Top  >  Literary Structures of the Bible  >  Book of Jeremiah  >  Pericope

Literary structure (chiasm, chiasmus) of Book of Jeremiah

Chiastic Structure and Concentric Structure and Parallel of each pericope

[1]Introduction  (Jer 1:1-3)
 
 
   Preface

[2]Jeremiah's call and commission  (Jer 1:4-19)
 
  A1(1:4-6)  The dialogue of the LORD and Jeremiah
    B1(1:7-10)    The words of the LORD
  A2(1:11)  the dialogue of the LORD and Jeremiah
    B2(1:12)    The words of the LORD
  A3(1:13)  The dialogue of the LORD and Jeremiah
    B3(1:14-19)    The words of the LORD
 
   A: The dialogue of the LORD and Jeremiah. B: The words of the LORD.

[3]God pleads with Israel to repent  (Jer 2:1-37 3:1-5)
 
  A(2:1-3)  Sacred to the LORD was Israel, the first fruits of his harvest (2:3)
    B(2:4-8)    
"The prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after useless idols (2:8)"   
(בבעל)
      C(2:9-11)      
"Therefore will I yet accuse you, says the LORD (2:9)"   
(אריב)
        D(2:12-19)        why go to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Nile? Why go to Assyria, to drink the waters of the Euphrates? (2:18)
  A'(2:20-22)  I had planted you, a choice vine of fully tested stock (2:21)
    B'(2:23-28)    
I have not gone after the Baals (2:23)   
(הבעלים)
      C'(2:29-31)      
How dare you still plead with me? (2:29)   
(תריבו)
        D'(2:32-3:5)        By Egypt will you be shamed, as you were shamed by Assyria (2:36)
 
   A: Crops. B: Baals. C: To accuse. D: Egypt and Assyria.

[4]A call to repentance  (Jer 3:6-13)
 
  A(3:6-7)  After doing all this she will come back to me (3:7)
    B(3:8-11)    the traitor sister Judah did not return to me wholeheartedly (3:10)
  A'(3:12-13)  Come back, disloyal Israel (3:12)
 
   A: To come back. B: Betrayal of Judah.

[5]Return to Zion  (Jer 3:14-18)
 
  A(3:14)  
"I will take you, and bring you to Zion (3:14)"   
(והבאתי)
    B(3:15)    I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart (3:15)
      C(3:16)      The ark of the covenant of the LORD (3:16)
    B'(3:17)    they will call Jerusalem the LORD'S throne (3:17)
  A'(3:18)  
they will come from the land of the north (3:18)   
(ויבאו)
 
   A: To come. B: A king. C: The ark of the covenant of the LORD.

[6]A call to repentance  (Jer 3:19-4:4)
 
  A(3:19-21)  give you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful among the nations! (3:19)
    B(3:22a)    
"Return, rebellious children (3:22)"   
(שׁובו)
      C(3:22b-25)      In the LORD, our God, alone is the salvation of Israel (3:23)
    B'(4:1-2)    
"you wish to return, O Israel (4:1)"   
(תשׁוב)
  A'(4:3-4)  Till your untilled ground, sow not among thorns (4:3)
 
   A: The lands. B: To return. C: The LORD, our God.

[7]Invasion and desolation of Judah threatened  (Jer 4:5-31)
 
  A(4:5-7)  To turn your land into desolation, till your cities lie waste and empty (4:7)
    B(4:8)    
blazing wrath of the LORD (4:8)   
(אף)
      C(4:9-13)      
Woe to us! we are ruined. (4:13)   
(שׁדדנו)
        D(4:14)        
"Cleanse your heart of evil, O Jerusalem (4:14)"   
(מרעה)
          E(4:15-17)          she has rebelled against me (4:17)
        D'(4:18-19)        
"Your conduct, your misdeeds, have done this to you (4:18)"   
(רעתך)
      C'(4:20-21)      
In an instant my tents are ravaged (4:20)   
(שׁדדו)
    B'(4:22-26)    
his blazing wrath (4:26)   
(אפו)
  A'(4:27-31)  Waste shall the whole land be; I will wholly destroy it. (4:27)
 
   A: Destruction. B: Wrath. C: Ruin. D: Evils. E: Rebellion.

[8]The utter corruption of God's people  (Jer 5:1-31)
 
  A(5:1-6)  they swear falsely (5:2)
    B(5:7-9)    Shall I not punish them for these things? (5:9)
      C(5:10-13)      Not he-- No evil shall befall us (5:12)
        D(5:14-19)        The words of the LORD
      C'(5:20-25)      Who have eyes and see not, who have ears and hear not (5:21)
    B'(5:26-29)    Shall I not punish these things? (5:29)
  A'(5:30-31)  The prophets prophesy falsely (5:31)
 
   A: False. B: Punishment. C: Lack of understanding. D: The words of the LORD.

[9]The imminence and horror of the invasion  (Jer 6:1-30)
 
  A(6:1-5)  evil threatens from the north (6:1)
    B(6:6-9)    Two messages of the LORD
      C(6:10)      
"their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot give heed (6:10)"   
(להקשׁיב)
        D(6:11-15)        Two messages of the LORD
        D'(6:16-17)        Two rejections of the people
      C(6:18-20)      
"Because they heeded not my words, because they despised my law (6:19)"   
(הקשׁיבו)
    B'(6:21-24)    Two messages of the LORD
  A'(6:25-30)  terror on every side (6:25)
 
   A: Threats. B: Two messages of the LORD. C: Not to heed. D: Two dialogues.

