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<p style="text-align: justify;">As in Hebrew biblical narrative, wordplay on (or play on the meaning of) toponyms, or &ldquo;place names,&rdquo; is a discernable feature of Book of Mormon narrative. The text repeatedly juxtaposes the toponym Jershon (&ldquo;place of inheritance&rdquo; or &ldquo;place of possession&rdquo;) with terms inherit, inheritance, possess, possession, etc. Similarly, the Mulekite personal name Zarahemla (&ldquo;seed of compassion,&rdquo; &ldquo;seed of pity&rdquo;), which becomes the paramount Nephite toponym as their national capital after the time of Mosiah I, is juxtaposed with the term compassion. Both wordplays occur and recur at crucial points in Nephite/Lamanite history. Moreover, both occur in connection with the migration of the first generation Lamanite converts. The Jershon wordplay recurs in the second generation, when the people of Ammon receive the Zoramite (re)converts into the land of Jershon, and wordplay on Zarahemla recurs subsequently, when the sons of these Lamanite converts come to the rescue of the Nephite nation. Rhetorical wordplay on Zarahemla also surfaces in important speeches later in the Book of Mormon.</p>


Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 18 (2016)

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“They Were Moved with Compassion” (Alma 27:4; 53:13): Toponymic Wordplay on Zarahemla and Jershon

“They Were Moved with Compassion” (Alma 27:4; 53:13): Toponymic Wordplay on Zarahemla and Jershon

Title

“They Were Moved with Compassion” (Alma 27:4; 53:13): Toponymic Wordplay on Zarahemla and Jershon

Publication Type

Journal Collection

Year of Publication

2016

Authors

Bowen, Matthew L. (Primary)

Pagination

233-253

Volume

18

URL

https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/they-were-moved-with-compassion-alma-274-5313-toponymic-wordplay-on-zarahemla-and-jershon/

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