Structure of Isaiah 49-54

The “sixth day” section of Isaiah is arranged as a five-point chiasm, organized around the exhortation to Zion to awake from her drunken stupor, her death in the dust, to greet her returning husband, Yahweh:

a. Zion’s complaint, 49:1-26 (v. 14)

b. Obedient Servant, 50:1-51:11

c. Zion awakes, 51:12-52:11

b’. Suffering Servant, 52:12-53:12

a’. Zion’s vindication, 54:1-17

And each of these sections is itself a chiasm.

Chapter 49 lays out in seven sections, focusing on Zion’s complaint against Yahweh:

a. Servant to gather Israel, 49:1-5

b. Light to nations, kings honor, 49:6-7

c. New exodus, 49:8-13

d. Zion’s complaint, 49:14

c’. People gathered and city rebuilt, 49:15-21

b’. Banner for peoples, kings as nurses, 49:22-23

a’. Rescue of captives, predators prey on themselves, 49:24-26

The next section, 50:1-51:11, begins and ends with imagery drawn from the exodus, describes the Servant’s and Israel’s suffering and vindication, and centers on a reminder that the Lord is able to raise up children to Abraham from stones, since that’s how He raised up children to Abraham in the first place:

a. Lord dries sea, 50:1-3 (ransom)

b. Lord awakens ear and gives tongue, 50:4-5

c. Vindication against enemies, 50:6-9 (moth, garment)

d. Light and darkness, 50:10-11

e. Look to rock Abraham, 51:1-3

d’. Light to nations, 51:4-5 (righteousness/salvation)

c’. Vindication against enemies, 51: 6-8 (moth, garment)

b’. Call on Lord to awake, 51:9a (righteousness/salvation)

a’. Lord dries sea, brings captives back, 51:9b-11 (ransomed)

The center of this part of Isaiah focuses on Zion’s awakening, and at the center of the center is Yahweh’s promise to take the cup of wrath from the hand of Zion and to give it to her enemies. This is the comfort that Yahweh brings to Zion:

a. Lord comforts Zion, 51:12-13

b. Exiles return, 51:14-16

c. Jerusalem awake (cup), 51:17-20

d. Cup given to enemies, 51:21-23

c’. Jerusalem awake (clothing), 52:1-3

b’. Exiles return, 52:4-6

a. Lord comforts Zion by returning, 52:7-10

b’’. exiles depart, 52:11-12

The next section focuses again on the sufferings of the Servant of Yahweh, and the change of heart that His exaltation brings about in those who have tortured Him:

a. Exaltation of the Servant, 52:13-15

b. Question from Yahweh: Who has believed our report? 53:1

c. Physical appearance of the Servant, 53:2-3 (four bicolons)

d. Evaluation of the Servant by “we,” 53:4-5

e. Confession: All we like sheep have gone astray, 53:6a

d’. Servant bears iniquity like sheep, 53:6b-7 (three and a half bicolons, the final half-line is a “silent” blank)

c’. Cut off from living, 53:8-9

a’. Exaltation of the Servant, 53:10-12a (Hagglund splits verse 10 off from the rest)

b’. Yahweh’s summary: He interceded for the transgressors, 53:12b

And the final section describes the joy of Zion in being restored to her husband and being surrounded by a multitude of children. Yahweh’s anger was momentary, His compassion eternal. The story of Abraham has been retold: Yahweh multiplied one (the Servant) and made it many (the servants of Yahweh, Zion’s children).

a. The barren shouts over numerous children, 54:1-3

b. shame, disgrace, reproach removed, 54:4

c. Husband- Go’el restored, 54:5-6

d. Brief rejection, eternal compassion, 54:7-8

c’. Noahic covenant, 54:9-10

a’. Rebuilt with precious stones, sons taught, 54:11-13

b’. No fear from oppressors, 54:14-17