[10]Jeremiah proclaims God's judgment on the nation  (Jer 7:1-15)
 
P(7:1-2)there proclaim this message (7:2)
  A(7:3-4)  
Put not your trust in the deceitful words This is the temple of the LORD! (7:4)   
(תבטחו)
    B(7:5-7)    each of you deals justly with his neighbor (7:5)
      C(7:8)      here you are, putting your trust in deceitful words to your own loss! (7:8)
    B'(7:9-11)    we can commit all these abominations again (7:10)
  A'(7:12-15)  
"this house named after me, in which you trust, (7:14)"   
(בטחים)
 
   A: To trust in the the temple of the LORD. B: Good / evil. C: Worthless.

[11]The people's disobedience  (Jer 7:16-8:3)
 
  A(7:16-19)  the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven (7:18)
    B(7:20)    my anger and my wrath will pour out upon this place, upon man and beast (7:20)
      C(7:21-23)      
I gave them no command concerning holocaust or sacrifice (7:22)   
(ולאצויתים)
        D(7:24-28)        they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed (7:24)
      C'(7:29-31)      
such a thing as I never commanded or had in mind (7:31)   
(לאצויתי)
    B'(7:32-34)    the Valley of Ben-hinnom will no longer be called such, but rather the Valley of Slaughter (7:32)
  A'(8:1-3)  spread out before the sun and the moon and the whole army of heaven (8:2)
 
   A: Idolatry. B: Punishments. C: Not to be commanded. D: Disobedience.

[12]The prophet perversity of the whole nation  (Jer 8:4-9:5)
 
  A(8:4-6)  
"Why do they cling to deceptive idols, refuse to turn back? (8:5)"   
(מאנו)
    B(8:7-9)    
But my people do not know the ordinance of the LORD (8:7)   
(לאידעו)
      C(8:10-12)      
the injury to the daughter of my people (8:11)   
(שׁבר)
        D(8:13)        no grapes on the vine, No figs on the fig trees (8:13)
          E(8:14)          he has given us poison to drink (8:14)
            F(8:15-16)            We wait for peace to no avail; for a time of healing, but terror comes instead (8:15)
          E(8:17)          I will send against you poisonous snakes (8:17)
        D'(8:18-20)        The harvest has passed, the summer is at an end, and yet we are not safe (8:20)
      C'(8:21-23)      
the ruin of the daughter of my people (8:21)   
(שׁבר)
    B'(9:1-2)    
"They go from evil to evil, but me they know not (9:2)"   
(לאידעו)
  A'(9:3-5)  
"Violence upon violence, deceit upon deceit: They refuse to recognize me (9:5)"   
(מאנו)
 
   A: Rejection. B: Not to know. C: Ruin. D: No harvest. E: Poison. F: Fear.

[13]The prophet mourns for the people  (Jer 9:6-25)
 
  A(9:6-10)  
shall I not punish them? (9:8)   
(אפקד)
    B(9:11-13)    
Who is so wise that he can understand this? (9:11)   
(החכם)
      C(9:14-15)      I will send the sword to pursue them until I have completely destroyed them (9:15)
        D(9:16-18)        We must leave the land (9:18)
      C'(9:19-21)      It cuts down the children in the street, young people in the squares (9:20)
    B'(9:22-23)    
Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom (9:22)   
(חכם)
  A'(9:24-25)  
I will demand an account of all those circumcised in their flesh (9:24)   
(ופקדתי)
 
   A: Punishment. B: Wisdom. C: Destruction. D: To leave the land.

[14]Idolatory has brought ruin on Israel  (Jer 10:1-16)
 
  A(10:1-5)  Idolatry
    B(10:6-7)    The power of the LORD
      C(10:8-9)      Idolatry
        D(10:10)        The LORD is true God, he is the living God, the eternal King (10:10)
  A'(10:11)  Idolatry
    B'(10:12-13)    The power of the LORD
      C'(10:14-15)      Idolatry
        D'(10:16)        he is the creator of all things (10:16)
 
   A: Idolatry. B: The power of the LORD. C: Idolatry. D: The Creator.

[15]The coming exile  (Jer 10:17-25)
 
  A(10:17)  Pick up your pack from the ground (10:17)
    B(10:18)    
"Behold, this time I will sling away the inhabitants of the land (10:18)"   
(הנני)
      C(10:19-21a)      the LORD they sought not (10:21)
  A'(10:21b)  all their flocks were scattered (10:21)
    B'(10:22)    
Listen! a noise! it comes closer (10:22)   
(הנה)
      C'(10:23-25)      on the tribes that call not upon your name (10:25)
 
   A: To gather / to scatter. B: Behold. C: Not to seek the LORD.

[16]Israel and Judah have broken the covenant  (Jer 11:1-17)
 
  A(11:1-5)  Cursed be the man who does not observe the terms of this covenant (11:3)
    B(11:6-8)    they did not listen or give ear (11:8)
      C(11:9-10)      They also have followed and served strange gods (11:10)
      C'(11:11-13)      go and cry out to the gods to which they have been offering incense (11:12)
    B'(11:14)    I will not listen when they call to me (11:14)
  A'(11:15-17)  The LORD of hosts who planted you has decreed misfortune for you (11:17)
 
   A: Curse. B: Not to listen. C: Idolatry.

[17]Jeremiah complains to God  (Jer 11:18-12:6)
 
  A(11:18-19)  Conspiracy of evils
    B(11:20)    O LORD of hosts, O just Judge, searcher of mind and heart (11:20)
      C(11:21-23)      Vengeance of the LORD
    B'(12:1-3)    O Lord, know me, you see me, you have found that at heart I am with you (12:3)
  A'(12:4-6)  Conspiracy of evils
 
   A: Conspiracy of evils. B: The LORD knows mind and hearts. C: Vengeance of the LORD.

[18]God replies to Jeremiah  (Jer 12:7-17)
 
  A(12:7-12)   I abandon my house, cast off my heritage (12:7)
    B(12:13)    They recoil before their harvest, the flaming anger of the LORD (12:13)
  A'(12:14-17)  I will pity them again and bring them back, each to his heritage, each to his land (12:15)
 
   A: Heritage. B: Anger of the LORD.

