2 Nephi 14:1

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Reference Search: 2 Nephi 14:1

1 And in that day, seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach.

Quote for Discussion

“The JST and the Hebrew Bible place this verse in the previous chapter where it fits the context much better. This condition will result from the war described in Isaiah 3:25-26. While this verse has been interpreted by some as a prophecy of plural marriage as revealed in the Doctrine and Covenants. The proposal to marry (or merely live together) is made here by the woman. Under the Lord’s law, the man would initiate the marriage (see D&C 132:58-61). The women described by Isaiah volunteer to remain economically independent rather than make the man responsible for their care while they multiply and replenish the earth, as under the Lord’s law (see D&C 132:63 and Jacob 2:30). The innate desire of the woman to be a wife and a mother is noted in the phrase to take away our reproach. To be childless was considered a reproach in ancient Israel (see Luke 1:25 and Gen. 30:23).

Monte S. Nyman, Great Are the Words of Isaiah [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1980], 37

Seven Women—One Man

In a Semitic society, the greatest disgrace for a woman was to be barren. Isaiah describes a time when women will support themselves financially, but seek a husband who will make it possible for them to achieve the honor of motherhood.

Victor L. Ludlow, Unlocking the Old Testament [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1981], 149

“In that day,” (14:1) when judgments will have removed so many men that there is a great scarcity of them, “seven women” (Meaning simply a lot of women) will request a man’s hand in marriage. Economic problems will be such that these women will be willing to provide their own food and clothing, contrary to the usual marriage customs. According to the Hebrew scriptures (Ed. 21: 10), a man was required to provide a wife with food and clothing; but in this case Isaiah observes that the women are willing to waive that right. Having a good knowledge of the importance of marriage, they request a man to take away their reproach. In Isaiah’s day and, indeed, in many parts of the Near East today, it was and is a disgrace to remain unmarried.

Sidney B. Sperry, Book of Mormon Compendium [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], 183-84

When a large part of the male population shall have been exterminated by war and its concomitants, seven women shall offer themselves to one man…In the old times a woman, as a rule, considered it unfortunate not to have the privilege of motherhood. See the story of Rachel in the Old Testament, Gen. 30:33; or, in the New Testament, Elisabeth the mother of John the Baptist, Luke, 1:25. The misfortune must have been felt more keenly at a time when the population had been practically decimated. A plurality of wives in one household, under the protection of one man may, according to this prophetic utterance, be a more desirable arrangement than one by which six women of every seven are excluded from the joys and responsibilities of a mother. It is no defense of lawlessness to say that under similar circumstances the same remedy might be applied again. But only by divine revelation through the Prophet authorized to speak for the Lord. (See Jacob 2:27-30; D&C 43:2-6.)

George Reynolds and Janne M. Sjodahl, Commentary on the Book of Mormon, ed. Phillip C. Reynolds, 7 vols. [salt Lake City: Deseret book Co., 1955-1961], 330

Edited November 7, 2009 by pam