Stack structures in the Bible

Stacks are everywhere in computer science. When you call function A and it calls B, and then B calls C, each function execution creates a stack frame and pushes it onto the call stack.

When C is done, the stack frame for C is popped off the stack, then B is popped, then finally, A. You can visualize the execution like this:

• push A
  • push B
    • push C
      • push D
      • pop D
    • pop C
  • pop B
• pop A

This is sometimes called “unwinding the stack”.

There is a parallel to this structure in the Bible, it’s called a Chiasm (ky-AZ-m). It’s a way of building up grammatical structures and then reversing those structures like unwinding a stack.

What’s extraordinary is how common this is in the Bible.

Genesis 6:29-9:29

• Transitional introduction (6:9-10)
  • Violence in God’s creation (6:11-12)
    • First divine address: resolution to destroy (6:13-22)
      • Second divine address: command to enter the ark (7:1-10)
        • Beginning of the flood (7:11-16)
          • The rising flood waters (7:17-24)
            • GOD’S REMEMBRANCE OF NOAH
          • The receding flood waters (8:1-5)
        • The drying of the earth (8:6-14)
      • Third divine address: command to leave the ark (8:15-19)
    • God’s resolution to preserve order (8:20-22)
  • Fourth divine address: covenant blessing and peace (9:1-17)
• Transitional conclusion (9:18-19)

Isaiah Chapter 1

• A: Judah’s Rebellion/Forsaking Adonai (1:1-4)
  • B: Judah’s Sinful Condition (1:5-9)
    • C: Adonai Hates Judah’s Hypocritical Worship (1:10-15)
    • C’: Call to Repentance/True Worship (1:16-20)
  • B’: Promise of Restoration from Present Rebellious Condition (1:21-27)
• A’: Punishing the Rebellious (1:28-31)

Revelation:

The entire Book of Revelation is a Chiasm:

(credit to Dean Defuria )

Related links:

• Biblical Chiasm exchange
• Understanding the Chiasms of Joshua
• Bible Chiasms: Explanation and Examples