Chiastic structure is a literary structure, in which the second half repeats the first half in reverse order. This term comes from the Greek letter "chi", which looks like an X. It's a simple concept, and it's not uniquely Jewish, as it can be found in many common sayings as well, such as this Benjamin Franklin quote: "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." And here's another axiom: "Don't use a man you doubt, don't doubt the man you use." According to some rabbis, it's also known as "menorah pattern", you known, the Jewish lampstand with seven branches, among which the tallest is right in the middle, it goes like ABC-D-CBA. Here are a few familiar examples:
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” (Gen 9:6)
The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27)
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matt. 10:39)
For he who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 14:11)
And here's Psalm 67, the most prominent and obvious passage that goes in this structure, verse 1 and 2 match 7 and 6, 3 and 5 are identical, and 4 is the longest. It's carefully and purposefully written in the shape of a menorah:
1 God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us.
2 That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
3 Let the people praise You, O God, let all the peoples praise You;
4 Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For you shall judge the people righteously and govern the nations on earth.
5 Let the people praise You, O God, let all the peoples praise You;
6 Then the earth shall yield her increase, God, our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
Then you take a look at Revelation, the entire book is written in this structure. The first half reveals Jesus, the second exposes Satan, and right in the middle is chapter 12, the turning point where it TRANSITIONS from heaven to earth. It starts with - and ends with - John the Revelator's blessing and exhortation. If Revelation is a movie, then chapter 12 is the intermission. Overall, this pattern is very common in the bible, many verses, passages, chapters, sections or even entire books are written in chiastic structure. Recognizing the chiastic structure is a key to read the bible in the right way.
Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” (Gen 9:6)
The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27)
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matt. 10:39)
For he who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 14:11)
And here's Psalm 67, the most prominent and obvious passage that goes in this structure, verse 1 and 2 match 7 and 6, 3 and 5 are identical, and 4 is the longest. It's carefully and purposefully written in the shape of a menorah:
1 God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us.
2 That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
3 Let the people praise You, O God, let all the peoples praise You;
4 Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For you shall judge the people righteously and govern the nations on earth.
5 Let the people praise You, O God, let all the peoples praise You;
6 Then the earth shall yield her increase, God, our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
Then you take a look at Revelation, the entire book is written in this structure. The first half reveals Jesus, the second exposes Satan, and right in the middle is chapter 12, the turning point where it TRANSITIONS from heaven to earth. It starts with - and ends with - John the Revelator's blessing and exhortation. If Revelation is a movie, then chapter 12 is the intermission. Overall, this pattern is very common in the bible, many verses, passages, chapters, sections or even entire books are written in chiastic structure. Recognizing the chiastic structure is a key to read the bible in the right way.
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