After quoting 15 chapters from the book of Isaiah (1 Nephi 20-21, 2 Nephi 12-24), Nephi now shares an extended paraphrase of Isaiah 29. Nephi adds more details about a “sealed book” in Isaiah’s prophecy, and he provides more context for the “marvelous work” which God will do. The fundamental message of the chapter is that God can and will do His work in spite of resistance from cynics and critics.
Chapter Outline
- The people who fight against Zion are “asleep”—unable to be satisfied because they are not fully aware (v. 1-5).
- God will bring forth a sealed book (the Book of Mormon) (v. 6-10).
- The words of the book will be published, and witnesses will see it (v. 11-14).
- An educated man will reject the book, so God will use an uneducated man to publish it (v. 15-23).
- God will do a marvelous work and a wonder (v. 24-27).
- The book will enable the deaf to hear and the blind to see (v. 28-35).
My Takeaways
- Ignoring God’s word artificially limits our understanding, placing us in a state of “self-inflicted spiritual blindness.”
- We need to acknowledge the boundaries of our knowledge. God can teach us so much more if we’re willing to listen.
- God does not expect us to believe just one person. He provides corroborating evidence in the form of multiple witnesses.
- We should avoid both being too proud of our knowledge and too insecure about our lack of knowledge.
- God corrects His children gently when they are capable of responding to gentle correction. Correction doesn’t always have to be stern or painful. People who “err in spirit” need education, not condemnation.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Sleeping Antagonists – 2 Nephi 27:1-5
His Soul Is Empty – 2 Nephi 27:3
3 And all the nations that fight against Zion, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision; yea, it shall be unto them, even as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty; or like unto a thirsty man which…
The Spirit of Deep Sleep – 2 Nephi 27:4-5
4 For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry; yea, ye shall be drunken but not with wine, ye shall stagger but not with strong drink. 5 For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have…
“Stay Yourselves and Wonder”
Isaiah said, “Stay yourselves and wonder,” which could be paraphrased, “Slow down, and let yourself be awestruck.” When we take time to participate in activities that produce a sense of awe, we become more humble, kind, productive, and joyful.
❖ the Sealed Book – 2 Nephi 27:6-10
What Is the Sealed Portion of the Book of Mormon?
Isaiah described a “sealed book” which would confound a “learned man.” He would be asked to read it and would say in frustration, “I cannot; for it is sealed” (Isaiah 29:11). An unlearned man would then protest that he could not read the book because of his lack of education. In Nephi’s paraphrase of this…
❖ Witnesses – 2 Nephi 27:11-14
Who Were the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon?
While Joseph Smith was translating the Book of Mormon, he was not allowed to show anyone else the metal plates containing the original record (Joseph Smith–History 1:42). His scribes sat near him, recording the words he spoke, but Joseph kept the plates hidden from their view. But near the end of the translation process, in…
Witnesses
Today, I’ve been thinking about the people who saw the golden plates containing the original text of the Book of Mormon. Their experiences differed from one another dramatically, and I think we can learn a lot from those differences: The Three Witnesses—Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris—all participated in the translation of the Book…
❖ The Learned – 2 nephi 27:15-23
The Learned Shall Not Read Them – 2 Nephi 27:15-20
15 But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book: Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying: Read this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say: Bring…
“I Am Able to Do Mine Own Work” – 2 Nephi 27:20-21
God told Moses that His work is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life (Moses 1:39). He also told Moses, “I have a work for thee” (Moses 1:6). And He assured Moses, “I am with thee” (Moses 1:26). God’s work is beyond the capabilities of the best among us. We can only do…
❖ A Marvelous Work and a Wonder – 2 nephi 27:24-27
The Commandments of Men
How many of our decisions are based on social convention? Probably more than we realize. Quoting Isaiah, Jesus rebuked those who “teach for doctrines the commandments of men.” We need to be careful not to prioritize custom or tradition over following God.
