Structure in Isaiah 3-4

Isaiah’s oracle against the “daughters of Zion” begins in 3:16 and doesn’t conclude until the end of chapter 4. The oracle as a whole has a fairly neat chiastic structure:

A. Daughters of Zion and their walk, 3:16-17

B. In that day; beauty ( tiph’arah ): Yahweh removes, 3:18-23

C. Zion deserted, 3:24-4:1

B’. In that day; beauty ( tiph’arah ): Branch and fruit, 4:2-3

A’. Yahweh washes daughters of Zion, 4:4-6

It’s possible that the central section should be broken down further:

C. Replace beauty with branding, 3:24

D. Men and warriors fall and Zion is deserted, 3:25-26

C’. Seven women seek one man, 4:1