Stephen O. Smoot’s Pearl of Great Price: A Study Edition for Latter-day Saints, Revised Edition is a timely and useful resource that synthesizes academic rigor with devotional utility. Published in partnership with Scripture Central and Interpreter Foundation, this work succeeds in its mission to bring crucial historical and linguistic context directly into the hands of Latter-day Saint students of the scriptures.

The greatest strength of this edition lies in its engagement with ancient West Asian and linguistic context. Smoot is a masterful guide, using his expertise in Egyptian and Semitic languages to illuminate nuances in Joseph Smith’s revelations that defy a mere surface reading. For example, the discussion of the celestial body Kolob (Abraham 3:3-10) is a gold mine, noting that the name plausibly derives from an Afroasiatic root meaning “interior, midst” or possibly from the Semitic root for the “Dog Star” (Sirius). These notes transform the scripture from an isolated document into a profound text deeply engaged with ancient cosmic ideas.

Likewise, the analysis of the Book of Abraham stands out as a particular achievement. Throughout, I was impressed by Smoot’s efforts to leave open the broadest possible spectrum of interpretation about the origins of the controversial text while maintaining and affirming a firm belief that it is an inspired text. For example, the commentary’s dedication to a dual-context reading of the Facsimiles (contrasting Joseph Smith’s explanations with Egyptological analysis) was open about differences between the two interpretations. Smoot navigates the complex provenance of the text—acknowledging the scholarly conundrum of the surviving funerary papyri versus the revealed content—while simultaneously enriching our understanding of its theology and relationship to related currents in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Similarly, the treatments of the Book of Moses demonstrate its deep connections to the “rewritten Bible” tradition and the corpus of Enochic literature, affirming the restoration of themes long lost from the biblical narrative. The textual notes documenting changes between original manuscripts (OT1, OT2) and the final canon are invaluable for anyone interested in the development of the Biblical revision process for Joseph Smith. I also appreciated that Smoot does not shy away from controversial areas and is careful to address historical-theological problems head-on, such as decisively rejecting the erroneous, racist interpretations of the curse of Cain throughout the commentary.

However, as is sometimes the case with complex historical scholarship, a small point merits attention: the commentary on the Book of Moses states that the “giants” of Moses 7:15 (referencing the Genesis 6:4 Nephilim) are often understood as “fallen angels” in the biblical record, but modern readers relying on the extra-biblical book of 1 Enoch should note that the term Nephilim technically refers to the violent offspring of the fallen angels (Watchers) and mortal women, not the angels themselves. This is, however, a minor distinction and does not detract from the overall value of this study edition.

The commentary format is largely successful, achieving the delicate balance of being substantial yet brief enough to focus the reader back on the core scriptural text. However, a small but notable formatting issue appears occasionally when reading the text: in some sections, the line-by-line scriptural text and the corresponding commentary break across pages in a way that requires the reader to flip back and forth, slightly disrupting the study flow. This is a minor production issue, however, and one that doesn’t detract from the content itself.

In sum, this study edition is a valuable tool for engaging with one of the most influential and interesting sections of the Latter-day Saint scriptural canon. It is a labor of love and I highly recommend it—Smoot’s work will reward both seasoned readers and those new to the Pearl of Great Price.

(Also, for those who want a free version, the first edition of Smoot’s Pearl of Great Price is available as a PDF here.)