(VIII) Styles & Techniques of Biblical Stories

Ancient writers do not use paragraph, heading and sub-heading. They just write from the beginning to the end. Nowadays, we can use italics, bolded and coloured print for emphasis which were not used long ago.

So, to aid in bringing out the message and also make hearing easier to follow, certain techniques like repetitions and structures are used.

1. Repetitions
· Keywords: words relating to the theme that are repeated. Example: “It is good.”

· Motif: words or items not significant by themselves or related to the theme.
When they are repeated brings out certain significance. Example: The word “tall” and “handsome” appear in numerous places in 1Samuel

· Theme: idea, principle or theological statement being emphasized. Example: In the book of Judges, “The land had rest” keep appearing after each cycle of judges. There is a significant idea of the Sabbath rest after God’s creation.

· Sequence of Actions – a repeat of a sequence of 3 or more actions. This is very clear seen in the book of Judges with repeated cycles of: (1) did evil; (2) Suppression; (3) Cry to God, (4) Raise Deliverance, (5) Land rested.

· Type scene – e.g. woman at the well; removing shoes at holy ground; first born is looser

For example: In Exodus chapter 1, the words & phrase “multiplied, numerous” keep appearing (verses 7; 9; 12; 20).

2. Determine relationship
In reading Bible Stories, one should also see the relationship between characters and sequence of action. Often times, it has the following effects:
(1) Similarity / repetition
(2) Contrasting
(3) Progress – regress
(4) Cause – effect


3. Structure
- inclusion,
- chiasm,
- parallelism,
- linear progression/regression
- spiral (seldom used)


4. How to identify the structure of a passage?

My approach:

1. Read through the passages a few times. For the first time, try to understand what the story is about and what the narrator is speaking to his readers. (Narrator’s point of view)

2. Read through the second time to study each character in the story and their dialogue.

3. Read through the third time to see repetitions, similarity and contrast. At this point, once you have seen a few repetitions, the structure usually can be detected at this stage.

4. Read through a few more times, to ensure that the structure is really there and not your own imagination.


5. Example of a Chiastic Structure (Genesis Chapter 6-9)

Transitional Introduction (6:9-10)

A Violence in Creation (6:11-12)
B ......First divine speech: resolve to destroy (6:13-22)
C ...........Second divine speech: “enter ark” (7:1-10)
D ...............Beginning of flood (7:11-16)
E ....................The rising flood (7:17-24)
X ........................God remembers Noah
E’ ..................The receding flood (8:1-5)
D’ ..............Drying of the flood (8:6-14)
C’ ..........Third divine speech: “Leave ark” (8:15-19)
B’ .....God’s resolve to preserve order (8:20-22)
A’ Fourth divine speech: Covenant (9:1-17)

Transitional Conclusion (9:18-19)

By B.W. Anderson (Word Biblical Commentary, Genesis 1-15 page 156)


Here end my sharing on the approach to study Bible Stories. I have written a 34 pages on this topic on Understanding Bible Narratives. If you want a copy, please email me. Include in this write-out are some examples on structures, charts and also applications aid to Bible Narratives.

Charis Kai Irene (Grace and Peace) to you all

Mark Lim