Proverbs 13:12-19, A Chiasm about Desire and Receiving the Word
Note: For translation and structure of the chiasm scroll down to the end of this document. The word “desire" marks the beginning and end of this paragraph. It begins with desire (or hope) deferred and ends with desire fulfilled. The verses between deal especially with the word of God and the receiving or neglecting of…
Proverbs 11:23-27, A Chiasm about Generosity
A 23. The desire of righteous ones (is) only good,B And the expectation of wicked ones (is) wrath.C 24. There is one who disperses and still increases,D And one who withholds more than is upright, surely to poverty.C 25. A soul of blessing will be made fat,C’ And one who gives drink, he also will…
Proverbs 19:12 to 20:26: A Chiasm about King and Counsel
Proverbs 19:12 to 20:26 contain two chiasms, one of which is embedded in the other. The table below shows the details, but some description is also necessary. The first and largest chiasm focuses on the words king and counsel and we can summarize it briefly in the following way. The center of the chiasm is…
Proverbs 16:28 to 17:9: Another Chiasm
In their commentary on Proverbs, Bruce K. Waltke and Ivan D. V. De Silva, note that Proverbs 16:31–17:6 form an inclusio (or envelope structure) beginning and ending with descriptions of the glories of old age. I think we may extend that inclusio into a chiasm by including all of 16:28–17:9. A 16:28 A man of…
Psalm 144: Our King Prays for Himself
Psalm 144 is similar to Psalm 18. In both psalms David celebrates the victories God gave him over his enemies, and in in both he begins with praise to God who has been many things for him. In Psalm 18 the list is my strength, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my strength,…
The Structure of Psalm 86
When you hear someone begin to talk again about a chiasm in some Biblical passage, you may be inclined to groan and ask why commentators and Bible teachers are always looking for these things. What good are they, and why must I be constantly afflicted with them? There are two things that we should remember.…
Psalm 112: A Companion to Psalm 111
The content of Psalm 112 is very different from Psalm 111. Psalm 111 praises the Lord for his great works and sure precepts; Psalm 112 blesses the righteous man. Nevertheless, there are three important considerations that demonstrate their close relationship. 1) They are both acrostic according to line rather than verse. Each has twenty-two lines…
Psalm 111: A Chiasm and an Acrostic
Psalm 111 is another carefully constructed song. It is an acrostic, but its acrostic structure is a little different from other acrostic psalms. Those usually have twenty-two verses of two (sometimes more) lines each, and each verse begins with the Hebrew letter next in order. But this psalm has twenty-two lines, each of which begins…
The Sabbath in Exodus
Exodus 24 to 40: A Large Chiasm About the Building of the Tabernacle and the Sabbath This large chiasm in the book of Exodus is a very simple one, but it has one very striking feature; the Sabbath Day plays a very important role in it. Immediately after the instructions for building the tabernacle the…