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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Ezekiel

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of divided by 3


3-1

1 The calling of Ezekiel (1:1-3:15)
  2 Ezekiel at the river Chebar (3:16-27)
    3 Defiled bread (4:1-15)
      4 Hair and beard (4:16-5:17)
        5 Judgment on idolatrous Israel (6:1-14)
          6 Impending disaster (7:1-27)
            7 Abominations in the temple (8:1-18)
              8 The slaughter of the idolaters (9:1-11)
                9 God's glory leaves Jerusalem (10:1-22)
              10 God will restore Israel (11:1-25)
            11 Judah's captivity portrayed (12:1-28)
          12 False prophets condemned (13:1-23)
        13 God's judgment justified (14:1-15:8)
      14 God's faithless bride (16:1-63)
    15 The two eagles and the vine (17:1-24)
  16 Individual retribution (18:1-32)
17 Israel degraded (19:1-14)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 The calling of Ezekiel (1:1-3:15)
1:10Their faces were like this: each of the four had the face of a man, but on the right side was the face of a lion, and on the left side the face of an ox, and finally each had the face of an eagle.
Lion17 Israel degraded (19:1-14)
19:2What a lioness was your mother, a lion of lions! Among young lions she couched to rear her whelps.
2 Ezekiel at the river Chebar (3:16-27)
3:18If I say to the wicked man, You shall surely die; and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his wicked conduct so that he may live: that wicked man shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death.
Responsibility of sin16 Individual retribution (18:1-32)
18:4For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die.
3 Defiled bread (4:1-15)
4:3 This shall be a sign for the house of Israel. (4:3)
Sign / proverb15 The two eagles and the vine (17:1-24)
17:2 Son of man, propose a riddle, and speak this proverb to the house of Israel:(17:2)
4 Hair and beard (4:16-5:17)
5:13 Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will wreak my fury upon them till I am appeased; they shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken in my jealousy when I spend my fury upon them. (5:13)
Wrath of the LORD14 God's faithless bride (16:1-63)
16:38 I will inflict on you the sentence of adulteresses and murderesses; I will wreak fury and jealousy upon you. (16:38)
5 Judgment on idolatrous Israel (6:1-14)
6:4and I will cast down your slain ones before your idols;
Idol13 God's judgment justified (14:1-15:8)
14:3Son of man, these men have the memory of their idols fresh in their hearts, and they keep the occasion of their sin before them.
5 Judgment on idolatrous Israel (6:1-14)
6:14I will stretch out my hand against them, and wherever they live I will make the land a desolate waste, from the desert to Riblah;
Devastated13 God's judgment justified (14:1-15:8)
15:8I will make the land a waste, because they have broken faith,
5 Judgment on idolatrous Israel (6:1-14)
6:11for which they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.
Sword, famine and pestilence13 God's judgment justified (14:1-15:8)
14:21Even though I send Jerusalem my four cruel punishments, the sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast,
6 Impending disaster (7:1-27)
7:26Prophetic vision shall fade; instruction shall be lacking to the priest, and counsel to the elders,
Prophetic vision12 False prophets condemned (13:1-23)
13:9But I will stretch out my hand against the prophets who have false visions and who foretell lies.
7 Abominations in the temple (8:1-18)
8:8Son of man, he ordered, dig through the wall. I dug through the wall and saw a door.
Hole in the wall11 Judah's captivity portrayed (12:1-28)
12:5while they look on, dig a hole in the wall and pass through it;
8 The slaughter of the idolaters (9:1-11)
9:3Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. (NRSV)
Cherubim and glory of God10 God will restore Israel (11:1-25)
11:22Then the cherubim lifted their wings, and the wheels went along with them, while up above them was the glory of the God of Israel.

