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This PARALLEL SYMMETRY is a word for everyone not born Jewish, characterized here as the foreigners and eunuchs, who join themselves to the Lord. All are welcome at the house of prayer.
1) The IMPERATIVE words, to preserve justice and do righteousness, seem to be akin to becoming an image of God. That is, He is righteousness, so do righteousness.
2) The FIRST/FIRST A elements identify some attributes of the one that walks in righteous obedience: he keeps the sabbath, stays away from evil, pleases the Lord, and keeps His covenant. To that one, the FIRST/LAST elements in verses 5A and 5C state he will have an everlasting and memorialized name.
3) The LAST/LAST B elements discuss the foreigners and eunuchs who have joined the Lord and have not drifted away. The foreigners are those who do not come from the Jewish bloodline but have joined with the Lord. They minister to Him and love the name of the Lord.
4) The CLOSING SUMMARY states that those foreign-born are part of the house of the Lord. In verse 7, the Lord will bring them to Zion, the holy mountain. There, the LAST/LAST elements of verse 7 state they are all welcome in His house: For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. Show More Rhetoric Show Less Rhetoric
PARALLEL SYMMETRY:
... a word for those foreigners and eunuchs who join themselves to the Lord ...
a divine oracle
BEGINNING MARKER: Thus says the Lord, (v1A)
pursue justice and righteousness
IMPERATIVE
“Preserve justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be revealed. (v1B)
blessed: one who does not profane the sabbath or do evil
A
“How blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who takes hold of it; Who keeps from profaning the sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil.” (v2)
foreigners joined to the Lord shall not be separated
B
Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from His people.” Nor let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” (v3)
a divine oracle
SUB-UNIT MARKER: For thus says the Lord, (v4A)
those who obey the sabbath and Me
A′
“To the eunuchs who keep My sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, (v4B)
blessed with a memorial
a
To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, (v5A)
they will get a new name
x
And a name better than that of sons and daughters; (v5B)
blessed with an everlasting name
a′
I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off. (v5C)
foreigners joined to the Lord shall love Him and be obedient
B′
“Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the Lord, To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath And holds fast My covenant; (v6)
CLOSING SUMMARY:
SUM
PARALLEL SYMMETRY SUBSTRUCTURE: ... everyone is welcome to join Him on the mountain ... Show Hide
the acceptable ones
a
Even those I will bring to My holy mountain (v7A)
His house of prayer
b
And make them joyful in My house of prayer. (v7B)
all forms of sacrifice will be acceptable on His altar
a′
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; (v7C)
house of prayer for everyone
b′
For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” (v7D)