[19]The linen loincloth  (Jer 13:1-14)
 
  A(13:1-7)  Sign of the loincloth
    B(13:8-11)    Explanation of the sign
  A'(13:12)  Sign of the wine flask
    B'(13:13-14)    Explanation of the sign
 
   A: Signs. B: Explanations.

[20]Exile threatened  (Jer 13:15-27)
 
  A(13:15-17)  Give glory to the LORD (13:16)
    B(13:18-19)    Say to the king and to the queen mother: come down from your throne (13:18)
    B'(13:20-21)    What will you say when they place as rulers over you those whom you taught to be your lovers? (13:21)
  A'(13:22-27)  you have forgotten me, and trusted in the lying idol (13:25)
 
   A: Idolatry. B: Lost of the leaders.

[21]The great drought  (Jer 14:1-22)
 
  A(14:1-9)  
we have sinned against you (14:7)   
(חטאנו)
    B(14:10)    They so love to wander that they do not spare their feet (14:10)
      C(14:11-12)      I will destroy them with the sword, famine, and pestilence (14:12)
        D(14:13)        False prophecy
        D'(14:14)        False prophecy
      C'(14:15-16)      by the sword and famine shall these prophets meet their end (14:15)
    B'(14:17-18)    the prophet and the priest forage in a land they know not (14:18)
  A'(14:19-22)  
we have sinned against you (14:20)   
(חטאנו)
 
   A: Confession of sins. B: Wonder. C: The sword and famine. D: False prophecy.

[22]Punishment is inevitable  (Jer 15:1-9)
 
  A(15:1)  my heart would not turn toward this people (15:1)
    B(15:2-4)    
"whoever is marked for the sword, to the sword (15:2)"   
(לחרב)
  A'(15:5-6)  I was weary of sparing you (15:6)
    B'(15:7-9)    
Their survivors I will give to the sword (15:9)   
(לחרב)
 
   A: No sympathy. B: The swords.

[23]Jeremiah complains again and is reassured  (Jer 15:10-21)
 
  A(15:10)  all curse me (15:10)
    B(15:11)    I have imposed enemies on you in a time of trouble and in a time of distress (15:11)
      C(15:12-14)      in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever (15:14)
        D(15:15-16)        bring down retribution for me on my persecutors (15:15)
      C'(15:17)      for you had filled me with indignation (15:17)
    B'(15:18)    Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable (15:18)
  A'(15:19-21)  I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked (15:21)
 
   A: Sufferings. B: Questions. C: Anger. D: Retribution.

[24]Jeremiah's celibacy and message  (Jer 16:1-13)
 
  A(16:1-4)  Sword and famine will make an end of them (16:4)
    B(16:5)    I have taken away my peace from this people my steadfast love and mercy (16:5)
      C(16:6-8)      They shall die, the great and the lowly, in this land (16:6)
    B'(16:9)    I am going to banish from this place the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness (16:9)
  A'(16:10-13)  Therefore I will hurl you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your ancestors have known (16:13)
 
   A: Destruction. B: No joy. C: Death.

[25]God will restore Israel  (Jer 16:14-21)
 
  A(16:14-15)  the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites out of the land of the north (16:15)
    B(16:16-18)    my eyes are on all their ways (16:17)
  A'(16:19-20)  Can man make for himself gods? These are not gods. (16:20)
    B'(16:21)    this time I will leave them in no doubt Of my strength and my power (16:21)
 
   A: Who is God? B: The power of God.

[26]Judah's sin and punishment  (Jer 17:1-13)
 
  A(17:1-2)  
The sin of Judah is written with an iron pen (17:1)   
(כתובה)
    B(17:3-4)    Your wealth and all your treasures I will give for spoil (17:3)
      C(17:5-6)      Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals (17:5)
      C'(17:7-10)      Blessed are those who trust in the LORD (17:7)
    B'(17:11)    Like the partridge hatching what it did not lay, so are all who amass wealth unjustly (17:11)
  A'(17:12-13)  
those who turn away from you shall be recorded in the underworld (17:13)   
(יכתבו)
 
   A: To write. B: To lose wealth. C: Curse / blessing.

[27]Jeremiah prays for vindication  (Jer 17:14-18)
 
  A(17:14)  Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed (17:14)
    B(17:15-16)    Yet I did not press you to send calamity (17:16)
  A'(17:17-18)  Let my persecutors be shamed, but do not let me be shamed (17:18)
 
   A: Repetitions of words. B: To send calamity.

[28]Hallow the sabbath day  (Jer 17:19-27)
 
  A(17:19-22)  To listen
    B(17:23)    Not to listen
  A'(17:24-26)  To listen
    B'(17:27)    Not to listen
 
   A: To listen. B: Not to listen.

[29]The potter and the clay  (Jer 18:1-17)
 
  A(18:1-4)  The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled (18:4)
    B(18:5-6)    so are you in my hand, O house of Israel (18:6)
      C(18:7-8)      
I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom (18:7)   
(ממלכה)
      C'(18:9-10)      
I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom (18:9)   
(ממלכה)
    B'(18:11-12)    I am a potter shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you (18:11)
  A'(18:13-17)  I will scatter them before the enemy (18:17)
 
   A: Destruction. B: The plan of the LORD. C: A kingdom.

[30]A plot against Jeremiah  (Jer 18:18-23)
 
  A(18:18)  
let us make plots against Jeremiah (18:18)   
(ועצה)
    B(18:19-20)    they have dug a pit for my life (18:20)
      C(18:21-22a)      give their children over to famine (18:21)
    B'(18:22b)    they have dug a pit to catch me (18:22)
  A'(18:23)  
know all their plotting to kill me (18:23)   
(עצתם)
 
   A: Plots. B: A pit. C: Disasters.

