KnoWhy #30 - Was Nephi’s Psalm Really a Psalm? (2 Nephi 4:16-17)

2 Nephi 4:16-35 records a beautiful expression of Nephi’s personal hopes, joys, sorrows, and trials. Many have referred to these verses as “Nephi’s Psalm” because of the clear similarity to many of the psalms in the Old Testament. Studies have determined that Nephi’s Psalm has the same characteristics as a type of biblical psalm called the “individual lament.” It can be compared, more specifically, to Psalms 25-31 – there is a lot of similar language shared between them. It is interesting to note that Psalms 25-31 focus heavily on covenant-making language and also temple imagery. The fact that Nephi borrows from these Psalms to shape his own feelings demonstrates how well he knew the Scriptures and could apply them to his own situation.