Have you noticed that Scripture often repeats itself in reverse, creating a mirror image? This is known as a chiasm. Chiasmus are a tool the Biblical authors used regularly, and in this episode we discuss their importance.

Links

* Biblical Chiasmus
* The Literary Structure of the Old Testament by David Dorsey (UK link)

Below are some example chiasmus in the Bible.
Single Verse
Galatians 2:16
A. Not justified by works of the law
B. Justified by faith in Jesus
C. We have believed in Christ Jesus
B. Justified by faith in Jesus
A. Not justified by works of the law
Verses
Mark 1:21-28
A. Introduction (Mk 1:21)
B. Crowds astonished at Jesus’ authoritative teaching (Mk 1:22)
C. Unclean spirit cries out (Mk 1:23-24)
D. Jesus rebukes the spirit, showing His authority (Mk 1:25)
C. Unclean spirit cries out (Mk 1:26)
B. Crowds amazed at Jesus’ authoritative teaching (Mk 1:27)
A. Conclusion (Mk 1:28)
Chapters
Genesis 2:5-3:24
According to Gordon Wenham, Genesis, Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 1, pp. 50-51
A 2:5-17 Narrative God the sole actor; man present but passive
B 2:18-25 Narrative God main actor, man minor role, woman and animals passive
C 3:1-5 Dialogue Snake and woman
X 3:6-8 Narrative Man and woman
C’ 3:9-13 Dialogue God, man, and woman
B’ 3:14-21 Narrative God main actor, man minor role, woman and snake passive
A’ 3:22-24 Narrative God sole actor, man passive
(Wenham gives a more detailed explanation in his commentary, showing word correspondence between the various sections).
 
The Flood Story (Genesis 7-9)
According to Wenham p. 156
A Transitional Introduction (6:9-10)
B Violence in creation (6:11-12)
C First divine speech: resolve to destroy (6:13-22)
D Second divine speech: “enter ark” (7:1-10)
E Beginning of flood (7:11-16)
F The rising flood (7:17-24)
X God remembers Noah
F’ The receding flood (8:1-5)
E’ Drying of the earth (8:6-14)
D’ Third divine speech: “leave ark” (8:15-19)
C’ God’s resolve to preserve order (8:20-22)
B’ Fourth divine speech: covenant with creation (9:1-17)
A’ Transitional conclusion (9:18-19)
 
Even the numbers of the Flood Story are in chiastic order.
7 days of waiting for the flood (7:4)
7 more days of waiting for the flood (7:10)
40 days of flood (7:17)
150 days of water triumphing (7:24)
150 days of water waning (8:3)
40 days’ wait (8:6)
7 days wait (8:10)
7 more days wait (8:12)
 
Daniel 2-7
A. Four Kingdoms then the Kingdom of God (Dan 2)
B. Persecution of God’s people (Dan 3)
C. King humbled, God glorified (Dan 4)
C. King humbled, God glorified (Dan 5)
B. Persecution of God’s people (Dan 6)
A. Four Kingdoms then the Kingdom of God (Dan 7)
 
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
A. Servant exalted (Isa 52:13-15)
B. Servant despised and suffering (Isa 53:1-3)
C. Servant’s suffering explained (Isa 53:4-6)
B. Servant despised and suffering (Isa 53:7-9)
A. Servant victorious (Isa 53:10-12)
 
Psalms 15-24
A. Ascending the hill (Ps 15)
B. Trust through death (Ps 16)
C. Trust through suffering (Ps 17)
D. Deliverance of the king (Ps 18)
E. Love for the Torah (Ps 19)
D. Deliverance of the king (Ps 20-21)
C. Trust through suffering (Ps 22)
B.