[31]The broken earthenware jug  (Jer 19:1-15)
 
  A(19:1-3)  I am going to bring such disaster upon this (19:3)
    B(19:4-5)    to burn their children in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal (19:5)
      C(19:6-9)      in this place I will make void the plans of Judah and Jerusalem (19:7)
      C'(19:10-12)      So will I break this people and this city (19:11)
    B'(19:13)    all the houses upon whose roofs offerings have been made to the whole host of heaven (19:13)
  A'(19:14-15)  I am now bringing upon this city and upon all its towns all the disaster (19:15)
 
   A: Disasters. B: Idolatry. C: Destruction.

[32]Jeremiah persecuted by Pashhur  (Jer 20:1-6)
 
  A(20:1-2)  
Jeremiah was heard prophesying these things (20:1)   
(נבא)
    B(20:3)    Terror-all-around (20:3)
    B'(20:4-5)     I am making you a terror to yourself (20:4)
  A'(20:6)  
you have prophesied lies to them (20:6)   
(נבאת)
 
   A: To prophesy. B: Fear.

[33]Jeremiah denounces his persecutors  (Jer 20:7-18)
 
  A(20:7-8)  I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me (20:7)
    B(20:9)    I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name (20:9)
      C(20:10)      
take our revenge on him (20:10)   
(נקמתנו)
        D(20:11)        the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion (20:11)
      C'(20:12)      
let me see your retribution upon them (20:12)   
(נקמתך)
    B'(20:13)    Sing to the LORD (20:13)
  A'(20:14-18)  Why did I come forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame? (20:18)
 
   A: Shame. B: To speak in the LORD's name. C: Revenge. D: The LORD is like a mighty champion.

[34]Jerusalem will fall to Nebuchadrezzar  (Jer 21:1-14)
 
P(21:1-2)Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf (21:2)
  A(21:3-6)  
"in anger, and wrath, and great rage (21:5)"   
(ובחמה)
    B(21:7)    
"pestilence, sword, and famine (21:7)"   
(הדבר)
    B'(21:8-10)    
the sword or famine or pestilence (21:9)   
(ובדבר)
  A'(21:11-14)  
Lest my fury break out like fire (21:12)   
(חמתי)
 
   A: Anger. B: Pestilence, sword, and famine.

[35]Exhortation to repent  (Jer 22:1-30)
 
  A(22:1-5)  
O King of Judah sitting on the throne of David (22:2)   
(עלכסאדוד)
    B(22:6-10)    
he shall return no more to see his native land (22:10)   
(לאישׁוב)
      C(22:11-12)      Death of the king
        D(22:13-17)        for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence (22:17)
      C'(22:18-19)      Death of the king
    B'(22:20-27)    
they shall not return to the land to which they long to return (22:27)   
(לאישׁובו)
  A'(22:28-30)  
in sitting on the throne of David (22:30)   
(עלכסאדוד)
 
   A: The throne of David. B: Not to return. C: Death of the king. D: Oppression and violence.

[36]Restoration after exile  (Jer 23:1-8)
 
  A(23:1-2)  Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! (23:1)
    B(23:3-4)    I myself will gather the remnant of my flock, and I will bring them back (23:3)
  A'(23:5-6)  he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness (23:5)
    B'(23:7-8)    brought out and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the land (23:8)
 
   A: The shepherds. B: To return.

[37]False prophets of hope denounced  (Jer 23:9-40)
 
  A(23:9-14)  
Both prophet and priest (23:11)   
(כהן)
    B(23:15)    Judgement of the LORD
      C(23:16-19)      False prophecy
        D(23:20-22)        The anger of the LORD shall not abate until he has done and fulfilled what he has determined in his heart (23:20)
      C'(23:23-29)      False prophecy
    B'(23:30-32)    Judgement of the LORD
  A'(23:33-40)  
a prophet or a priest (23:33)   
(כהן)
 
   A: Prophet and priest. B: Judgement of the LORD. C: False prophecy. D: The anger of the LORD.

[38]The good and the bad figs  (Jer 24:1-10)
 
P(24:1-3)The LORD showed me two baskets of figs (24:1)
  A(24:4-7)  Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah (24:5)
  A'(24:8-10)  Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat King Zedekiah of Judah (24:8)
 
   A: Good figs and bad figs.

[39]The Babylonian captivity foretold  (Jer 25:1-14)
 
  A(25:1-4)  
the LORD has sent you without fail all his servants the prophets (25:4)   
(הנבאים)
    B(25:5-7)    you will remain upon the land that the LORD has given to you and your ancestors from of old and forever (25:5)
    B'(25:8-12)    This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste (25:11)
  A'(25:13-14)  
"all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations (25:13)"   
(נבא)
 
   A: Prophecy. B: The land of ancestors.

[40]The cup of God's wrath  (Jer 25:15-38)
 
  A(25:15-16)  The words of the LORD
    B(25:17-26)    I took the cup from the hand of the LORD and gave drink to all the nations (25:17)
  A'(25:27-31)  The words of the LORD
    B'(25:32-33)    calamity stalks from nation to nation (25:32)
 
   A: The words of the LORD. B: Destruction of nations.

[41]Jeremiah's prophecies in the temple  (Jer 26:1-19)
 
  A(26:1-6)  Prophecy of Jeremiah
    B(26:7-11)    Words of the people
      C(26:12-15)      Persuasion of Jeremiah
    B'(26:16)    Words of the people
  A'(26:17-19)  Prophecy of Micah
 
   A: Prophecies. B: Words of the people. C: Persuasion of Jeremiah.

[42]Death of Uriah  (Jer 26:20-24)
 
P(26:20)in words exactly like those of Jeremiah (26:20)
  A(26:21-23)  Death of Uriah
  A'(26:24)  Protection for Jeremiah
 
   A: Prophets and persecution.

