Sometimes the question arises whether the Book of Mormon was a literal translation of the engravings on the plates or a functional equivalent translation. We can't know for sure, except that Joseph said the Title Page was a "literal translation."
The October 15, 1842, edition of the Times and Seasons included this excerpt from History of Joseph Smith:
Meantime our translation drawing to a close, we went to Palmyra, Wayne county, N. Y: Secured the copyright; and agreed with Mr. Egbert Grandon [E. B. Grandin] to print five thousand copies, for the sum of three thousand dollars.
I wish also to mention here, that the title page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated; the language of the whole running the same as all Hebrew writing in general; and that, said title page is not by any means a modern composition either of mine or of any other man’s who has lived or does live in this generation.
Therefore, in order to correct an error which generally exists concerning it, I give below that part of the title page of the English version of the Book of Mormon, which is a genuine and literal translation of the title page of the Original Book of Mormon, as recorded on the plates.
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/times-and-seasons-15-october-1842/1
Several versions of this account were written before this version was published in the Times and Seasons. They are shown below.
From the Times and Seasons version, it appears that
(i) Joseph translated the Title Page before he finished the translation of the original small plates of Nephi (the "Fayette plates"),
(ii) the title page was a literal translation, and
(iii) the title page was taken from the very last leaf of the "Original Book of Mormon."
As far as I can tell from the Joseph Smith Papers, the earliest version of this passage was written by James Mulholland, ca. June–Oct. 1839.
Mean time our translation drawing to a close, we went to Palmyra, and agreed there <with Mr> Egbert Granden [Grandin] to print and publish it five thousand <copies> for three thousand Dollars, and about this time secured the copy right.
I would mention here also in order to correct a misunderstanding, which has gone abroad concerning the title page of the Book of Mormon, that it is not a composition of mine or of any other man’s who has lived or does live in this generation, but that it is a literal translation taken from the last leaf of the plates, on the left hand side of the collection of plates, the language running same as the <all> Hebrew <wr[i]ting> language <in general>. And that no error can henceforth possibly exist I give here the Title so far as it is a translation.
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-june-october-1839-draft-1/9
It's interesting to compare the other versions of this account.
History, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2] has the passage this way:
Mean time our translation drawing to a close, we went to , Wayne County, N. Y: Secured the Copyright; and agreed with Mr to print five thousand Copies, for the sum of three thousand dollars.I wish also to mention here, that the Title Page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated; and not by any means the language of the whole running same as all Hebrew writing in general; and that, said Title Page is not by any means a modern composition either of mine or of any other man’s who has lived or does live in this generation. Therefore, in order to correct an error which generally exists concerning it, I give below that part of the Title Page of the English Version of the Book of Mormon, which is a genuine and literal translation of the Title Page of the Original Book of Mormon, as recorded on the plates.
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-june-1839-circa-1841-draft-2/40
History, circa 1841, draft [Draft 3] by Howard Coray has some differences.
Having finished the translation we went to Palmira [Palmyra] Wayne Co, N.Y. and secured the copy right and engaged Mr. Gilbert Grandon [E. B. Grandin] to print 5000 copies for the sum of $3000.
I wish to mention here that the title page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation taken from the last leaf on the lift [left] hand side of the collection of plates which contained the record that has been translated the lan The language of the whole running the same as all Hebrew writings; and that said title page is not a modern composition Therefore in order to correct an error which generally exists concerning it I give below that part of the title page which is a genuine and literal <literal> account translation of the title page of the book of Mormon recorded on the plates.
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-1841-draft-draft-3/61
History, circa 1841, fair copy by Howard Coray, is Coray's second draft:
Having finished the translation we went to Wayne Co. N.Y. and secured the copy right and engaged Mr. to print 5000 copies for the sum of three thousand dollars.I wish to mention here that the title page of the book of Mormon is a literal translation taken from the last leaf on the left hand side of the collection of plates which contained the record that has been translated. The language of the whole running the same as all Hebrew writings writings; and that said title page is not a modern composition. Therefore in order to correct an error which generally exists concerning it I give below that part of the title page which is a genuine and literal translation of the title page of the book of Mormon recorded on the plates.
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-circa-1841-fair-copy/60
A source note in the Joseph Smith Papers explains that the Title Page may have also been a separate page on the Original Manuscript.
JS stated that the text of the title page was “a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side” of the gold plates. When Oliver Cowdery began work on the printer’s manuscript, he copied onto the first page of the first gathering the beginning of the book of 1 Nephi—not the title page, which he copied onto a loose leaf that was placed with the printer’s manuscript. It is possible the original manuscript also had a loose title page. (Title page and copyright; JS History, vol. A-1, 34.)
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The concept of a "literal translation" was well known in Joseph's day. Jonathan Edwards referred to literal translations several times.
For example, this passage from the 1808 Edition of the Works of President Edwards, on sale in the Palmyra bookshop that Joseph Smith frequented. In it, Edwards explains the difference between the King James translation and the literal Hebrew which uses "ingemination or doubling of words" to emphasize a point.
5. We may observe the manner of prayer agreed on, or the manner in which they agree to engage in and perform the duty. "Let us go speedily to pray" [Zechariah 8:21]; or as it is in the margin, "Let us go continually." The words literally translated are, "Let us go in going."
Such an ingemination or doubling of words is very common in the Hebrew language, when it is intended that a thing shall be very strongly expressed; it generally implies the superlative degree of a thing; as the "Holy of Holies" signifies the most holy: but it commonly denotes, not only the utmost degree of a thing, but also the utmost certainty; as when God said to Abraham, "In multiplying, I will multiply thy seed" (Genesis 22:17), it implies both that God would certainly multiply his seed, and also multiply it exceedingly.
Kindle edition, location 23447.
This passage, also from the 1808 edition, demonstrates another literal translation of the Hebrew.
This institution we have in Deuteronomy 6:13, "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name." 'Tis repeated, ch. Deuteronomy 10:20, "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name."
In both places it might have been rendered: "Thou shalt swear in his name," or "into his name." In the original, bishmo, with the prefix beth which signifies "in" or "into," as well as "by." And whereas in the latter place in our translation it is said, "To him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name."
The words are thus in the Hebrew, ubho thidhbák ubhishmo tisshàbhéang. The literal translation of which is, "Into him shalt thou cleave" (or "unite") "and into his name shalt thou swear."
There is the same prefix, beth, before "him," when it is said, "Thou shalt cleave to him," as before his name, when it is said, "Thou shalt swear by his name." Swearing into God's name, is a very emphatical and significant way of expressing a person's taking on himself, by his own solemn profession, the name of God, as one of his people; or by swearing to or covenanting with God uniting himself by his own act to the people that is called by his name.
The figure of speech is something like that by which Christians in the New Testament are said to be baptized εις τὸ ὄνομα "into the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." So Christians are said to be "baptized into Christ" (Galatians 3:27). This swearing by the name, or into the name of the Lord, is so often, and in such a manner spoken of by the prophets as a great duty of God's solemn public worship, as much as praying or sacrificing, that it would be unreasonable to understand it only, or chiefly, of occasionally taking an oath before a court of judicature, which, it may be, one tenth part of the people never had occasion to do once in their lives.
If we well consider the matter, we shall see abundant reason to be satisfied, that the thing intended in this institution was publicly covenanting with God. Covenanting in Scripture is very often called by the name of swearing, and a covenant is called an oath. And particularly God's covenant is called his oath.
Kindle edition, location 2876
