isaiah 65 and 66

Read Isaiah 65 and 66 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

Isa 65:1-7 {s} I have stretched out My hands to a rebellious people/ their iniquities repaid into their bosom
Isa 65:8-12 {p} His people who seek Him, brought forth from Jacob/ those who forsake Him numbered for the sword
Isa 65:13-25 {s} The blessing on His people in the new heavens and the new earth
Isa 66:1-4 {s} He will look on the contrite who respect His word, not on the evildoer who regardless brings offerings
Isa 66:5-9 {s} The brethren who rejected His people shall be ashamed/ Zion shall birth her children
Isa 66:10-11 {s} Rejoice and be glad with Jerusalem, for you will feed and be satisfied with her abundance
Isa 66:12-14 {s} The LORD will extend peace to Jerusalem like a river/ you shall be comforted + rejoice in her
Isa 66:15-24 {p} The LORD will judge all flesh + transgressors of His Law consumed/all flesh shall worship Him

Isa 65-66 does form a single chiastic structure, and although I was not able to complete it, these are its matching elements uncovered so far:

1a) Isa 65:2-5, A rebellious people who sacrifice in gardens + eat swine’s flesh + abominable things, yet consider themselves holy;

1b) Isa 65:6, 11-12, 18-23, YHVH’s recompense/ When I called, no one answered/ Jerusalem’s joy + children;

1) Isa 65:6 {s} I will repay into their bosom their iniquities, who have blasphemed Me;

2) Isa 65:11-12a, You have forsaken Me + gone after your idols, so I will destine you for the sword + slaughter;
Isa 65:12b {p} When I called +  spoke, you did not answer + hear; but did evil + chose that in which I do not delight;

3) Isa 65:18-22, Rejoice in Jerusalem, joy in His people/ the blessing on His elect;
Isa 65:23, They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble, but are the descendants of the blessed of the LORD;

1c) Isa 65:24, It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear;

central axis) Isa 65:25 {s} The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. they shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” says the Lord;

2c) Isa 66:1-3a, I will look on the contrite + poor in spirit who respects My word, rather than on temples or offerings;

2b) Isa 66:3b-4, 66:7-11, 66:6, 14b; When I called no one answered/ Zion’s children + joy/ YHVH’s recompense;

2) Isa 66:3b-4a As they have chosen their own ways + abominations, I will choose their delusions + bring their fears on them;
Isa 66:4b {s} When I called + spoke, no one answered + heard; but did evil + chose that in which I do not delight;

3) Isa 66:7-9 {s} She delivered a male child/ Zion gave birth to her children;
Isa 66:10-11 {s} Rejoice and be glad with Jerusalem, for you will feed and be satisfied with her abundance;

1) Isa 66:6, Noise from the city + a voice from the Temple: the voice of the LORD who fully repays His enemies;
Isa 66:14b {s} The LORD’s indignation shall be known to His enemies; (bookends of a smaller structure)

2a) Isa 66:17, They purify themselves to go to the gardens of an idol + eating swine’s flesh + abomination/ they shall be consumed.