[43]The sign of the yoke  (Jer 27:1-22)
 
  A(27:1-11)  All nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time of his land, too, shall come (27:7)
    B(27:12-15)    Do not listen to the words of those prophets (27:14)
    B'(27:16-18)    Do not listen to the words of your prophets (27:16)
  A'(27:19-22)  there they shall remain, until the day I look for them (27:22)
 
   A: Until the day. B: Do not listen to the words of those prophets.

[44]Hananiah opposes Jeremiah and dies  (Jer 28:1-17)
 
  A(28:1-4)  Prophecy of Hananiah
    B(28:5-9)    Prophecy of Jeremiah
  A'(28:10-11)  Prophecy of Hananiah
    B'(28:12-17)    Prophecy of Jeremiah
 
   A: Prophecy of Hananiah. B: Prophecy of Jeremiah.

[45]Restoration promised  (Jer 29:1-23)
 
P(29:1-3)the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem (29:1)
  A(29:4-9)  Do not let the prophets and the diviners who are among you deceive you (29:8)
    B(29:10-14)    I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile (29:14)
    B'(29:15-19)    your kinsfolk who did not go out with you into exile (29:16)
  A'(29:20-23)  Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying a lie to you (29:21)
 
   A: False prophet. B: Exile / Not Exile.

[46]The letter of Shemaiah  (Jer 29:24-32)
 
  A(29:24-28)  The words of the LORD
    B(29:29)    the priest Zephaniah had read this letter (29:29)
  A'(29:30-32)  The words of the LORD
 
   A: The words of the LORD. B: The letter.

[47]Distress and salvation of Jacob  (Jer 30:1-24)
 
  A(30:1-3)  Promise of salvation
    B(30:4-7)    Sufferings
      C(30:8-11)      Promise of salvation
    B'(30:12-16)    Sufferings
  A'(30:17-24)  
Promise of salvation   
(הימים)
 
   A: Promise of salvation. B: Sufferings. C: Promise of salvation.

[48]The joyful return of the exiles  (Jer 31:1-26)
 
  A(31:1)  I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel (31:1)
    B(31:2-6)    you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel (31:4)
      C(31:7-9)      Ephraim is my first-born (31:9)
        D(31:10-14)        The LORD shall ransom Jacob, he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror (31:11)
          E(31:15-17)          they shall return from the enemy's land (31:16)
        D'(31:18-19)        I turn in repentance (31:19)
      C'(31:20)      Is Ephraim not my favored son (31:20)
    B'(31:21-22)    Turn back, O virgin Israel (31:21)
  A'(31:23-26)  Judah and all her cities shall dwell there together (31:24)
 
   A: All people. B: Virgin Israel. C: Ephraim is the son. D: Reconciliation. E: To return.

[49]A new covenant  (Jer 31:27-40)
 
  A(31:27-28)  
The days are coming (31:27)   
(הנהימים)
    B(31:29-30)    The fathers ate unripe grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge (31:29)
      C(31:31-33)      I will be their God, and they shall be my people (31:33)
        D(31:34)        All, from least to greatest, shall know me (31:34)
      C'(31:35-36)      Then shall the race of Israel cease as a nation before me forever (31:36)
    B'(31:37)    will I cast off the whole race of Israel because of all they have done (31:37)
  A'(31:38-40)  
The days are coming (31:38)   
(הנהימים)
 
   A: The day is coming. B: Descendants. C: The people of God. D: To know God.

[50]Jeremiah is imprisoned  (Jer 32:1-5)
 
  A(32:1-2)  the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem (32:2)
    B(32:3a)    king of Judah, had imprisoned him (32:3)
      C(32:3b)      Destruction of the city
    B'(32:4-5a)    Neither shall king of Judah escape the hands of the Chaldeans (32:4)
  A'(32:5b)  in fighting the Chaldeans, you cannot win (32:5)
 
   A: Attack of Babylon. B: King of Judah. C: Destruction of the city.

[51]Jeremiah buys a field during the siege  (Jer 32:6-15)
 
  A(32:6-7)  The words of the LORD
    B(32:8)    The actions of Hanamel
      C(32:9-11)      Purchase of the field
    B'(32:12)    The actions of Hanamel and others
  A'(32:13-15)  The words of the LORD
 
   A: The words of the LORD. B: The actions of Hanamel. C: Purchase of the field.

[52]Jeremiah prays for understanding  (Jer 32:16-25)
 
  A(32:16-17)  Ah, Lord GOD (32:17)
    B(32:18-19)    giving to each according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds (32:19)
      C(32:20-22)      Exodus
    B'(32:23-24)    Hence you let all these evils befall them (32:23)
  A'(32:25)  O Lord GOD (32:25)
 
   A: Ah, Lord GOD. B: Retribution. C: Exodus.

[53]God's assurance of the people's return  (Jer 32:26-44)
 
  A(32:26-29)  Disasters
    B(32:30-35)    Betrayal against the LORD
    B'(32:36-41)    To become the people of the LORD
  A'(32:42-44)  Prosperity
 
   A: Disasters and prosperity. B: The people of the LORD.

[54]Healing after punishment  (Jer 33:1-18)
 
  A(33:1-3)  
Call to me (33:3)   
(קרא)
    B1(33:4-9)    Restoration from disasters
    B2(33:10-11)    Restoration from disasters
    B3(33:12-13)    Restoration from disasters
  A'(33:14-18)  
this is what they shall call her (33:16)   
(יקרא)
 
   A: To call. B: Restoration from disasters.

[55]Covenant with David  (Jer 33:19-26)
 
  A(33:19-22)  
"my covenant with day, and my covenant with night (33:20)"   
(בריתי)
    B(33:23-24)    The LORD has rejected the two tribes which he had chosen (33:24)
  A'(33:25-26)  
covenant with day and night (33:25)   
(בריתי)
 
   A: Covenant with day and night. B: To reject the two tribes.

