Jesus Rearranged Isaiah 52
Into a Chiasm in 3 Nephi 20

After speaking of Jerusalem's redemption, Christ then began in verse 29 to teach in the pattern of a chiasm. This ten-tiered chiasm is enumerated in APPENDIX K. The elements of the chiasm come largely from the verses he quoted from Isaiah. The rearrangement of the ordering of the verses of Isaiah 52, along with the interjection of his own words, is what establishes the chiastic design.

The primary focal point of the chiasm centers on the theme of temporal as well as spiritual redemption/sanctification: "...For henceforth there shall not more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean." (3 Ne. 20:36 = Isa. 52:1.) Indeed, as Nephi stated, "The kingdom of God is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God...." (1 Ne. 15:34.)

The secondary focal point (i and i') emphasizes the duality of the redemption of Zion and of Jerusalem, mentioning both twice. The i/i' correlation also identifies important remedies for their fallen state: "Awake..., put on thy strength..., loose thyself from the bands of thy neck...." (3 Ne. 20:36,37.)

The chiastic structure is not the only literary device Christ used to confirm the correlation between the redemption of Zion and of Jerusalem. He also used omission. Christ did not quote the entire verse of Isaiah 52:8; he omitted the portion that says, "...when the Lord shall bring again Zion." In lieu of this, he said, "Then will the Father gather them together again, and give unto them Jerusalem for the land of their inheritance." (3 Ne. 20:33.) Was Christ rectifying a mistake that may have crept into the Isaiah text through time? Just the day before, when Christ cited this verse, he quoted it verbatim the way in which it occurs in the Bible. (3 Ne. 16:19 = Isa. 52:9.) By deliberately exchanging "Jerusalem" with "Zion" when he quoted this verse in 3 Nephi 20, Christ further brings to light the interchangeability of the two so far as their pattern of redemption is concerned.

This rearrangement of Isaiah 52 by Christ in 3 Nephi 20 vividly illustrates the complementary relationship for which the Book of Mormon and Bible were designed. The Lord did not bring forth the Book of Mormon to tear down the Bible but "to build it up." (D&C 10:52.) The Book of Mormon "[proves] to the world that the holy scriptures are true...." (20:10; 1 Ne. 13:39,40; 2 Ne. 3:11.) (Incidentally, the literary technique of chaismus wasn't discovered until more recently in the Bible; and subsequently it has been found to be replete in the Book of Mormon as well.)

True to the nature of chiasmus, the counter-part comparisons of the chiasm in 3 Nephi 20 are of the yin/yang sort (meaning complementary, synergistic, husband-wife type of relationship). (Consult APPENDIX K.) In b and b', "sprinkling the nations" complements "preaching the gospel." (Quotes in this current paragraph are paraphrases.) In d and d', a "watchman" supplements a "rearward" (a rear guard). In e and e', "gathering" is accompanied by "departing from the world." In f and f', "comforting God's people" is accomplished through "bringing good tidings." In i and i', "awakening" is tantamount to "loosing the bands of captivity." In g and g', the "Lord's making bare his arm" converts people so that they "know that it is He that doth speak." In h and h', "all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God" because God's people will finally "know His name." Who upon the earth will not hear the report of Israel's redemption, when the Lord purifies them with "fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God"! (Zech. 13:9; Isa. 1:25-27.)

"Would God that ALL the Lord's People Were PROPHETS"

Free Energy News • Patriot Saints • Inter-Continental Congress