A. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
1B. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain;
1C. and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
1D. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
1C’. Ye worship ye know not what:
1B’. we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
2B. But the hour cometh, and now is,
2C. when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:
2D. for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
2E. God is a Spirit:
2D’. and they that worship him
2C’. must worship him in spirit and in truth.
2B’. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ:when he is come, he will tell us all things.
A’. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
please consider from NASB95:
19 The woman said to Him,
….”Sir,
……..I PERCEIVE that You are a prophet.
…………20 “Our fathers worshiped IN THIS MOUNTAIN,
…………….and you [people] say that IN JERUSALEM
………………..is the place where men ought to WORSHIP.”
21 Jesus said to her,
….”Woman,
……..BELIEVE Me,
…………an hour is coming when neither IN THIS MOUNTAIN
…………….nor IN JERUSALEM
………………..will you WORSHIP the Father.
A (23a): the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth
B (23b): for the Father seeketh such to worship him
C (24a): God is a Spirit
B’ (24b): and they that worship him
A’ (24c): must worship him in spirit and truth
As you can see, the core concept of “worshipping the Father in spirit and truth” is presented at the beginning (A) and mirrored at the end (A’). The intervening elements (B and B’) talk about who seeks such worshippers (the Father) and the nature of God (being Spirit).
This chiasm emphasizes the importance of the inner nature of worship (spirit) and truthfulness for true worshippers.
Thanks Joshua. This is the same as in the post above. Its good to have your own discovery as well.