Discovering Chiasm

What is Chiasm?

This was a device employed by many of the writers of Scripture in which a mirror image of sorts is created within the words and phrases of the text—that is, mirror ideas that when typed out form the shape of an “X” (or the Greek letter “Chi.” This happens to be the first letter for the word “Christos” or “Christ.”

What is the Purpose of Chiasmus?

It is one of many literary devices used by the writers of Scripture. Many of the devices, especially in the poetic sections of Scripture, seem to help aid in memorizing, understanding, and absorbing the text. Chiasmus is no different.

Oftentimes, the chiasmus would have a central point to which both halves of the mirroring ideas point—referring the reader or listen to focus intently.

In ancient times, how something was written or recorded was nearly as important as what was said. There were no printing presses. There was no such thing as a mass-produced text. Manuscripts and copies were hand-written. This was the job of the scribes when it came to the Holy Scriptures. They took their job very seriously. They wrote one letter at a time and counted the letters on each line to make sure that they were accurate. They were checked and double-checked, and then checked by other scribes for mistakes.

Not only was accuracy important, but the style of writing was important. It needed to sound good when read aloud. Major portions were written in ways that would be easier to memorize. The literary device of chiasm did both. It added a poetic dimension to the text that also was easier to remember. It also was a teaching device that helped people understand big ideas.

Not all chiasms had a central statement, but they all had a central idea. Some chiastic structures found in the Bible had a symmetry that could be seen in two statements that communicated the idea in opposite ways. Notice the following examples of short chiasms used by Jesus in His teachings:

Matthew 23:12 “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (ESV).

Mark 2:27 And he said to them, ““The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (ESV).

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (ESV).

Bible students often organize the parts of the chiasm with letters to help visualize the structure. Notice this example from Joshua:

Joshua 1:5b-9

A As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you

B Be strong and courageous ... be strong and very courageous

C Be careful to obey all the law ... that you may be successful

D Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth

D’ Mediate on it day and night

C’ Be careful to do everything written in it ... you may be prosperous and successful

B’ Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged

A’ for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

The central idea was to keep the Scripture in your mouth and to meditate on it day and night. In short, Scripture should always be with us. There is a lot of teaching at each level that is important. We go about knowing that God is with us. The fact should help us to be strong and courageous. Our responsibility is to be obedient and then we can have success. The central idea of keeping the Law in our mind and speaking it frequently is a tangible way that we can be sure to obey it and to be aware of God’s presence. Paying attention to each level also provides a more holistic view of the passage. The one example demonstrates how understanding chiasm is a tool that is useful for students and teachers of the Bible.

This New Testament example also shows how word order and translation is important. The King James Version retains the chiastic structure better in this particular passage.

1 Peter 1:23-25

A Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God,

B which liveth and abideth for ever.

C For all flesh is as grass,

D and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.

C’ The grass withereth,

D’ and the flower thereof falleth away:

B’ But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.

A’ And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Right in the middle of this chiasm is a stark reminder of our fleeting mortality. Yet, there is hope. It is surrounded on both sides by the bold statement of the incorruptible and abiding nature of the word of God. Our eternal salvation is based on the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ found in the unchanging Word of God. We need not fear death, but trust in the Word of God.

That Will Preach!

John 4:23, 24 includes a simple chiasm that clearly points to the central idea that God is a spirit:

A True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:

B for the Father seeks such to worship him.

C God is a Spirit:

B’ and they that worship him

A’ must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Are you a true worshipper of the Lord? Jesus had been discussing details about the location of worship with the Samaritan. Jews and Samaritans disagreed on this point. Jesus made a bigger point—that it isn’t where one worships that is essential. He said that the hour had arrived in which true worshippers would worship in spirit and truth. The central idea is that God is a spirit. He is not bound to certain structures, cities, or regions. The ancients believed that gods were somehow physically connected to temples, mountains, or idols. Jesus was revealing a central truth about the nature of His Father.

Recognizing the chiastic structure of this part of the narrative points the reader to pause and consider why that statement is so important. Knowing that God is a spirit is important to worshipping in both spirit and truth. In the past, I have put the emphasis on the two parts—spirit and truth. But the text is pointing to one central idea. This changes how I read or teach this passage.

Some Bible students have found some very interesting and more complex chiastic structures. It is fascinating to study some of the more detailed chiasms. Here is one I found particularly interesting from Genesis 3:5-22 as adapted from www.deeperchristian.com:

Genesis 3:5–22

A 3:5 You will be like God, knowing good and evil

B 3:7 They made coverings of fig leaves

C 3:8 Wife as yet unnamed

D 3:9 Adam questioned

E 3:12-13a Eve accused and questioned

F 3:13b Serpent accused

F’ 3:14 Serpent’s curse

E’ 3:16 Eve’s curse

D’ 3:17-19 Adam’s curse

C’ 3:20 Wife is named Eve

B’ 3:21 The LORD God made them tunics of skin and clothed them.

A’ 3:22 Man is like one of Us, to know good and evil.

As you get more familiar with chiastic structures, you will enjoy discovering them and their central ideas for your personal study or in teaching or sermon preparation. For further study on this topic, I have included several websites that develop this idea. Just keep in mind that not every page of Scripture is filled with chiasms. Some have found chiasms where there probably are none. However, when you do see them, they deepen your appreciation for how the Holy Spirit led the writers of Scripture to communicate His word to the original audience. Furthermore, you will marvel at how these ancient devices open the word to us on a deeper level today.