Bible Interpretation 101 - What is a 'chiasm'?

 Noah's flood is structured by the author as a giant chiasm for a reason...

The study of the Bible and its interpretation is a broad field with many subdisciplines (something both many Christians and nonchristians seem unaware of unfortunately).  The Bible is a library of ancient literature spanning 2.5 millennia, 3 languages, 3 continents and compiled by over 40 different authors and editors.  As such it can fill a lifetime of study.

When studying any text of Scripture it is important to be aware of various literary motifs and devices the author/s may be using in order to make their point or around which to structure their writing.  Often, such literary nuances get clouded or obscured in translation--thus what may be obvious in the original text goes unnoticed by the modern reader. 

An example of such a literary device used in the ancient world, but not as familiar to modern readers, is that of "chiasm" (pronounced "KIYE-az-uhm").  Here is a brief definition:

Derived from the Greek letter chi (which is shaped like a letter X), a rhetorical device whereby parallel lines of a text correspond in an X pattern, such as A-B-C-B´-A´ (in this case the center of the chiasm is C, and on either side line A will correspond to line A´ and so forth). For example, a chiastic pattern (without a C element) may be observed in Mark 2:27 and set out in the following fashion:

A: The sabbath was made

B: for humankind,

B´: and not humankind

A´: for the sabbath

The pattern can be as simple as a verse in Mark or as elaborate as a whole poem, a parable or a book. In using this device, an author can show both progression of thought and intensification of meaning. Chiasm is a way of “layering” words and themes.

There are many many chiastic patterns in Scripture--both poetry and prose, Hebrew and Greek.  But one of the most impressive is the chiastic structure found in the story of Noah and the flood in Genesis chapters 6-9.  Hebrew Bible scholar Gordon Wenham lays out the Noahic chiasm quite impressively in his commentary on Genesis

The Structure of the Flood Story

A     Noah (6:10a)
B     Shem, Ham, and Japheth (10b)
C      Ark to be built (14-16)
D       Flood announced (17)
E        Covenant with Noah (18-20)
F         Food in the ark (21)
G         Command to enter the ark (7:1-3)
H          7 days waiting for flood (4-5)
I             7 days waiting for flood (7-10)
J             Entry to ark (11-15)
K             YHWH shuts Noah in (16)
L               40 days flood (17a)
M               Waters increase (17b-18)
N                Mountains covered (19-20)
O                 150 days water prevail (21-24)

P                   GOD REMEMBERS NOAH (8:1)

O’                150 days waters abate (3)
N’                Mountain tops visible (4-5)
M’               Waters abate (5)
L’               40 days (end of) (6a)
K’              Noah opens window of ark (6b)
J’              Raven and dove leave ark (7-9)
I’              7 days waiting for waters to subside (10-11)
H’           7 days waiting for waters to subside (12-13)
G’          Command to leave ark (15-17 [22])
F’          Food outside ark (9:1-4)
E’         Covenant with all flesh (8-10)
D’        No flood in the future (11-17)
C’       Ark (18a)
B’      Shem, Ham and Japheth (18b)
A’     Noah (19)

For over a century now it has been fashionable in scholarly circles to see the flood story as a compilation of two (or more) separate accounts that have been merged together by a later redactor.  This has been the proposed reasoning for information that seems to be repeated in slightly differeing formats (called "doublets" among critical scholars).  However, the overall unity of the story, along with a developing understanding of Ancient Near East narrative, have been eroding such conclusions and forcing Biblical scholars to consider anew the idea that Genesis may a unified work of literature rather than a weaving together of multiple originally contradictory sources, as older Documentary Hypotheses have proposed.

The repetition, rather than being the mark of editorial combining, is the author's way of structuring his account in order to make his point more clearly: despite the world devolving into horrendous evil so wicked that the only recourse left is destruction by God, Noah was remembered by God and the "seed of the woman" (Gen.3:15) will not be completely wiped out and God's promise therefore rendered void.  Through Noah will come Abram, through Abram/Abraham will come Jacob, through Jacob/Israel will come David, and through David will come the ultimate "seed of the woman", Jesus--through whom all the faithful will ultimately be delivered from God's final judgment on Sin and evil. 

Literary devices, such as chiasm, are essential for grasping the full message of Scripture and seeing how all the individual, seemingly disparate pieces fit together in the end.