What Are Chiastic Structures and How Do They Apply to Bible Study?

Biblical authors often shaped their content in structural ways that are different than what modern readers are accustomed to. One way that biblical writers organized their material was to repeat words, phrases, or concepts inversely around a center in order to shape the overall structure of books, sections, episodes, speeches, or even individual verses. This technique, known as chiasm, is based on the Greek letter chi, which looks like the letter X in the Greek alphabet. Among scholars there has been a growing awareness that biblical authors use chiasm (“X Marks the Spot”) within the Bible.

This technique is also known by other names such as concentric parallelism, ring pattern, mirror pattern, and envelope structure. The reason for the label “X Marks the Spot” is twofold: Firstly, the letter X represents the shape of this literary device in that you have two inverse symmetrical patterns that pivot around a center point. Secondly, the center of this technique often marks a significant thematic point that the author is stressing, much like the X on a treasure map identifies where the riches are located. This structure is similar to “Beautiful Bookends” discussed in chapter 5, but that technique focuses on just the beginnings and endings of texts.

It is very common, especially in narrative and poetic texts, but it is also present in the epistles and prophetic books.

Instruction and Chiasm in the Bible

Pay close attention to words or phrases that are repeated in close proximity to each other, and then expand outward to see other repeated words, phrases, or concepts. It might be helpful to search online to see if somebody else has observed a chiasm in the text you are studying, and then judge for yourself how strong a case can be made for its presence.

The Value of Chiasm in Scripture

This is a valuable technique in that it signals the coherence of a text in an artful way. Once the center is identified, it can help to underscore a theme that the author is emphasizing or to identify a pivotal event in the account.

Challenges and Chiasm in the Bible

“X Marks the Spot” or chiastic structures are more evident the more lexical they are, where exact words or phrases are repeated verbatim on each side of the pivot. They are less evident when the elements are more conceptual. There is debate about whether or not there has to be a single center (A, B, C, B′, A′) or if there can be a doubled center (A, B, C, C′, B′, A′), which some call “concentric,” but the two patterns function the same around the center.

Examples From Nonbiblical Works

This device was used in ancient times as well as by modern authors and filmmakers. For instance, the Greek philosopher Socrates is attributed with saying, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”16 At his inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” One of the reasons why that line is so memorable is the chiastic structure.

Biblical authors often anchored their content around a literary centering device known as a chiasm. You may not always be cognizant of the structure, but just like your kitchens are designed around implementing the “work triangle” anchored around the sink, so biblical authors utilized a functional and aesthetically pleasing literary device centering around a pivot that oftentimes reflects a key theme. One clear way to enjoy your Bible on a deeper level is to not only notice this device’s presence but to ponder how the pivot anchors the text.

Chiasms in Genesis 11, “The Tower of Babel”

The pivot of the Babel account (“H”) and the turning point of the passage is the Lord’s coming down to see what the men are building (Gen. 11:5). Notice that this is the center of the passage, and the other elements radiate to and from that event. Why is this the center? Because it is not only the hinge of the account, but it also thematically touches on a major theme of the book of Genesis, which is that God takes the time to personally investigate people’s actions before pronouncing judgment. He did that in the garden (Gen. 3:8–9), and He does so again in the Sodom and Gomorrah account using the same “going down” language (Gen. 18:20–21). This repeated theme in Genesis regarding God’s character emphasizes that He is patient and does not mete out justice in an arbitrary fashion.

Elsewhere the Scriptures extol God’s omniscience (e.g., 1 John 3:20), but in the book of Genesis, the author is introducing the most important character in all the Bible to readers. So, throughout this book he includes accounts that show God in anthropomorphic language, personally investigating situations to see if rebellion is present. He does this with Adam (4:8–9), Babel (11:5), and Sodom (18:20–21). Once God verifies, then He executes justice. The purpose of portraying God in this way is to demonstrate to the reader that God is not capricious (like surrounding ancient Near Eastern gods were depicted) but loving and careful to verify rebellion before administering justice.