Chiasmus exhibits different patterns. Several examples will be cited below from Genesis. Of course, hundreds of other examples could be cited which may be found in the bibliography. All the following examples are by William Ramey.
Reference: Genesis 32:1--33:20
A Jacob continues his journey to Canaan (32:1a)
B Angels of God encounter Jacob and he names the place "two camps" (32:1b-2)
C Jacob's entourage to Esau (32:3-6)
D Jacob fearfully prepares to meet Esau (32:7-21)
E Jacob and his entourage prepares to meet Esau (32:7-21)
X Jacob wrestles with a "man" and his name is changed to "Israel" (32:24-32)
E' Jacob prepares entourage to meet Esau (33:1-2)
D' Jacob meets Esau and bows seven times (33:3)
C' Jacob and Esau greet each other (33:4-7)
B' Jacob explains his "two camps" to Esau and departs (33:8-16)
A' Jacob arrives in Canaan (33:17-20)
In an extended chiasmus, such as the one above, other chiastic structures may be encompassed.
Reference: Genesis 32:1-31
A The angels of God encounter Jacob -- place name changed to "Mahanaim" (1-2)
B Jacob sent messengers, listing possessions to Esau (3-8)
X Jacob's prayer to the LORD (9-12)
B' Jacob sent messengers and gifts to Esau (13-21)
A' A "man" opposes Jacob, blesses and changes his name to Israel, after which Jacob
renames the place as "Peniel" (22-31)
In turn, Jacob's invocation in verses 9-12 may also be structured as follows.
Reference: Genesis 32:9-12
Introduction: Jacob's invocation (9a)
A God's message to Jacob while in Haran (9b)
B God's promise of prosperity to Jacob (9c)
C Jacob's confession (10a)
D Jacob left Canaan only with a staff (10b)
X The Jordan River: a place of contrast (10c)
D' Jacob returns to Canaan with "two camps" (10d)
C' Jacob's petition (11)
B' God's promise of prosperity to Jacob (12a)
A' God's message to Jacob while in Canaan (12b)
AND
Reference: Genesis 32:22-31
A Jacob did not cross the Jabbok that night, but remained alone (22-24a)
B A "man" wrestles with Jacob (24b-25)
C The "man's" request to Jacob (26a)
D Jacob requests a blessing (26b)
E The "man" asks Jacob his name (27a)
X Jacob's name changed to "Israel" (27b-28)
E' Jacob asks the "man" his name (29a-b)
D' The "man" blesses Jacob (29c)
C' Jacob's response by naming the place "Peniel" (30a)
B' Jacob says that he has seen God "face to face" (30b)
A' The sun rose upon Jacob as he crossed over Penuel alone (31)
Editorial note: In commemoration of Jacob's confrontation with God, the descendants of Israel did not eat the sinew of the hip because it was touched in the struggle (32)
Reference: Genesis 37:2b-11
Introduction: Joseph's background within the family in Canaan (2b)
A Israel's outward manifestation of his love for Joseph (3)
B Brothers' hatred of Joseph (4a)
C Brothers' silence toward Joseph (4b)
D Brothers' reaction to Joseph's 1st dream (5)
E Joseph's 1st dream report (6-7)
X Brothers' embittered hatred of Joseph because of his dreams (8)
("dreams" is plural in Hebrew, and not singular!)
E' Joseph's 2nd dream report (9-10a)
D' Jacob's reaction to 2nd dream (10b)
C' Jacob's speech to Joseph (10c)
B' Brothers' envy of Joseph (11a)
A' Jacob's inward mediation of the things concerning Joseph (11b)
Reference: Genesis 37:12-36
A Israel's commission to Joseph (13a-b)
B The father sends Joseph, the faithful son (13c-14)
C Joseph seeks his brothers and finds them (15-17)
D The brothers' 1st plan to eradicate Joseph (18-22)
X The violation of Joseph (23-24)
D' The brothers' 2nd plan to eradicate Joseph (25-28)
C' Reuben seeks Joseph and does not find him (29-30)
B' The faithless sons send Joseph's tunic to their father (31-33)
A' Jacob's lament over Joseph (34-35)
Epilogue: Joseph is sold and brought to Egypt (36)
Reference: Genesis 38:1-30
Introduction: Judah leaves his father's homestead and fathers three sons (1-5)
A The childless widow (6-11)
B
a Tamar exchanges her widow's garb for that of a prostitute (14)
b Judah's proposition to Tamar (15-16b)
x Exchange of pledges (16c-18b)
b' Judah's consummation with Tamar (18c)
a' Tamar exchanges her prostitute's garb for that of a widow (19)
X
a The kid is sent for the pledge; Tamar is not found (20)
b The Adullamite's inquiry about the prostitute (21a)
x The town people's response (21b)
b' The Adullamite's report to Judah (22)
a' The pledge is forfeited; Tamar is not found (23)
B' a Judah is informed that Tamar has a child by harlotry (24a-b)
b Judah's edict that Tamar should be burned (24c)
x Judah recognizes the items of his pledge (25-26a)
b' Judah's edict that Tamar is more righteous than he (26b)
a' Judah does not have relations with Tamar again (26c)
A' The birth of twins to a widow (27-30)
Reference: Genesis 39:1-23
Recapitulation: Joseph is sold into Egypt by the Ishmaelites to Potiphar (1)
A Joseph's success in Potiphar's house (2-6a)
B Author's editorial remark: Joseph was handsome in appearance (6b)
C Potiphar's wife desire (7a)
D Potiphar's wife request: "Lie with me!" (7b)
X Joseph's refusal to commit sin (8-9)
D' Potiphar's wife request: "Lie with me!" (10-12)
C' Potiphar's wife spurned (13-18)
