Show Notes
Are the names in the Book of Mormon ancient or invented? Names like Alma, Nephi, Abish, and Paanchi have been dismissed by critics as fictional — but what does the scholarship actually say?
In this episode of Informed Saints, we sit down with Professor Matthew L. Bowen at BYU–Hawaii to explore the fascinating world of Book of Mormon onomastics (the study of names). Prof. Bowen reveals how names like Alma are attested as ancient male Semitic names, how Nephi derives from the Egyptian word "nefer" meaning "good" or "fair," and how the Book of Mormon authors appear to deliberately play on the meanings of these names throughout the text.
===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye
Further Readings: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1986/10/i-have-a-question/is-the-writing-in-the-book-of-mormon-characteristic-of-the-hebrew-language?lang=eng
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/insights/vol30/iss4/3/
https://scripturecentral.org/archive/periodicals/journal-article/personal-name-alma-ebla
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1192&context=jbms
https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/more-evidence-for-alma-as-a-semitic-name
https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/alma-young-man-hidden-prophet
https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2026-small-plates-of-nephi-conference
https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/revisiting-sariah-at-elephantine
https://smarthistory.org/yaxchilan-lintels/
https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-19-no-1-2018/abish-theophanies-first-lamani...
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