3-1-1

1 The calling of Ezekiel (1:1-3:15)
  2 Ezekiel at the river Chebar (3:16-27)
    3 Defiled bread (4:1-15)
      4 Hair and beard (4:16-5:17)
        5 Judgment on idolatrous Israel (6:1-14)
      6 Impending disaster (7:1-27)
    7 Abominations in the temple (8:1-18)
  8 The slaughter of the idolaters (9:1-11)
9 God's glory leaves Jerusalem (10:1-22)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 The calling of Ezekiel (1:1-3:15)
1:26Above the firmament over their heads something like a throne could be seen, looking like sapphire. Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man.
Vision of throne9 God's glory leaves Jerusalem (10:1-22)
10:1I looked and saw in the firmament above the cherubim what appeared to be sapphire stone; something like a throne could be seen upon it.
2 Ezekiel at the river Chebar (3:16-27)
3:21When, on the other hand, you have warned a virtuous man not to sin, and he has in fact not sinned, he shall surely live because of the warning, and you shall save your own life.
Saving a life because of righteousness8 The slaughter of the idolaters (9:1-11)
9:4Pass through the city (through Jerusalem) and mark an X on the foreheads of those who moan and groan over all the abominations that are practiced within it.
3 Defiled bread (4:1-15)
4:4 Then you shall lie on your left side, while I place the sins of the house of Israel upon you. As many days as you lie thus, you shall bear their sins. (4:4)
The sins of the house of Israel7 Abominations in the temple (8:1-18)
8:12 Do you see, son of man, what each of these elders of the house of Israel is doing in his idol room? (8:12)
4 Hair and beard (4:16-5:17)
5:15When I execute judgment upon you in anger and fury and with furious chastisements, you shall be a reproach and an object of scorn, a terrible warning to the nations that surround you.
Judged by wrath of God6 Impending disaster (7:1-27)
7:3Now the end is upon you; I will unleash my anger against you and judge you according to your conduct and lay upon you the consequences of all your abominations.

3-1-2

9 God's glory leaves Jerusalem (10:1-22)
  10 God will restore Israel (11:1-25)
    11 Judah's captivity portrayed (12:1-28)
      12 False prophets condemned (13:1-23)
        13 God's judgment justified (14:1-15:8)
      14 God's faithless bride (16:1-63)
    15 The two eagles and the vine (17:1-24)
  16 Individual retribution (18:1-32)
17 Israel degraded (19:1-14)
Former halfRelationLatter half
9 God's glory leaves Jerusalem (10:1-22)
see 2-1
see 2-117 Israel degraded (19:1-14)
see 2-1
10 God will restore Israel (11:1-25)
see 2-1
see 2-116 Individual retribution (18:1-32)
see 2-1
11 Judah's captivity portrayed (12:1-28)
see 2-1
see 2-115 The two eagles and the vine (17:1-24)
see 2-1
12 False prophets condemned (13:1-23)
see 2-1
see 2-114 God's faithless bride (16:1-63)
see 2-1

3-2

17 Israel degraded (19:1-14)
  18 Israel's continuing rebellion (20:1-44)
    19 The drawn sword of God (21:1-12)
      20 The sword is doubled and tripled (21:13-22)
        21 Road of the sword (21:23-37)
          22 The blood city (22:1-31)
            23 Oholah and Oholibah (23:1-49)
              24 The boiling pot (24:1-14)
                25 Ezekiel's bereavement (24:15-27)
              26 Proclamation against Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia (25:1-17)
            27 Proclamation against Tyre and Sidon (26:1-28:26)
          28 Proclamation against Egypt (29:1-16)
        29 Babylonia will plunder Egypt (29:17-30:19)
      30 Proclamation against Pharaoh (30:20-26)
    31 The lofty cedar (31:1-18)
  32 Lamentation over Pharaoh and Egypt (32:1-16)
33 Dirge over Egypt (32:17-32)
Former halfRelationLatter half
17 Israel degraded (19:1-14)
see 1-1
see 1-133 Dirge over Egypt (32:17-32)
see 1-1
18 Israel's continuing rebellion (20:1-44)
see 1-1
see 1-132 Lamentation over Pharaoh and Egypt (32:1-16)
see 1-1
19 The drawn sword of God (21:1-12)
see 1-1
see 1-131 The lofty cedar (31:1-18)
see 1-1
20 The sword is doubled and tripled (21:13-22)
see 1-1
see 1-130 Proclamation against Pharaoh (30:20-26)
see 1-1
21 Road of the sword (21:23-37)
see 1-1
see 1-129 Babylonia will plunder Egypt (29:17-30:19)
see 1-1
22 The blood city (22:1-31)
see 1-1
see 1-128 Proclamation against Egypt (29:1-16)
see 1-1
23 Oholah and Oholibah (23:1-49)
see 1-1
see 1-127 Proclamation against Tyre and Sidon (26:1-28:26)
see 1-1
24 The boiling pot (24:1-14)
see 1-1
see 1-126 Proclamation against Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia (25:1-17)
see 1-1

