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Literary structure (chiasm, chiasmus) of Book of Habakkuk

Chiastic Structure and Concentric Structure and Parallel of each pericope

[1]The prophet's complaint  (Hab 1:1-2:6a)
 
P(1:1)1:1 The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet received in vision. (1:1)
  A(1:2-4)  
1:3 Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? (1:3)   
(ועמל)
    B(1:5-11)    1:6 For see, I am raising up Chaldea (1:6)
  A'(1:12-17)  
"1:13 Too pure are your eyes to look upon evil, and the sight of misery you cannot endure (1:13)"   
(עמל)
    B'(2:1-6a)    2:1 And keep watch to see what he will say to me (2:1)
 
   A: Toils. B: To see.

[2]The woes of the wicked  (Hab 2:6b-20)
 
  A1(2:6b-8)  2:6 Woe to him who stores up what is not his (2:6)
  A2(2:9-11)  2:9 Woe to him who pursues evil gain for his household (2:9)
  A3(2:12-14)  2:12 Woe to him who builds a city by bloodshed (2:12)
  A4(2:15-18)  2:15 Woe to you who give your neighbors (2:15)
  A5(2:19-20)  2:19 Woe to him who says to wood, "Awake!" to dumb stone (2:19)
 
   A: Woe.

[3]The prophet's prayer  (Hab 3:1-19)
 
  A(3:1-2)  3:2 In the course of the years revive it, in the course of the years make it known (3:2)
    B(3:3-7)    3:7 the tents of Cushan collapse (3:7)
      C(3:8-9)      
"3:9 Bared and ready is your bow, filled with arrows is your quiver (3:9)"   
(מטות)
        D(3:10-13)        3:13 You come forth to save your people (3:13)
      C'(3:14-15)      
3:14 You pierce with your shafts the heads of their princes (3:14)   
(במטיו)
    B'(3:16-17)    3:16 the day of distress that will come upon the people who attack us (3:16)
  A'(3:18-19)  3:19 he makes my feet swift as those of hinds and enables me to go upon the heights (3:19)
 
   A: Salvation. B: Sufferings of enemies. C: Arrows. D: Salvation.


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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