Difference between revisions of "D&C 89:11-15"
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| + | * ''herb'' (v 10, 11) In today's language, "herb" most frequently refers to a plant used as a seasoning or a medicine rather than to vegetables. The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (2nd ed.) lists as the first two definitions for this word, "A plant of which the stem does not become woody or persistent (as in a shrub or a tree), but remains more or less soft and succulent, and dies down to the ground (or entirely) after flowering", and "Applied to plants of which the leaves, or stem and leaves, are used for food or medicine or in some way for their scent or flavor". Both senses have citations going to 1290. The first sense would appear to apply to vegetables, and is presumably the intent here. | ||
* ''staff of life'' (v 14) This is the only appearence of this phrase in our scriptures. In the ''Oxford Enlish Dictionary'', (2nd ed.), there's a discussion of the Biblical phrase "to break the staff of bread" under senses I4b and c for ''staff''. The phrase means "to diminish or cut off the supply of food." From this, the phrase "staff of life" came to mean bread or similar staple food, with citations as early as 1638. "Staff of bread" appears in Ps. 105:16, Ezek. 4:16 and 5:16, and 2 Ne. 13:1. Several older senses of "staff" imply support, as in a walking stick (still in occ. use) or a rung of a ladder. | * ''staff of life'' (v 14) This is the only appearence of this phrase in our scriptures. In the ''Oxford Enlish Dictionary'', (2nd ed.), there's a discussion of the Biblical phrase "to break the staff of bread" under senses I4b and c for ''staff''. The phrase means "to diminish or cut off the supply of food." From this, the phrase "staff of life" came to mean bread or similar staple food, with citations as early as 1638. "Staff of bread" appears in Ps. 105:16, Ezek. 4:16 and 5:16, and 2 Ne. 13:1. Several older senses of "staff" imply support, as in a walking stick (still in occ. use) or a rung of a ladder. | ||
Revision as of 21:59, 23 October 2006
Doctrine & Covenants > Section 89
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Questions
- How might one use herbs with "prudence" and "thanksgiving" (vs. 11)?
- What does "in the season thereof" mean? (v. 11)
- How do you determine if you are using meat "sparingly"?
- What does it mean that grain is "ordained" for our use in vs. 14?
- Why are fish not included as proper food in the Word of Wisdom?
Lexical notes
- herb (v 10, 11) In today's language, "herb" most frequently refers to a plant used as a seasoning or a medicine rather than to vegetables. The Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed.) lists as the first two definitions for this word, "A plant of which the stem does not become woody or persistent (as in a shrub or a tree), but remains more or less soft and succulent, and dies down to the ground (or entirely) after flowering", and "Applied to plants of which the leaves, or stem and leaves, are used for food or medicine or in some way for their scent or flavor". Both senses have citations going to 1290. The first sense would appear to apply to vegetables, and is presumably the intent here.
- staff of life (v 14) This is the only appearence of this phrase in our scriptures. In the Oxford Enlish Dictionary, (2nd ed.), there's a discussion of the Biblical phrase "to break the staff of bread" under senses I4b and c for staff. The phrase means "to diminish or cut off the supply of food." From this, the phrase "staff of life" came to mean bread or similar staple food, with citations as early as 1638. "Staff of bread" appears in Ps. 105:16, Ezek. 4:16 and 5:16, and 2 Ne. 13:1. Several older senses of "staff" imply support, as in a walking stick (still in occ. use) or a rung of a ladder.
Exegesis
The first comma in verse thirteen was added to this section in 1921. Some refer to this comma as the 'vegetarian comma.' This a misnomer since neither the interpretation that stresses a pause (with the comma) or the interpretation without the pause would lead one to interpret this verse as an argument for never eating meat. It appears that the inserted comma simply clarified the generally accepted interpretation of this verse so that the general interpretation of this verse today is the same as that prior to the comma's insertion. This interpretation is in harmony with other verses that suggest that meat should be used sparingly.
Related links
- For a sermon on the Word of Wisdom by Hyrum Smith in 1842 see Times and Seasons Volume 3 Number 15.
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