[56]Death in captivity predicted for Zedekiah  (Jer 34:1-7)
 
  A(34:1)  Invasion of the king of Babylon
    B(34:2-5)    Prophecy to the king of Judah
  A'(34:6-7)  Invasion of the king of Babylon
 
   A: Invasion of the king of Babylon. B: Prophecy to the king of Judah.

[57]Treacherous treatment of slaves  (Jer 34:8-22)
 
  A(34:8-11)  they took back their male and female slaves whom they had set free (34:11)
    B(34:12-14)    I made this covenant with them (34:13)
  A'(34:15-16)  taking back your male and female slaves to whom you had given their freedom (34:16)
    B'(34:17-22)    You did not obey me by proclaiming your neighbors and kinsmen free (34:17)
 
   A: To take back slaves. B: The covenant with the LORD.

[58]The Rechabites commended  (Jer 35:1-19)
 
  A(35:1-2)  The words of the LORD to family of Rechabites
    B(35:3-11)    we have heeded Jonadab in all his prohibitions (35:8)
      C(35:12-13)      say to the men of Judah and to the citizens of Jerusalem (35:13)
        D(35:14)        
you have not obeyed (35:14)   
(ולאשׁמעתם)
          E(35:15)          telling you to turn back, all of you, from your evil way (35:15)
        D'(35:16)        
this people does not obey me (35:16)   
(לאשׁמעו)
      C'(35:17)      I will bring upon Judah and all the citizens of Jerusalem every evil (35:17)
    B'(35:18)    you have obeyed the command of Jonadab (35:18)
  A'(35:19)  The words of the LORD to family of Rechabites
 
   A: The words of the LORD to family of Rechabites. B: Obedience. C: Judah and all the citizens of Jerusalem. D: Disobedience. E: Turn back.

[59]The scroll read in the temple  (Jer 36:1-32)
 
  A(36:1-2)  write on it all the words I have spoken to you (36:2)
    B(36:3)    I may forgive their wickedness and their sin (36:3)
      C(36:4-8)      wrote down on a scroll, as Jeremiah dictated (36:4)
        D(36:9-15)        Baruch publicly read the words of Jeremiah (36:10)
          E(36:16-18)          
We must certainly tell the king all these things (36:16)   
(הגיד)
            F(36:19)            Go into hiding, you and Jeremiah (36:19)
          E'(36:20)          
they told him everything that had happened (36:20)   
(ויגידו)
        D'(36:21-26)        read it to the king and to all the princes (36:21)
      C'(36:27-29)      the scroll with the text Jeremiah had dictated to Baruch (36:27)
    B'(36:30-31)    I will punish him for their wickedness (36:31)
  A'(36:32)  he wrote on it at Jeremiah's dictation all the words (36:32)
 
   A: To write. B: Wickedness. C: To write on the scroll. D: Reading. E: To tell the king. F: To hide.

[60]Jeremiah is imprisoned  (Jer 37:1-21)
 
  A(37:1-3)  The request of the king
    B(37:4)    At this time Jeremiah had not yet been put into prison (37:4)
      C(37:5)      
Withdrawal of Chaldean army   
(וחיל)
        D(37:6-10)        The words of the LORD
      C'(37:11)      
Withdrawal of Chaldean army   
(חיל)
    B'(37:12-16)    thrown into prison in the house of Jonathan (37:15)
  A'(37:17-21)  The request of the king
 
   A: The request of the king. B: Imprison. C: Withdrawal of Chaldean army. D: The words of the LORD.

[61]Jeremiah in the cistern  (Jer 38:1-13)
 
P(38:1-3)Prophecy of Jeremiah
  A(38:4-5)  Officials requested the death of Jeremiah to the king
    B(38:6)    
they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Prince Malchiah (38:6)   
(הבור)
  A'(38:7-10)  Ebed-melech requested the salvation of Jeremiah to the king
    B'(38:11-13)    
they drew him up with the ropes out of the cistern (38:13)   
(הבור)
 
   A: Request for the king. B: The cistern.

[62]Zedekiah consults Jeremiah again  (Jer 38:14-28)
 
  A(38:14-16)  
"you will have me killed, will you not? (38:15)"   
(המת)
    B(38:17-18)    Prophecy of Jeremiah
      C(38:19)      The king's concern
    B'(38:20-23)    Prophecy of Jeremiah
  A'(38:24-28)  
"Let no one know about this conversation, or you shall die (38:24)"   
(תמות)
 
   A: To kill Jeremiah. B: Prophecy of Jeremiah. C: The king's concern.

Jer 38:1-28
  A(38:1-5)  This man ought to be put to death (38:4)
    B(38:6)    Jeremiah sank into the mud (38:6)
      C(38:7-12)      draw the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he should die (38:10)
        D(38:13)        Jeremiah remained in the quarters of the guard (38:13)
  A'(38:14-18)  you will have me killed (38:15)
    B'(38:19)    I may be handed over to them, and they will mistreat me (38:19)
      C'(38:20-27)      Let no one know about this conversation, or you shall die (38:24)
        D'(38:28)        Jeremiah stayed in the quarters of the guard till the day Jerusalem was taken (38:28)

[63]The fall of Jerusalem  (Jer 39:1-14)
 
  A(39:1-3)  all his army marched against Jerusalem and besieged it (39:1)
    B(39:4-7)    He then blinded Zedekiah and bound him in chains to bring him to Babylon (39:7)
    B'(39:8-10)    Nebuzaradan deported to Babylon the rest of the people left in the city (39:9)
  A'(39:11-14)  had Jeremiah taken out of the quarters of the guard (39:14)
 
   A: Siege / release. B: The captivity.

