t [n]), often rendered “prepare the way” or “prepare a way” in English, is an evident stylistic feature of Nephi’s writings. The most basic meaning of this idiom is “clear my way,” which is how it is rendered in 2 Nephi 4:33. Zenos’s use of “prepare the way” (Jacob 5:61, 64) in the context of “clear[ing] away” bad branches also reflects this most basic meaning.
URLhttps://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/but-that-thou-wouldst-clear-my-way-before-me-a-note-on-the-personal-and-emotional-rendering-of-an-ancient-idiom-in-2-nephi-433/

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Scripture Reference

2 Nephi 4:33
Jacob 5:61
Jacob 5:64