The Language of Joseph and Lehi

Lehi was commanded of God to send his sons back to Jerusalem to get the records that Laban possessed. In 1 Nephi 1:158–168 we learn that Lehi was very literate in the language that was on the Plates of Brass. What language was that? In Mosiah chapter one, King Benjamin informs us that he taught his three sons “in all the language of his fathers” … and “taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass” (Mosiah 1:3–4). Continuing in verse 6 of the same chapter, it says: “having been taught in the language of the Egyptians, therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children.”

Joseph, son of Jacob (Israel) was sold into Egypt as a young boy. Joseph would have been educated by his new “owner” Potiphar, in the language of the Egyptians, because eventually he gave Joseph charge of his entire household, save himself, until Potiphir’s wife falsely accused Joseph and caused him to be thrown in prison. However, even in prison, Joseph’s skills and integrity, became known to the jailer and Joseph was given responsibility even in prison. Later, Joseph, after interpreting the dreams of the Pharaoh, was given authority in Egypt second only to the Pharaoh. Nephi mentioned that the prophecies of Joseph were upon the Plates of Brass. Could it be possible that Joseph was the one that first created and wrote upon those Plates of Brass? One other possibility is that Joseph’s prophecies were quoted from another record separate from the Plates of Brass.

It is evident, though, that Joseph’s family maintained literacy in “the language of the Egyptians” from his day until Lehi’s day. We must not forget that hundreds of years after Joseph, Moses was born in the land of Egypt and was raised in the Pharaoh’s court. Obviously, he would have been educated in the same language.

With these things in mind, it would be very unlikely that, as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, he would have been left ignorant of the fact that the family of Joseph had those prophecies, either on “plates of brass” or in some other form. Would Moses have used their talents to perhaps make a permanent backup of his writings?

“And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records”

1 Nephi 1:168

It seems that Lehi, here, deems it important for us to understand that the descendants of Joseph were the keepers of those records. Surely Moses was not ignorant of a thing of such importance. Douglas Petrovich has recently published two books about the Hebrews in Egypt.¹ He gives credible evidence that Joseph’s family (especially through Manasseh) was also responsible for the world’s first phonetic alphabet. He calls it “proto-Consonantal script”.

Alma 8:3 shows that Lehi was a descendant of Joseph through Manasseh.² It is evident that Nephi was the family member that had been chosen to be the next scribe. He had learned how to make the plates, and knew how to read and engrave the Egyptian characters—all that it took to make the records. The last part of the very first verse in the Book of Mormon reveals the following:

“I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.”

1 Nephi 1:1

Nephi knew how to read and write the “language of the Egyptians.” We should not ignore the possibility that Zoram (who had the keys to the treasury) may also have been literate, as well as knowledgeable about how to make the plates because of his intimate relationship with Laban. It is perhaps for this reason that a small portion of the tribe of Manasseh lived in and around Jerusalem—because they were the keepers of the most permanent and important copy of the Holy Scriptures at that time. We are told in Alma 17:32–51 that the Plates of Brass have been preserved “for a wise purpose” … “and he will also still show forth his power in them, unto future generations.”

Could this be the way that the Lord will make “bare His arm in the eyes of all the
nations”?³ Imagine the impact that this will have upon the nations of the world. First upon Israel who will immediately recognize the text as the earliest text of their Holy Scriptures. Of the certain beginnings of the Plates of Brass we can only speculate, but they end at 600 B.C. with the writings of Jeremiah! The earliest manuscripts of the Dead Sea Scrolls begin around 200 B.C.

How will these things impact the world? The five books of Moses, the creation of the world, details about Adam and Eve, the history of the Jews from their beginning down to King Zedekiah, and many other prophets from the beginning. All written in Egyptian, engraved on metal plates and found in the New World. How will this affect the relationship between Israel and the Native Americans of Mesoamerica and North America? How will this affect the Muslim world? How will these things affect liberal Christianity? Atheism? Communism? Imagine clear prophecies about the Messiah that support both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Would these things not “make bare the arm of the Lord in the eyes of all nations” in confirming God’s plans from ages past for his people—Israel?

Frank Frye

Footnotes:
1: The World’s Oldest Alphabet, 2015; Origins of the Hebrews, 2021
2: And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren.
3: Mosiah 7:22 also see: Mosiah 8:69, 1 Nephi 7:21-22, 3 Nephi 7:45 and 3 Nephi 9:73