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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Joel

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of whole text


1-1

1 Lamentation over the ruin of the country (1:1-12)
  2 The day of the LORD is coming (1:13-2:14)
    3 God's response and promise (2:15-27)
      4 God's spirit poured out (3:1-5)
    5 Vengeance of the LORD (4:1-8)
  6 Judgment in the valley of Jehoshaphat (4:9-17)
7 The glorious future of Judah (4:18-21)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Lamentation over the ruin of the country (1:1-12)
For a people has invaded my land, mighty and without number; His teeth are the teeth of a lion, and his molars those of a lioness. (1:6)
Invasion of foreign country7 The glorious future of Judah (4:18-21)
Egypt shall be a waste, and Edom a desert waste, Because of violence done to the people of Judah, because they shed innocent blood in their land. (4:19)
2 The day of the LORD is coming (1:13-2:14)
Alas, the day! for near is the day of the LORD, and it comes as ruin from the Almighty. (1:15)
The day of the LORD is coming6 Judgment in the valley of Jehoshaphat (4:9-17)
For near is the day of the LORD in the valley of decision. (4:14)
3 God's response and promise (2:15-27)
And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel; I am the LORD, your God, and there is no other; my people shall nevermore be put to shame (2:27)
Israel the people of the LORD5 Vengeance of the LORD (4:1-8)
I will assemble all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, And I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of my people and my inheritance, Israel; Because they have scattered them among the nations, and divided my land (4:2)

1-1-1

1 Lamentation over the ruin of the country (1:1-12)
  2 The day of the LORD is coming (1:13-2:14)
  3 God's response and promise (2:15-27)
4 God's spirit poured out (3:1-5)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Lamentation over the ruin of the country (1:1-12)
Hear this, you elders! Pay attention, all you who dwell in the land! Has the like of this happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers? (1:2)
The old man hears / sees4 God's spirit poured out (3:1-5)
Then afterward I will pour out my spirit upon all mankind. Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions (3:1)
2 The day of the LORD is coming (1:13-2:14)
For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. (2:13)
Pity of the LORD3 God's response and promise (2:15-27)
Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people. (2:18)

1-1-2

4 God's spirit poured out (3:1-5)
  5 Vengeance of the LORD (4:1-8)
  6 Judgment in the valley of Jehoshaphat (4:9-17)
7 The glorious future of Judah (4:18-21)
Former halfRelationLatter half
4 God's spirit poured out (3:1-5)
Then everyone shall be rescued who calls on the name of the LORD; For on Mount Zion there shall be a remnant, as the LORD has said, And in Jerusalem survivors whom the LORD shall call. (3:5)
To dwell in Zion7 The glorious future of Judah (4:18-21)
The LORD dwells in Zion (4:21)
5 Vengeance of the LORD (4:1-8)
I will assemble all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (4:2)
The Valley of Jehoshaphat6 Judgment in the valley of Jehoshaphat (4:9-17)
Let the nations bestir themselves and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (4:12)

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.
Caution: The copyright of the cited Bible verses belongs to each translator and publisher.

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