Ezias/Ezaias Variant

Variant spelling of EZIAS/EZAIAS

- Helaman 8:20

P: Ezaias RLDS 1908

A: Ezias 1830 – 1981 RLDS 1874

1906: Esias

Discussion: "The printer's manuscript reads Ezaias, but the 1830 edition, set from the printer's manuscript, dropped out the first a, giving Ezias. It does not look like this change is due to conscious editing" (ATV 5:3023). Orson Pratt proposed that this name is the same as that of Esaias, who lived at the time of Abraham (Doctrine and Covenants 84:11-13). This name should not be interpreted as Isaiah, since both names occur together in this verse. Although this spelling may have been influenced by the nearby name Isaiah, there is not any evidence for the change to Ezias.

Summary: Skousen accepts Ezaias, the earliest reading; cf. Matthew 3:3 Esaias

Source: ATV 5:3022-23