Joseph Smith Genesis5033

Was Joseph Smith a "Self-Certifying Prophet" with JST Genesis 50:33?

Critics note that one verse in the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible, Genesis 50:33, is a verse that prophesies about Joseph Smith. This verse does not exist in Genesis the world has today, which ends with verse 50:26.

Critics complain this is a “self-certifying prophecy”. They say Joseph made up a verse which talks about himself, which does not exist in today’s Bible, to convince others that he was a prophet.

Genesis 50:33 is Not Scripture

The JST (Joseph Smith Translation) is a compilation of Joseph's writings about various Biblical verses. (Here is more about the JST from FAIR), and the JST from the church website).

Although some of the JST was canonized as scripture in the Pearl of Great Price, the JST as a whole is not. JST Genesis 50:33 appears to be a restoration of missing information or missing scripture, but we don’t know its purpose for sure. Joseph did not write this as a specific verse of scripture originally; this was added later.

Joseph Smith did not use this to market himself

Joseph Smith did not use this one comment to publicly market himself as a prophet. Otherwise, he would have published it and discussed it frequently. The entire JST was first published in 1867, long after Joseph died, by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (RLDS, now Community of Christ). Not until 1979 did the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints publish the JST as part of the footnotes in the King James Bible.

A similar verse in 2 Nephi 3꞉14-15 exists, but Joseph did not use that as a marketing tool either.

Jesus also referred to missing scripture about Himself

Jesus also referred to missing scripture which talked about Himself: John 8꞉56, John 7꞉38, John 7꞉42.