[64]Jeremiah, set free, remembers Ebed-melech  (Jer 39:15-18)
 
P(39:15)Jeremiah was still imprisoned in the quarters of the guard (39:15)
  A(39:16)  
they shall be accomplished in your presence on that day (39:16)   
(ביוםההוא)
  A'(39:17-18)  
on that day I will rescue you (39:17)   
(ביוםההוא)
 
   A: On that day.

[65]Jeremiah is released  (Jer 40:1-6)
 
  A(40:1)  This word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after Nebuzaradan had released him (40:1)
    B(40:2-5)    Words of Nebuzaradan
  A'(40:6)  Jeremiah went to Gedaliah (40:6)
 
   A: Movement of Jeremiah. B: Words of Nebuzaradan.

[66]Jeremiah with Gedaliah the governor  (Jer 40:7-16)
 
  A(40:7-8)  Ishmael had come
    B(40:9-10)    
"They were to collect the wine, the fruit, and the oil (40:10)"   
(ייןוקיץ)
    B'(40:11-12)    
They went to Gedaliah at Mizpah and had a rich harvest of wine and fruit (40:12)   
(ייןוקיץ)
  A'(40:13-16)  Ishmael's plot to kill others
 
   A: Ishmael. B: The wine, the fruit.

[67]Insurrection against Gedaliah  (Jer 41:1-18)
 
  A(41:1-3)  they killed him (41:2)
    B(41:4-6)    Ishmael went out from Mizpah to meet them (41:6)
      C(41:7-10)      Ishmael slew them and threw them into the cistern (41:7)
    B'(41:11-15)    All of those whom Ishmael had brought away from Mizpah (41:14)
  A'(41:16-18)  Ishmael had slain Gedaliah (41:18)
 
   A: Death of Gedaliah. B: People of captivity. C: Murder.

[68]Jeremiah advises survivors not to migrate  (Jer 42:1-22)
 
  A(42:1-6)  we will truly and faithfully follow all the instructions the LORD, your God, will send us (42:5)
    B'(42:7-17)    Prophecy of Jeremiah
  A'(42:18-22)  make known to us all that the LORD shall say, and we will do it (42:20)
 
   A: Oath of the people. B: Prophecy of Jeremiah.

[69]Escape to Egypt  (Jer 43:1-7)
 
  A(43:1-3)  Objection of Johanan
    B(43:4)    people did not obey the LORD'S command (43:4)
  A'(43:5-6)  Johanan gathered people
    B'(43:7)    Against the LORD'S command they went to Egypt (43:7)
 
   A: Acts of Johanan. B: Not to obey the LORD'S command.

[70]Jeremiah warns of judgment  (Jer 43:8-13)
 
  A(43:8-9)  Take with you large stones (43:9)
    B(43:10)    I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar (43:10)
      C(43:11)      Pestilence, exile and sword
    B'(43:12)    he shall delouse the land of Egypt and depart victorious (43:12)
  A'(43:13)  He shall smash the obelisks of the temple of the sun in the land of Egypt (43:13)
 
   A: Stones. B: Coming / leaving. C: Pestilence, exile and sword.

[71]Denunciation of persistent idolatry  (Jer 44:1-30)
 
  A(44:1-6)  I kept sending to you all my servants the prophets, with the plea not to commit this horrible deed which I hate (44:4)
    B(44:7-10)    
they do not fear or follow the law and the statutes (44:10)   
(בתורתי)
      C(44:11-14)      
"they shall die by the sword, or by hunger (44:12)"   
(בחרבברעב)
  A'(44:15-19)  We will not listen to what you say in the name of the LORD (44:16)
    B'(44:20-23)    
"not living by his law, his statutes, and his decrees (44:23)"   
(ובתרתו)
      C'(44:24-30)      
All the men of Judah in Egypt shall perish by the sword or famine (44:27)   
(בחרבוברעב)
 
   A: To refuse prophets. B: To refuse the law. C: The sword or famine.

[72]A word of comfort to Baruch  (Jer 45:1-5)
 
  A(45:1-3)  the LORD adds grief to my pain (45:3)
    B(45:4)     I am uprooting: even the whole land (45:4)
      C(45:5a)      Do not ask (45:5)
    B'(45:5b)    I am bringing evil on all mankind (45:5)
  A'(45:5c)  your life I will leave you as booty, wherever you may go (45:5)
 
   A: Sufferings of Baruch. B: Sufferings of the whole land. C: Do not ask.

[73]Judgment on Egypt  (Jer 46:1-12)
 
P(46:1-2)the word of the LORD that came to the prophet Jeremiah (46:1)
  A(46:3-4)  
Prepare shield and buckler! (46:3)   
(מגן)
    B(46:5-6)    
They flee headlong without making a stand (46:5)   
(וגבוריהם)
  A'(46:7-9)  
bearing your shields (46:9)   
(מגן)
    B'(46:10-12)    
"Warrior trips over warrior, both fall together (46:12)"   
(גבור)
 
   A: To prepare shields. B: Warriors fall.

[74]Babylonia will strike Egypt  (Jer 46:13-28)
 
  A(46:13-15)  the sword has already devoured your neighbors (46:14)
    B(46:16-17)    
let us return to our own people (46:16)   
(ונשׁבה)
      C(46:18-19)      Memphis shall become a desert, an empty ruin (46:19)
        D(46:20)        
from the north a horsefly lights upon her (46:20)   
(מצפון)
          E(46:21-23)          When the day of their ruin comes upon them (46:21)
        D'(46:24)        
handed over to the people of the north (46:24)   
(צפון)
      C'(46:25-26)      later on Egypt shall be inhabited again (46:26)
    B'(46:27)    
I will deliver you from the far-off land (46:27)   
(ושׁב)
  A'(46:28)   I will make an end of all the nations to which I have driven you (46:28)
 
   A: Destruction. B: To return. C: Inhabitants. D: From north. E: The day of ruin.