3-2-1

17 Israel degraded (19:1-14)
  18 Israel's continuing rebellion (20:1-44)
    19 The drawn sword of God (21:1-12)
      20 The sword is doubled and tripled (21:13-22)
        21 Road of the sword (21:23-37)
      22 The blood city (22:1-31)
    23 Oholah and Oholibah (23:1-49)
  24 The boiling pot (24:1-14)
25 Ezekiel's bereavement (24:15-27)
Former halfRelationLatter half
17 Israel degraded (19:1-14)
19:1As for you, son of man, raise a lamentation over the prince of Israel:
Lamentation25 Ezekiel's bereavement (24:15-27)
24:16Son of man, by a sudden blow I am taking away from you the delight of your eyes, but do not mourn or weep or shed any tears. 24:17 Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead, bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet, do not cover your beard, and do not eat the customary bread.
18 Israel's continuing rebellion (20:1-44)
20:8Then I thought of pouring out my fury on them and spending my anger on them there in the land of Egypt;
Wrath of God24 The boiling pot (24:1-14)
24:8To work up my wrath, to excite my vengeance, she put her blood on the bare rock, not to be covered.
19 The drawn sword of God (21:1-12)
21:8See! I am coming at you; I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you the virtuous and the wicked.
Judgment by a sword23 Oholah and Oholibah (23:1-49)
23:25I will leave it to them to judge, and they will judge you by their own ordinances. I will let loose my jealousy against you, so that they shall deal with you in fury, cutting off your nose and ears; and what is left of you shall fall by the sword.
19 The drawn sword of God (21:1-12)
21:3See! I am kindling a fire in you that shall devour all trees, the green as well as the dry. The blazing flame shall not be quenched, but from south to north every face shall be scorched by it.
Burned up23 Oholah and Oholibah (23:1-49)
23:25They shall take away your sons and daughters, and what is left of you shall be devoured by fire.
20 The sword is doubled and tripled (21:13-22)
21:22Then I, too, shall brush one hand against the other and wreak my fury.
Brushing one hand22 The blood city (22:1-31)
22:13See, I am brushing one hand against the other because of the unjust profits you have made and because of the blood shed in your midst.

