Was the Path Nephi Saw “Strait and Narrow” or “Straight and Narrow”?

Title

Was the Path Nephi Saw “Strait and Narrow” or “Straight and Narrow”?

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

2001

Authors

Reynolds, Noel B. (Primary), and Skousen, Royal (Primary)

Journal

Journal of Book of Mormon Studies

Pagination

30-33, 70

Volume

10

Issue

2

Terms of use

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Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

The two spellings strait and straight are often considered synonymous; however, they come from different Middle English words and have different meanings. Strait means “narrow” or “tight,” whereas straight means “not crooked.” The difference in these meanings affects the interpretation of the scriptural phrase “strait/straight and narrow path” and others like it. Reynolds and Skousen explore possible meanings that the original Book of Mormon authors may have intended in their use of the two words.

Strait
Straight
Middle English
Nephi (Son of Lehi)

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