[75]Judgment on nations  (Jer 47:1-49:33)
 
  A(47:1-5)  
the day which has come to ruin all the Philistines (47:4)   
(לשׁדוד)
    B(47:6-7)    
"Return into your scabbard; stop, be still! (47:6)"   
(תשׁקטי)
      C(48:1-11)      giving wings to Moab (48:9)
        D(48:12-39)        
"We have heard of the pride of Moab, pride beyond bounds: His loftiness, his pride, his scorn, his insolence of heart (48:29)"   
(גבהו)
          E(48:40-47)          I will bring these things upon Moab in the year of their punishment (48:44)
            F(49:1-6)            Israel shall inherit those who disinherited her (49:2)
          E'(49:7-11)          I will bring destruction upon Esau when I come to punish him (49:8)
        D'(49:12-19)        
Though you build your nest high as the eagle (49:16)   
(תגביה)
      C'(49:20-22)      like an eagle he soars aloft, and spreads his wings over Bozrah (49:22)
    B'(49:23-27)    
they are troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet (49:23)   
(השׁקט)
  A'(49:28-33)  
"Rise up, attack Kedar, ravage the Easterners (49:28)"   
(שׁדד)
 
   A: Destruction. B: Silence. C: To fly. D: Loftiness. E: Punishment. F: Vengeance.

Jer 48:1-48:47
  A(48:1-8)  Moab's glory is no more (48:2)
    B(48:9-11)    Give wings to Moab (48:9)
      C(48:12-16)      shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles (48:12 RWB)
        D(48:17-25)        All ye that are about him, bemoan him (48:17 RWB)
          E(48:26-30)          We have heard the pride of Moab (48:29 RWB)
        D'(48:31-34)        I will cry out for all Moab (48:31 RWB)
      C'(48:35-39)      I have broken Moab like a vessel (48:38 RWB)
    B'(48:40-42)    Behold, like an eagle he soars, spreads his wings over Moab (48:40)
  A'(48:43-47)  I will change the lot of Moab in the days to come (48:47)

[76]Judgment on Elam  (Jer 49:34-39)
 
  A(49:34)  at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah (49:34)
    B(49:35-36)    Elam refugees
      C(49:37a)      I will bring evil upon them (49:37)
    B'(49:37b-38)    destruction of the aristocracy and the king of Elam
  A'(49:39)  In the final days (49:39)
 
   A: Beginning / end. B: The people. C: I will bring evil upon them.

[77]Judgment on Babylon  (Jer 50:1-51:58)
 
  A(50:1-5)  Announce and publish it among the nations (50:2)
    B(50:6-7)    their shepherds misled them, straggling on the mountains (50:6)
      C(50:8-16)      Before the destroying sword, each of them turns to his own people (50:16)
        D(50:17)        A stray sheep was Israel that lions pursued (50:17)
          E(50:18-21)          
I will punish the king of Babylon and his land (50:18)   
(פקד)
            F(50:22-27)            Come upon her from every side, open her granaries, Pile up her goods in heaps (50:26)
              G(50:28-30)              her young men shall fall in her streets, all her warriors shall perish on that day (50:30)
                H(50:31-32)                
"I am against you, man of insolence (50:31)"   
(הנניאליך)
                  I(50:33-37)                  A sword upon
                    J(50:38-46)                    For who is like me? (50:44)
                      K(51:1-14)                      Babylon suddenly falls and is crushed (51:8)
                    J'(51:15-19)                    Not like these is the portion of Jacob (51:19)
                  I'(51:20-24)                  A hammer
                H'(51:25-26)                
"I am against you, destroying mountain (51:25)"   
(הנניאליך)
              G'(51:27-32)              Babylon's warriors have ceased to fight, they remain in their strongholds (51:30)
            F'(51:33-35)            Daughter Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trodden; Yet a little while, and the harvest time will come for her (51:33)
          E'(51:36-44)          
I will punish Bel in Babylon (51:44)   
(ופקדתי)
        D'(51:45-51)        Babylon, too, must fall, O slain of Israel (51:49)
      C'(51:52-53)      destroyers from me shall reach her (51:53)
    B'(51:54-57)    I will make her princes and her wise men drunk (51:57)
  A'(51:58)  The toil of the nations is for nothing (51:58)
 
   A: The nations. B: Shephards. C: Destruction. D: Destruction of Israel. E: Punishment. F: Crops. G: Abandonment of combat. H: Against. I: Weapons. J: Who is like God? K: Babylon suddenly falls.

[78]Jeremiah's command to Seraiah  (Jer 51:59-64)
 
P(51:59-60)all the misfortune that was to befall Babylon (51:60)
  A1(51:61-62)  Instruction of Jeremiah
  A2(51:63-64)  Instruction of Jeremiah
 
   A: Instruction of Jeremiah.

[79]The reign of Zedekiah  (Jer 52:1-11)
 
  A(52:1-3)  Indeed, what was done in Jerusalem and in Judah so angered the LORD that he cast them out from his presence (52:3)
    B(52:4-8)    Capitulation of Jerusalem
  A'(52:9-11)  The king, therefore, was arrested and brought to Riblah, in the land of Hamath, to the king of Babylon (52:9)
 
   A: Judgement. B: Capitulation of Jerusalem.

[80]The destruction of Jerusalem  (Jer 52:12-30)
 
  A(52:12-16)  
Then Nebuzaradan led into exile the rest of the people left in the city (52:15)   
(הגלה)
    B(52:17-23)    Destruction of the vessels of the temple
  A'(52:24-30)  
Thus was Judah exiled from her land (52:27)   
(ויגל)
 
   A: Captivity. B: Destruction of the vessels of the temple.

[81]Jehoiachin favored in captivity  (Jer 52:31-34)
 
 
   Jehoiachin, king of Judah (52:31)


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

Creative Commons License
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.

Comments