3-2-2

25 Ezekiel's bereavement (24:15-27)
  26 Proclamation against Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia (25:1-17)
    27 Proclamation against Tyre and Sidon (26:1-28:26)
      28 Proclamation against Egypt (29:1-16)
        29 Babylonia will plunder Egypt (29:17-30:19)
      30 Proclamation against Pharaoh (30:20-26)
    31 The lofty cedar (31:1-18)
  32 Lamentation over Pharaoh and Egypt (32:1-16)
33 Dirge over Egypt (32:17-32)
Former halfRelationLatter half
25 Ezekiel's bereavement (24:15-27)
24:16Son of man, by a sudden blow I am taking away from you the delight of your eyes, but do not mourn or weep or shed any tears. 24:17 Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead, bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet, do not cover your beard, and do not eat the customary bread.
Lamentation for the dead33 Dirge over Egypt (32:17-32)
32:18Son of man, lament over the throngs of Egypt, for the mighty nations have thrust them down to the bottom of the earth, with those who go down into the pit.
26 Proclamation against Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia (25:1-17)
25:7therefore I will stretch out my hand against you. I will make you plunder for the nations, I will cut you off from the peoples, and remove you from the lands. I will destroy you,
Prophesying that alien is destroyed by alien32 Lamentation over Pharaoh and Egypt (32:1-16)
32:3I will spread my net over you (with a host of many nations), and draw you up in my seine.
27 Proclamation against Tyre and Sidon (26:1-28:26)
27:3Tyre, you said, "I am a ship, perfect in beauty."
Beauty31 The lofty cedar (31:1-18)
31:8The cedars in the garden of God were not its equal, nor could the fir trees match its boughs, Neither were the plane trees like it for branches; no tree in the garden of God matched its beauty.
27 Proclamation against Tyre and Sidon (26:1-28:26)
28:2Because you are haughty of heart, you say, "A god am I! I occupy a godly throne in the heart of the sea!"
Arrogance31 The lofty cedar (31:1-18)
31:10Because it became lofty in stature, raising its crest among the clouds, and because it became proud in heart at its height,
28 Proclamation against Egypt (29:1-16)
29:7When they held you in hand, you splintered, throwing every shoulder out of joint; When they leaned on you, you broke, bringing each one of them down headlong;
Breaking Pharaoh's body30 Proclamation against Pharaoh (30:20-26)
30:22See! I am coming at Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. I will break his strong arm, so that the sword drops from his hand.

3-3

33 Dirge over Egypt (32:17-32)
  34 Ezekiel Israel's sentry (33:1-20)
    35 The fall of Jerusalem (33:21-33)
      36 Israel's false shepherds (34:1-10)
        37 God, the true shepherd (34:11-31)
          38 Judgment on Mount Seir (35:1-36:15)
            39 The renewal of Israel (36:16-38)
              40 The valley of dry bones (37:1-14)
                41 The two sticks (37:15-28)
              42 Invasion by Gog (38:1-39:29)
            43 The vision of the new temple (40:1-42:20)
          44 The divine glory returns to the temple (43:1-44:3)
        45 The Levitical priests (44:4-31)
      46 The holy district (45:1-9)
    47 Festivals and offerings (45:10-46:18)
  48 Water flowing from the temple (46:19-47:12)
49 The new boundaries of the land (47:13-48:34)
Former halfRelationLatter half
33 Dirge over Egypt (32:17-32)
32:18Son of man, lament over the throngs of Egypt, for the mighty nations have thrust them down to the bottom of the earth, with those who go down into the pit.
A land is given49 The new boundaries of the land (47:13-48:34)
47:13Thus says the Lord GOD: These are the boundaries within which you shall apportion the land among the twelve tribes of Israel (Joseph having two portions).
34 Ezekiel Israel's sentry (33:1-20)
33:11Answer them: As I live, says the Lord GOD, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, but rather in the wicked man's conversion, that he may live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! Why should you die, O house of Israel?
Being made alive48 Water flowing from the temple (46:19-47:12)
47:9Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.
35 The fall of Jerusalem (33:21-33)
33:25Give them this answer: Thus says the Lord GOD: You eat on the mountains, you raise your eyes to your idols, you shed blood--yet you would keep possession of the land?
Offering47 Festivals and offerings (45:10-46:18)
45:15One sheep from the flock for every two hundred from the pasturage of Israel, for sacrifice--holocausts and peace offerings and atonement sacrifices, says the Lord GOD.
36 Israel's false shepherds (34:1-10)
34:4You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally.
Prince of Israel oppresses weak person46 The holy district (45:1-9)
45:9Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough, you princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and do what is right and just! Stop evicting my people! says the Lord GOD.
37 God, the true shepherd (34:11-31)
34:25I will make a covenant of peace with them, and rid the country of ravenous beasts, that they may dwell securely in the desert and sleep in the forests.
Covenant45 The Levitical priests (44:4-31)
44:7You have admitted foreigners, uncircumcised both in heart and flesh, to my sanctuary to profane it when you offered me food, fat, and blood; thus you have broken my covenant by all your abominations.
38 Judgment on Mount Seir (35:1-36:15)
36:9See, I come to you, it is to you that I turn;
The LORD is with44 The divine glory returns to the temple (43:1-44:3)
43:9From now on they shall put far from me their harlotry and the corpses of their kings, and I will dwell in their midst forever.
39 The renewal of Israel (36:16-38)
36:33Thus says the Lord GOD: When I purify you from all your crimes, I will repeople the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt;
The LORD rebuilds a town43 The vision of the new temple (40:1-42:20)
40:2in divine visions to the land of Israel, where he set me down on a very high mountain. On it there seemed to be a city being built before me.
40 The valley of dry bones (37:1-14)
37:5Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: See! I will bring spirit into you, that you may come to life.
Restoration42 Invasion by Gog (38:1-39:29)
39:25Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have pity on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name.

