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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of Book of Hosea

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of divided by 3


3-1

1 The family of Hosea (1:1-9)
  2 Betrayal of Israel (2:1-15)
    3 Salvation of Israel (2:16-25)
  4 Further assurance of God's redeeming love (3:1-5)
5 The idolatry of Israel (4:1-5:7)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 The family of Hosea (1:1-9)
1:2 In the beginning of the LORDS speaking to Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: Go, take a harlot wife and harlots children, for the land gives itself to harlotry, turning away from the LORD.(1:2)
Harlotry, children5 The idolatry of Israel (4:1-5:7)
4:10 They shall eat but not be satisfied, they shall play the harlot but not increase, Because they have abandoned the LORD (4:10)
2 Betrayal of Israel (2:1-15)
2:9 If she runs after her lovers, she shall not overtake them; if she looks for them she shall not find them. Then she shall say, "I will go back to my first husband, for it was better with me then than now." (2:9)
Woman of harlot4 Further assurance of God's redeeming love (3:1-5)
3:3 Then I said to her: "Many days you shall wait for me; you shall not play the harlot Or belong to any man; I in turn will wait for you." (3:3)

3-1-1

1 The family of Hosea (1:1-9)
  2 Betrayal of Israel (2:1-15)
3 Salvation of Israel (2:16-25)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 The family of Hosea (1:1-9)
Give him the name Jezreel, (1:4)
Jezreel3 Salvation of Israel (2:16-25)
The earth shall respond to the grain, and wine, and oil, and these shall respond to Jezreel. (2:24)
1 The family of Hosea (1:1-9)
Give her the name Lo-ruhama; (1:6)
Lo-ruhama3 Salvation of Israel (2:16-25)
I will sow him for myself in the land, and I will have pity on Lo-ruhama. I will say to Lo-ammi, "You are my people," and he shall say, "My God!" (2:25)
1 The family of Hosea (1:1-9)
Give him the name Lo-ammi, (1:9)
Lo-ammi3 Salvation of Israel (2:16-25)
I will sow him for myself in the land, and I will have pity on Lo-ruhama. I will say to Lo-ammi, "You are my people," and he shall say, "My God!" (2:25)

3-1-2

3 Salvation of Israel (2:16-25)
  4 Further assurance of God's redeeming love (3:1-5)
5 The idolatry of Israel (4:1-5:7)
Former halfRelationLatter half
3 Salvation of Israel (2:16-25)
see 1-1-1
see 1-1-15 The idolatry of Israel (4:1-5:7)
see 1-1-1

3-2

5 The idolatry of Israel (4:1-5:7)
  6 Sin and punishment of war (5:8-6:11)
    7 Futile reliance on the nations (7:1-12)
  8 Israel's apostasy (7:13-8:14)
9 Sin at Baal-peor and Gilgal (9:1-17)
Former halfRelationLatter half
5 The idolatry of Israel (4:1-5:7)
see 1-1
see 1-19 Sin at Baal-peor and Gilgal (9:1-17)
see 1-1
6 Sin and punishment of war (5:8-6:11)
see 1-1
see 1-18 Israel's apostasy (7:13-8:14)
see 1-1

3-2-1

5 The idolatry of Israel (4:1-5:7)
  6 Sin and punishment of war (5:8-6:11)
7 Futile reliance on the nations (7:1-12)
Former halfRelationLatter half
5 The idolatry of Israel (4:1-5:7)
4:2 False swearing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery! in their lawlessness, bloodshed follows bloodshed. (4:2)
Evils are rampant7 Futile reliance on the nations (7:1-12)
7:1 When I would bring about the restoration of my people, when I would heal Israel, The guilt of Ephraim stands out, the wickedness of Samaria; They practice falsehood, thieves break in, bandits plunder abroad. (7:1)

3-2-2

7 Futile reliance on the nations (7:1-12)
  8 Israel's apostasy (7:13-8:14)
9 Sin at Baal-peor and Gilgal (9:1-17)
Former halfRelationLatter half
7 Futile reliance on the nations (7:1-12)
7:11 Ephraim is like a dove, silly and senseless; They call upon Egypt, they go to Assyria. (7:11)
Egypt and Assyria9 Sin at Baal-peor and Gilgal (9:1-17)
9:3 They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and in Assyria they shall eat unclean food. (9:3)

3-3

9 Sin at Baal-peor and Gilgal (9:1-17)
  10 Israel's sin and captivity (10:1-15)
    11 God's compassion despite Israel's ingratitude (11:1-11)
  12 The history of rebellion (12:1-14_14:1)
13 Assurance of forgiveness (14:2-10)
Former halfRelationLatter half
9 Sin at Baal-peor and Gilgal (9:1-17)
9:11 The glory of Ephraim flies away like a bird: no birth, no carrying in the womb, no conception. Were they to bear children, I would slay the darlings of their womb. (9:11)
The LORD deprives a life / gives a life13 Assurance of forgiveness (14:2-10)
14:9 Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. "I am like a verdant cypress tree"-- Because of me you bear fruit! (14:9)
10 Israel's sin and captivity (10:1-15)
10:15 So shall it be done to you, Bethel, because of your utter wickedness: At dawn the king of Israel shall perish utterly.(10:15)
Perish of the king12 The history of rebellion (12:1-14_14:1)
13:11 I give you a king in my anger, and I take him away in my wrath.(13:11)

3-3-1

9 Sin at Baal-peor and Gilgal (9:1-17)
  10 Israel's sin and captivity (10:1-15)
11 God's compassion despite Israel's ingratitude (11:1-11)
Former halfRelationLatter half
9 Sin at Baal-peor and Gilgal (9:1-17)
see 1-1-2
see 1-1-211 God's compassion despite Israel's ingratitude (11:1-11)
see 1-1-2

3-3-2

11 God's compassion despite Israel's ingratitude (11:1-11)
  12 The history of rebellion (12:1-14_14:1)
13 Assurance of forgiveness (14:2-10)
Former halfRelationLatter half
11 God's compassion despite Israel's ingratitude (11:1-11)
11:1 When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son.(11:1)
Love of God13 Assurance of forgiveness (14:2-10)
14:5 I will heal their defection, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. (14:5)

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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