And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no evil, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Abinadi does not comment on this verse from Isaiah. Did the priests understand it? Jesus was crucified between two thieves (see Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:32–33; John 19:18). He was buried in the tomb of a rich man, Joseph of Arimathaea (see Matthew 27:57–60; Mark 15:42–46; Luke 23:50–53; John 19:38–42). Isaiah’s announcement that he had done “no evil” (emphasis added) is the only word change between the text of the King James Bible and the Book of Mormon. The KJV records, “He had done no violence.” “No evil” is consistent with Abinadi’s earlier declaration that he yielded not to temptation (Mosiah 15:5). No “deceit in his mouth” proclaims that he spoke the truth at all times. Peter varies slightly the same Isaiah passage: “Neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:23; emphasis added). The translation into English may account for the word differences. The message is clear. There was no reason or basis that justified his Crucifixion. However, his death was not only foreknown but “was foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20; see also Ether 3:14). Isaiah understood this clearly.