3-3-1

33 Dirge over Egypt (32:17-32)
  34 Ezekiel Israel's sentry (33:1-20)
    35 The fall of Jerusalem (33:21-33)
      36 Israel's false shepherds (34:1-10)
        37 God, the true shepherd (34:11-31)
      38 Judgment on Mount Seir (35:1-36:15)
    39 The renewal of Israel (36:16-38)
  41 The two sticks (37:15-28)
41 The two sticks (37:15-28)
Former halfRelationLatter half
33 Dirge over Egypt (32:17-32)
see 2-2
see 2-241 The two sticks (37:15-28)
see 2-2
34 Ezekiel Israel's sentry (33:1-20)
see 2-2
see 2-241 The two sticks (37:15-28)
see 2-2
35 The fall of Jerusalem (33:21-33)
see 2-2
see 2-239 The renewal of Israel (36:16-38)
see 2-2
36 Israel's false shepherds (34:1-10)
see 2-2
see 2-238 Judgment on Mount Seir (35:1-36:15)
see 2-2

3-3-2

41 The two sticks (37:15-28)
  42 Invasion by Gog (38:1-39:29)
    43 The vision of the new temple (40:1-42:20)
      44 The divine glory returns to the temple (43:1-44:3)
        45 The Levitical priests (44:4-31)
      46 The holy district (45:1-9)
    47 Festivals and offerings (45:10-46:18)
  48 Water flowing from the temple (46:19-47:12)
49 The new boundaries of the land (47:13-48:34)
Former halfRelationLatter half
41 The two sticks (37:15-28)
37:19(I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and of the tribes of Israel associated with him, and I will join to it the stick of Judah, making them a single stick; they shall be one in my hand.
Israel is united49 The new boundaries of the land (47:13-48:34)
47:13These are the boundaries within which you shall apportion the land among the twelve tribes of Israel (Joseph having two portions).
42 Invasion by Gog (38:1-39:29)
39:14Men shall be permanently employed to pass through the land burying those who lie unburied, so as to purify the land.
Cleansing48 Water flowing from the temple (46:19-47:12)
47:9Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.
43 The vision of the new temple (40:1-42:20)
visions of the temple
The temple /offerings47 Festivals and offerings (45:10-46:18)
rules about offerings
44 The divine glory returns to the temple (43:1-44:3)
43:12This is the law of the temple: its whole surrounding area on the mountain top shall be most sacred.
Sanctuary46 The holy district (45:1-9)
45:1When you apportion the land into inheritances, you shall set apart a sacred tract of land for the LORD, twenty-five thousand cubits long and twenty thousand wide; its whole area shall be sacred.

Citations of the Bible are from New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible.

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Literary Structure of the Bible by Hajime Murai is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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