Literary structure
Literary Structure of Every Book
The authors of the Bible built their books with care: mirrored halves, matching panels, a turning point at the center. Pick a book to see how it is put together.
Featured · EstherEsther 1:1–10:3
- AOpening and background1
- BThe king's first decree2–3
- CThe clash between Haman and Mordecai4–5
- X"On the night the king could not sleep"6:1
- C′Mordecai's triumph over Haman6–7
- B′The king's second decree8–9
- A′Epilogue10
Torah
5 booksProphets
17 booksJoshua1–24
3 more readings · 3 inner structuresJudges1–21
1 more reading · 12 inner structuresSamuel1 Samuel – 2 Samuel
6 inner structuresKings1 Kings – 2 Kings
5 inner structuresEzekiel1–48
7 inner structuresHosea1–14
One structureJoel1–3
One structureAmos1–9
1 more readingObadiah1
One structureJonah1–4
One structureMicah1–7
One structureNahum1–3
One structureHabakkuk1–3
One structureZephaniah1–3
One structureHaggai1–2
One structureZechariah1–14
1 more reading · 2 inner structuresMalachi1–4
One structureWritings
10 booksPsalms1–150
5 inner structuresProverbs1–31
One structureJob1–42
1 more reading · 1 inner structureSong of Songs1–8
1 more reading · 6 inner structuresRuth1–4
1 more reading · 4 inner structuresEcclesiastes1–12
One structureEsther1–10
1 more readingDaniel1–12
3 more readings · 2 inner structuresEzra–NehemiahEzra 1 – Nehemiah 13
3 more readings · 6 inner structuresChronicles1 Chronicles – 2 Chronicles
2 more readings · 23 inner structures