All posts by SDE
2 Samuel 19:6a
(ESV)
A because you love
B those who hate you
B’ and hate
A’ those who love you.
Proverbs 28:1-12
(From Naomi W)
A (1a) The wicked flee when no man pursueth:
B (1b) but the righteous are bold as a lion.
C (2) For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
D (3) A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
E (4-5) They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
F (6a) Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness,
G (6b) than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
H (7) Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
G’ (8a) He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance,
F’ (8b) he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
E’ (9-10) He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
D’ (11a) The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor
C’ (11b) that hath understanding searcheth him out.
B’ (12a) When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory:
A’ (12b) but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
Matthew 18:21-35
In the example below we see another feature of central sections. While they frequently seem to display the ‘main point’, there are also examples where they appear to be turning points.
A (21-22) Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
B (23-24) Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
C (25) But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
D (26-27a) The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion,
E (27b) and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
F (28a) But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence:
G (28b) and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
H (29) And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
G’ (30) And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
F’ (31) So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
E’ (32) Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
D’ (33) Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
C’ (34a) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay
B’ (34b) all that was due unto him.
A’ (35) So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Matthew 7:13-27
This one is perhaps a bit speculative. I suggest that A and B share similar thoughts with A’ and B’ (wise and foolish choice of way with wise and foolish choice of foundation). The main difficulty though is F and F’, where we have two sections without a verbal connection (although there is an interesting contrast between gathering and casting).
A (13) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
B (14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
C (15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
D (16a) Ye shall know them
E (16b) by their fruits.
F (16c) Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
G (17a) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
H (17b) but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
H’ (18a) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
G’ (18b) neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
F’ (19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
E’ (20a) Wherefore by their fruits
D’ (20b) ye shall know them.
C’ (21-23) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
B’ (24-25) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
A’ (26-27) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
1 Kings 10:1-13
(Note – The parallel record in 2 Chron 9:1-12 contains minor differences in language, but the overall structure follows the same chiastic pattern shown here.)
A (1) And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
B (2a) And she came to Jerusalem
C (2b) with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones:
D (2c-3) and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.
E (4a) And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom,
F (4b-5) and the house that he had built, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
G (6a) And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts
H (6b) and of thy wisdom.
I (7a) Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it:
H’ (7b) and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom
G’ (7c) and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
F’ (8a) Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee,
E’ (8b) and that hear thy wisdom.
D’ (9) Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
C’ (10-11) And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon. And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.
B’ (12) And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king’s house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.
A’ (13) And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.
B and B’ can easily be ignored if they’re considered tenuous – B can be incorporated into A and B’ into C’.
D and D’ contain no direct verbal or conceptual links, but D’ is clearly the Queen of Sheba’s response to what she had witnessed in D.
2 Chronicles 9:1-12
(Note – The parallel record in 1 Kings 10:1-13 contains minor differences in language, but the overall structure follows the same chiastic pattern shown here.)
A (1a) And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions
B (1b) at Jerusalem,
C (1c) with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones:
D (1d-2) and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.
E (3a) And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon,
F (3b-4) and the house that he had built, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
G (5a) And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts,
H (5b) and of thy wisdom:
I (6a) Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it:
H’ (6b) and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me:
G’ (6c) for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.
F’ (7a) Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee,
E’ (7b) and hear thy wisdom.
D’ (8) Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.
C’ (9-10) And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon. And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.
B’ (11) And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king’s palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.
A’ (12) And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.
B and B’ can easily be ignored if they’re considered tenuous – B can be incorporated into A and B’ into C’.
D and D’ contain no direct verbal or conceptual links, but D’ is clearly the Queen of Sheba’s response to what she had witnessed in D.
Acts 1:1-11
A (1-3a) The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days,
B (3b) and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
C (4) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
D (5) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
E (6a) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time
F (6b) restore again the kingdom to Israel?
E’ (7) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
D’ (8a) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
C’ (8b) and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
B’ (9a) And when he had spoken these things,
A’ (9b-11) while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Job 1
A (1) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
B (2) And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
C (3) His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
D (4-5) And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
E (6a) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD,
F (6b) and Satan came also among them.
G (7a) And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou?
H (7b) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
I (8) And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
H’ (9-11) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
G’ (12a) And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.
F’ (12b) So Satan went forth
E’ (12c) from the presence of the LORD.
D’ (13) And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
C’ (14-17) And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
B’ (18-19) While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
A’ (20-22) Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Acts 1:12-26
A (12-13) Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
B (14-15) These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
C (16) Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
D (17-19) For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
E (20) For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
F (21-22) Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
G (23) And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
H (24a) And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men,
G’ (24b) shew of these two (G’ and F’ follow word order in Greek)
F’ (24c) which one thou hast chosen,
E’ (25a) That he may take
D’ (25b) part of this ministry and apostleship,
C’ (25c) from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
B’ (26) And they gave forth their lots;
A’ (26b) and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.