Structure and Flow in Isaiah 59

Isaiah 59 is arranged in a loose chiasm:

A. Israel’s sins have separated her from Yahweh, vv 1-2

B. Israel is full of blood, falsehood, injustice, vv 3-8

C. Therefore, justice, righteousness and salvation never arrive, vv 9-11

B’. Israel’s confession of lies and injustice, vv 12-15

A’. Yahweh arms Himself to redeem Zion, vv 15-21

The flow of the passage is from a second- and third-person condemnation of Israel to a confession. At the center is a chiastically ordered lament about the non-advent of justice (vv. 9-11):

A. Justice and righteousness are far, v 9a

B. Therefore, Israel is dark at midday, vv 9b-10a

C. We are dead, v 10b

B’. We growl like bears and moan like doves, v 11a

A’. Justice and salvation are far, v 11b

But Israel’s despairing lament has its effect. As in Egypt, as repeatedly during the period of the judges, Yahweh hears and attends to the cries of His people. The final section is astounding: Though what the Lord sees is “evil in His sight,” yet He puts on His armor in order to repay His enemies, redeem Israel, and to put His Word and Spirit permanently among His people, to many generations (v. 21).