Lehi Quotes Prophecies Made by Joseph in Egypt

John W. Welch

In this prophecy Lehi quotes only several small parts of the much longer text of words spoken to Joseph by Jacob found in the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 48:7–11, and also containing words spoken by Joseph to his brothers in JST Genesis 50:24–38.

For example, Lehi said that "the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel; not the Messiah, but a branch that would be broken off" (3 Nephi 5:5). This tracks the ancient prophecy in JST Genesis 50:24 that "the Lord God will raise up a righteous branch out of my loins … (not the Messiah)."

Lehi spoke of "a choice seer" that would be raised up "out of the fruit of [the] loins" of Joseph of old (3 Nephi 3:7). The version in JST Genesis 50:27 used the words "a choice seer" who will be "raise[d] up out of the fruit of thy loins."

Lehi promised his son Joseph that this seer would be called Joseph "after the name of his father" (2 Nephi 3:15). That prophecy to which Lehi was referring is now found in JST Genesis 50:33, "and his name shall be called Joseph, and it shall be after the name of his father."

And Lehi said, "Thus prophesied Joseph: I am sure of this thing, … for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed forever" (2 Nephi 3:16). In the longer JST version, the text assures that "the Lord sware unto Joseph that he would preserve his seed forever" (JST Genesis 50:34).

Further Reading

Book of Mormon Central, "How Lehi Likened the Scriptures to Himself (2 Nephi 3:18)," KnoWhy 418 (March 22, 2018). "Most of what Lehi quoted to his son is similar to the Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 50:24–38. However, the differences between the Joseph Smith Translation and Lehi’s blessing in the Book of Mormon show how Lehi specifically applied the scriptures to the lives of his descendants."

John W. Welch Notes

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