At the beginning of the year, the elders at my church began a series in Genesis. This past Sunday we finished verses 1-8 of chapter 6 and are now heading into the flood story. I don’t remember why it came up, but as i was discussing this chapter with some brothers Sunday afternoon, i had mentioned that there is a large chiasm in the flood story. I thought i would take a moment in highlighting this chiasm for them and anyone else interested.
Some of you may be thinking, “ok..cool. But what exactly is a chiasm?” Glad you asked. ( :
According to my trusty Pocket Dictionary for the Study of New Testament Greek, a chiasm is defined as follows:
n. A literary device in which words, clauses or themes are laid out and then repeated but in inverted order. This creates an a-b-b-a pattern, or a “crossing” effect like the letter “X” (χιασμος, “a making of the letter χ”). Also called inverted parallelism. [p.29]
Some theologians, like James Jordan, would contend with that last sentence by arguing that a “Chiasm differs from ‘inverted parallelism’ by having a central pivot-point that in some way is the most important aspect of the structure. Inverted parallelism, consisting of ABBA, may not have such a central point (unless BB is also a pivot or the more important aspect of the overall section).” [1]
Regardless of how one should classify an inverted parallelism, both definitions would fit with what i believe we find in the flood story.
Now you’re thinking, “ok…cool. But what’s the point?” Glad you asked. ( :
Chiastic structures serve to form literary units. They are used to parallel, contrast, and highlight thoughts; as well as have a “central pivot-point that in some way is the most important aspect of the structure.” Discovering that “central pivot-point” is always my favorite part. By drawing your eyes to the verse or two at the center of the χ, the author is able to emphasize to the reader, “Hey, don’t miss this important point!”
Now you may be thinking, “ok…cool. But how do we find a chiasm?” Glad you asked. ( :
While i do not pretend to be an expert on this, i believe it is fairly safe to say that if while you are reading a text, you notice a clear pattern of repeated words or ideas, and these words or ideas are repeated in an inverted order, then you probably have a chiasm on your hands.The key is in noticing repetition. Now, some of you are probably thinking, “well duh, all you did was just repeat the definition.” I know. I actually threw in this last question and answer to form a chiasm, to see if you were paying attention. The central pivot-point in what i have written thus far is to highlight the point of chiastic points. hahaha.
On to Noah.
During my short stay at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, i took a Survey of Old Testament class, in which the professor introduced this flood chiasm to us. I don’t remember where he got it from. I don’t know if he found this himself or got it from a scholar. I just know that it has always stuck with me and i thought it would be helpful to point it out as our church digs into the flood story.
So here it is: {I’ve highlighted the numbers to draw even more attention to the parallels}
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)
Pretty cool, eh? And what does this teach us?
I believe the whole local vs. global flood debate is an important one; if for no other reason than the fact that it exposes our presuppositions about science, the infallibility of Scriptures, and so on. But as important as that debate is, i do not believe it is the central focus of the story.
If all of what we have said about chiasm is correct and this chiastic structuring of the flood story is correct, then the “central pivot-point” is that “God remembered Noah”. We could say that God remembered Noah because “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (6.8) But why did Noah find favor with God to begin with? Was Noah not a sinner, like all the rest that perished in the flood? Certainly. And while Hebrews 11.7 tells us that Noah “became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith”, we also know that “faith” is not of our “own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, that no one may boast.” (Ep 2.8-9)
Even with Noah mentioned as part of the “central pivot-point”, i don’t even think that the flood story revolves around Noah per se. I believe the central point is that God remembered…
God remembered Noah, ultimately, because God had made a promise a few chapters back.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Ge 3.15)
The covenant keeping Lord was making good on a promise. By remembering Noah, God was preserving the seed that would give us Christ, who would eventually crush the head of satan and bring salvation to God’s elect. Ironic, isn’t it? Even in the midst of horrific judgment that came about because “every intention of the thoughts of [man's] heart was only evil continually” (6.6), God protects a few to make good on a kind and merciful promise that we did not deserve to begin with.
Don’t let the debate about the extent of the waters drown out the main point…God’s sovereign grace.
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[1] Biblical Horizons Newsletter, No. 94: Toward a Chiastic Understanding of the Gospel According to Matthew, Part 1