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder – 2 Nephi 27:25-26
25 Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men— 26 Therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous…
❖ The Deaf Will Hear and the Blind Will See – 2 nephi 27:28-35
The Poor Among Men Shall Rejoice
After identifying a severe societal problem—rampant hypocrisy—Isaiah prophesies that God will address this issue by doing a “marvellous work” which will cause “the wisdom of [the] wise men [to] perish” (Isaiah 29:13-14, 2 Nephi 27:25-26). Included in this marvelous work will be the arrival of a “sealed book,” which will be rejected by the learned.…
“They Also That Erred in Spirit” – 2 Nephi 27:35
Isaiah foresaw a time when people would turn their hearts away from God. Speaking on behalf of the Lord, he gave the following problem statement, which Nephi also quoted in the Book of Mormon: Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught…
Old Testament Foundations
A Famine…of Hearing the Words of the Lord
When Alma spoke in the city of Zarahemla, he asked a number of questions to help his listeners assess their own spiritual state. “Have ye spiritually been born of God?” he asked. “Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” (Alma 5:14). Later in the sermon, he addressed a question to…
New Testament Parallels
Vain Jangling – Part 1
Paul warned Timothy and Titus against engaging in time-wasting conversations on low-priority topics. He urged them instead to focus on “sound doctrine.” We ought to focus on the most important truths and avoid taking the easy path.
Apostasy and Restoration
Patterns of apostasy and restoration are an example of God’s grace. Left to ourselves, we tend to drift, both collectively and individually. But God loves His children, and He provides infusions of knowledge and invitations to act, because He loves us.
Wisdom and Foolishness
Our perception of wisdom is not very reliable. We may overestimate other people’s understanding and our own. The key is humility. Jacob and Paul counseled us to become fools before God. We need to recognize what we lack and be willing to learn from Him.
Church History Connections
“With Their Lips” – 2 Nephi 27:25
Through the prophet Isaiah, God explained the problem which would be solved by the publication of the Book of Mormon and the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ: Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me…
“Out of Obscurity and Out of Darkness”
Isaiah prophesied that God would do a marvelous work among His children in response to widespread hypocrisy and cynicism. An important element of that work would be a book which would enable people to overcome confusion and see clearly: In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind…
All Posts Referencing 2 Nephi 27
- Contents of the Brass Plates (1/3/2026)
- “He Lived Great” (11/25/2025)
- Cheerfully (10/26/2025)
- Biblical References in Doctrine and Covenants 76 (7/8/2025)
- Devouring Fire and Divine Mercy (4/5/2025)
- Endless (3/8/2025)
- Faith and Witnessing (2/23/2025)
- Preface to Four Revelations, April-May 1829 (2/19/2025)
- Hypocrisy and Denying the Power of God (1/16/2025)
- A God of Miracles (3/15/2024)
- “Stay Yourselves and Wonder” (3/14/2024)
- Nephi’s Vision and Nephi’s Prophecy (3/12/2024)
- The Own Due Time (1/20/2024)
- The Title Page and Nephi (1/4/2024)
- Vain Jangling – Part 1 (10/27/2023)
- Apostasy and Restoration (10/22/2023)
- Wisdom and Foolishness (8/22/2023)
- A Famine…of Hearing the Words of the Lord (11/16/2022)
- The Poor Among Men Shall Rejoice (9/14/2022)
- Glory (12/28/2021)
- “Fools Mock” (5/2/2021)
- No End (3/23/2021)
- The Work, the Sword, the Sickle, and the Prayer (1/28/2021)
- “With Their Lips” – 2 Nephi 27:25 (1/10/2021)
- “Out of Obscurity and Out of Darkness” (1/3/2021)
- “They Also That Erred in Spirit” – 2 Nephi 27:35 (12/30/2020)
- “Revealed…Manifest…Loosed” – 2 Nephi 30:17 (3/1/2020)
- “I Am Able to Do Mine Own Work” – 2 Nephi 27:20-21 (2/26/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Fulfill? (12/30/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Refute? (12/29/2019)
- How Can I Recognize the Temptations of the Devil? (8/18/2019)
- Which of Isaiah’s Writings Are Quoted in the Book of Mormon? (5/31/2019)
- What Is the Sealed Portion of the Book of Mormon? (5/25/2019)
- Who Were the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon? (5/24/2019)
- The Spirit of Deep Sleep – 2 Nephi 27:4-5 (10/21/2018)
- A Marvelous Work and a Wonder – 2 Nephi 27:25-26 (9/25/2017)
- His Soul Is Empty – 2 Nephi 27:3 (8/15/2017)
- I Am Able to Do Mine Own Work – 2 Nephi 27:19-20 (8/14/2017)
- A Marvelous Work and a Wonder – 2 Nephi 27 (3/17/2015)