"Thus Saith the Lord": Prophetic Language in Samuel’s Speech

Rare Possessions: From The Archives of Book of Mormon Central

To read this chapter, go here: https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/thus-saiththelordpropheticlanguageinsamuelsspeech Samuel the Lamanite's speeches are packed with powerful prophetic language, giving us a glimpse into how ancient prophets communicated divine warnings. In Helaman 13–15, he uses six key speech forms to declare God’s will: phrases like "Thus saith the Lord" mark direct revelation, while "As the Lord liveth" stresses the certainty of his prophecies. He warns the wicked with "woe oracles" and uses "I say unto you" to announce God’s message with authority. These expressions, found throughout the Book of Mormon, reinforce the weight of his divine mission and the urgency of repentance.