The following is a list of Biblical references to doctrines, events, or motifs contained in 2 Nephi 9 of the Book of Mormon. References will be listed by verse as they appear in 2 Nephi 9. The purpose of this reference is to help the reader better understand the complexity and precision of the author in using Biblical motifs in the writing of 2 Nephi 9. This represents only a portion of the motifs found in 2 Nephi 9 that can be traced back to the Bible.

1. By the mouth of his holy prophets

(2 Nephi 9:2) “That he has spoken unto the Jews, by the mouth of his holy prophets, even from the beginning down”

(Acts 3:21) “which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began”

2. From generation to generation

(2 Nephi 9:2) “from generation to generation”

(Isaiah 13:20) “neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation”

(Daniel 4:3) “and his dominion is from generation to generation”

(Luke 1:50) “on them that fear him from generation to generation”

3. Fold of God

(2 Nephi 9:2) “restored to the true church and fold of God”

(Jeremiah 23:3) “And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries…and will bring them again to their folds”

4. Lift up your heads

(2 Nephi 9:3) “rejoice, and lift up your heads forever”

(Psalm 24:7) “Lift up your heads, O ye gates”

5. Have searched to know of things to come

(2 Nephi 9:4) “ye have searched much, many of you, to know of things to come”

(1 Peter 1:10) “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently”

6. We will die, but we will see god in our flesh.

(2 Nephi 9:4) “Our flesh must waste away and die; nevertheless, in our bodies we shall see God”

(Job 19:26) “And though after my skin worms shall destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God”

7. Become subject unto Christ

(2 Nephi 9:5) “that all men might become subject unto him”

(Hebrews 2:8) “For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him”

8. Power of the resurrection

(2 Nephi 9:6) “there must needs be a power of resurrection”

(Phillippians 3:10) “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection”

9. Corruption must put on incorruption

(2 Nephi 9:7) “Save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption”

(1 Corinthians 15:53) “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality”

10. An angel fell from heaven

(2 Nephi 9:8) “our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God”

(Isaiah 14:12) “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!”

11. Devil can transform into an angel of light

(2 Nephi 9:9) “who transformeth himself night unto an angel of light”

(II Corinthians 11:14) “for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light”

12. Devil beguiled Adam and Eve

(2 Nephi 9:9) “yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents”

(II Corinthians 11:3) “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

13. Goodness of God

(2 Nephi 9:10) “O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way…”

(Psalm 31:19) “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee”

14. Death and Hell

(2 Nephi 9:10) “yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit”

(Revelation 6:8) “And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him”

15. Death and Hell must deliver up the captives/The second death. 

(2 Nephi 9:12) “And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies…”

(Revelation 20:13-15) “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

(Revelation 21:8) “shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

16. The robe of righteousness

(2 Nephi 9:14) “being clothed with purity, even with the robe of righteousness”

(Isaiah 61:10) “he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness”

17. The judgment seat of Christ

(2 Nephi 9:15) “they must appear before the judgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel; and then cometh the judgment”

(Romans 14:10) “for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ”

(II Corinthians 5:10) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…”

18. God’s word shall not pass away

(2 Nephi 9:16)”for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away…”

(Mark 13:31) “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away”

19. Righteous will be righteous still; filthy will be filthy still. 

(2 Nephi 9:16) “they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still”

(Revelation 22:11) “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still”

20. Lake of fire and brimstone

(2 Nephi 9:16) “their torment is as a lake of fire an brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end”

(Revelation 19:20) “These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone”

21. Flame/smoke ascends forever and ever

(2 Nephi 9:16) “and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end”

(Revelation 14:11) “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day or night”

22. Endure the cross and despise the shame of it

(2 Nephi 9:18) “they who have believed in the holy one of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it…”

(Hebrews 12:2) “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”

23. Inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. 

(2 Nephi 9:18) “they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world”

(Matthew 25:34) “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”

24. Your joy may be full

(2 Nephi 9:18) “and their joy shall be full forever”

(John 1:4) “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full”

25. Endure to the end

(2 Nephi 9:24) “And if they will not repent…and endure to the end, they must be damned”

(Matthew 10:22) “but he that endureth to the end shall be saved”

26. No law, no sin

(2 Nephi 9:25) “Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment…”

(Romans 4:15) “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”

27. Uncircumcised of heart

(2 Nephi 9:33) “Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart, for a knowledge of their iniquities shall smite them at the last day”

(Acts 7:51) “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears…”

(Jeremiah 9:26) “and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart”

28. Carnally minded is death

(2 Nephi 9:39) “Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal”

(Romans 8:6) “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”

29. Spoken hard things

(2 Nephi 9:40) “Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you”

(Psalm 60:3) “Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment”

30. Go on the straight path

(2 Nephi 9:41) “Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him…”

(Psalm 5:8) “Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face”

(Matthew 3:3) “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

31. Path of righteousness

(2 Nephi 9:41) “Remember that his paths are righteous” (originally “righteousness”)

(Psalm 23:3) “he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake”

32. Consider yourself a fool before God

(2 Nephi 9:42) “And save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility…”

(1 Corinthians 3:18) “If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.”

33. The wise and the prudent

(2 Nephi 9:43) “But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them forever…”

(1 Corinthians 1:19) “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent”

34. Shake my garments to rid myself of your blood

(2 Nephi 9:44) “Behold, I take off my garments, and I shake them before you…I shook your iniquities from my soul…and am rid of your blood”

(Acts 18:6) “he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean…”

35. The searching eye of the Lord 

(2 Nephi 9:44) “I pray the God of my salvation that he view me with his all-searching eye”

(Psalm 139:23) “Search me, O Go, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts”

(Psalm 33:18) “Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him…”

(Proverbs 15:3) “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”

36. Stand with brightness

(2 Nephi 9:44) “That I stand with brightness before him”

(Isaiah 62:1) “I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness…”

(Ezekiel 28:7,17) “and they shall defile thy brightness…thou hast corrupted by wisdom by reason of thy brightness”

37. Rock of my salvation

(2 Nephi 9:45) “come unto that God who is the rock of your salvation”

(Psalm 62:2) “He only is my rock and my salvation”

38. Chains of Hell

(2 Nephi 9:45) “shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast”

(2 Peter 2:4) “but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness”

(Jude 1:6) “he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”

39. Plainness of speech

(2 Nephi 9:47) “Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?”

(II Corinthians 3:12) “Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech”

40. Delight in righteousness

(2 Nephi 9:49) “Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness…”

(Psalm 40:8) “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.”