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Genesis 12:1-4 – Chiasm
Share with me your thoughts as to which of these two chiasms works better, or share yours, or state there is no chiastic structure.
Chiasm #1
A – Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house,
B – To the land which I will show you;
C – And I will make you a great nation,
D – And I will bless you,
E – And make your name great;
D’ – And so you shall be a blessing;
C’ – And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse.
B’ – And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
A’ – So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
The only part of this chiasm that does not seem to immediately fit is C-C’. And yet “great” can apply to number, intensity or even older. The first born, the older, culturally received the greater blessing.
Chiasm #2
The following organization has as its strength the seven-fold blessings to Abraham: 1) I will make you into a great nation; 2) I will bless you; 3) I will make your name great; 4) You will be a blessing; 5) I will bless them that bless you; 6) I will curse him that curse you; 7) In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
A – The LORD said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
B – I will make you into a great nation,
C – I will bless you,
D – I will make your name great,
E – and you will be a blessing.
D’ – I will bless those who bless you,
C’ – I will curse those who treat you with contempt,
B’ – and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
A’ – So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran.
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