Chiasm

Alan C. Miner

A good example of chiastic inverse parallelism is found in Moroni 8:11:

Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift.

A. For behold, a bitter fountain

B. cannot bring forth good water;

B. neither can a good fountain

A. bring forth bitter water;

A. wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil

B. cannot follow Christ;

B. and if he follow Christ

A. he cannot be a servant of the devil.

[Donald W. Parry, The Book of Mormon Text Reformatted according to Parallelistic Patterns, p. 482]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

References