B' Author's editorial remark: Joseph was confined to the king's jail (19-20a)
A' Joseph's success in Potiphar's prison (21-23)
Reference: Genesis 40:1-23)
A Joseph's meeting of the cupbearer and baker (1-4)
B The cupbearer and baker have dreams in the same night (5-8)
C The chief cupbearer's dream narrated and explained (9-13)
X Joseph's request for intercession (14-15)
C' The chief baker's dream narrated and explained (16-19)
B' The cupbearer's and baker's dreams fulfilled in the same day (20-22)
A' The cupbearer forgets Joseph [chief baker is dead] (23)
Reference: Genesis 41:1-57
A Pharaoh's dreams (1-8)
B The chief cupbearer remembers Joseph (9-13)
C Joseph comes to Pharaoh (14)
D Pharaoh recounts his dreams to Joseph (15-24)
E Joseph's interpretation and advice (25-36)
X Joseph's divine endowment (37-38)
E' Pharaoh's recognition of Joseph's abilities (39)
D' Pharaoh makes Joseph lord over his land (40-45)
C' Joseph in Pharaoh's presence (46-49)
B' Joseph forgets his trouble because of God's blessing (50-52)
A' Pharaoh's dreams come to pass (53-57)
Reference: Genesis 42:1-38
A Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to buy grain (1-5)
B Joseph is the ruler over all the land (6)
C Joseph recognizes and remembers (7-9a)
D Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies (9b-13)
E Joseph's 1st test (14-16)
X Joseph puts his brothers in prison (17)
E' Joseph's 2nd and new test (18-20)
D' Brothers confess their guilt (21-22)
C' Joseph understands and weeps (23-24)
B' The brothers' dealings with the "lord of the land" (25-34)
A' The opening of the grain sacks in Canaan before Jacob (35-38)
Reference: Genesis 43:1-34c
A The famine was severe in the land (1-2)
B Israel's release of Benjamin (3-15)
C Joseph sees Benjamin; a meal is prepared (16-17)
D The brothers' fear of retaliation (18)
E The brothers' speech to the steward near the house (19-22)
X The Steward's magnificent response (23)
E' The brothers are brought into the house and their needs provided (24-25)
D' The brothers' prostration and greeting (26-28)
C' Joseph sees Benjamin; Joseph weeps and meal served (29-31)
B' Joseph's preferential treatment of Benjamin (32-34b)
A' The brothers feasted and drank freely (34c)
Reference: Genesis 44:1-34
A Joseph's instructions to his steward concerning the ruse (1-2)
B Brothers' departure from the city (3-4a)
C Joseph's instructions to his steward (4b-6)
X Brothers' protestations of innocence (7-10)
C' Steward's search and discovery of the silver goblet (11-12)
B' Brothers' reaction and return to the city (13)
A' Joseph's accusation: His ruse succeeds (14-15)
Interim: Judah acknowledges the brothers' guilt (16)
A Joseph's judgment: Benjamin shall remain (17)
B Judah's request for Joseph's judgment reversal (18)
C Judah's rehearsal of the 1st journey (19-23)
X Brothers' justification before their father (24-29)
C' The consequence if Benjamin does not return (30-31)
B' Judah's basis for Joseph's reversal (32)
A' Judah's plea: He shall substitute himself for Benjamin (33-34)
Reference: Genesis 45:1-28
A Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers (1-4)
B Joseph's address to his brothers and God's provision (5-8)
C Joseph's invitation (9-13)
X Joseph embraces his brothers (14-15)
C' Pharaoh's invitation (16-21a)
B' Joseph's provisions and address to his brothers (21b-24)
A' Brothers reveal to their father that Joseph is alive (25-28)
Reference: Genesis 46:1-30
A God spoke to Israel in night visions at Beer-sheba (1-7)
X Israel's genealogical record (8-27)
A' Joseph appears to Israel in Egypt (28-30)
The overall chiastic structure of Genesis 46:1-30 appears to be simplistic. It also forms the literary "X" of the entire Joseph Narrative. God is faithful to His promise to Abraham as recorded in Genesis 15! Genesis 46:1-7 is also a chiastic structure. For example:
Reference: Genesis 46:1-7
A Israel arrives with his possessions [and household] at Beer-sheba (1)
B God's call to Israel and his response (2)
C Israel is not to be afraid to go down to Egypt (3a-b)
X God will make Israel a great nation in Egypt (3c)
C' God will bring Israel back out of Egypt (4a-b)
B' Joseph will close his father's eyes (4c)
A' Jacob departs with his household from Beer-sheba (5-7)
Reference: Genesis 46:31--47:27
A Joseph prepares his family to receive Pharaoh's favor (46:31-34)
B Joseph chooses five brothers to present before Pharaoh (47:1-2)
C Brothers' reason for being in Egypt: the famine is severe (3-4)
D Pharaoh's decree that Joseph's family may settle in Egypt (5-6)
X Jacob blesses Pharaoh (7-10)
D' Joseph settles his family in Egypt (11-12)
C' Joseph's reason for collecting money: the famine is severe (13-19)
B' Joseph collects one-fifth from all the people [except priests] (20-26)
A' Israel (as a people) prosper and greatly multiply in Egypt (27)
Reference: Genesis 47:28--48:22
A Joseph promises to carry Israel back to Canaan (47:28-31)
B Joseph brings Manasseh and Ephraim for Israel's blessing (48:1-12)
C Israel crosses his hands to bless the children (13-14)
X Israel blesses Joseph (15-16)
C' Joseph protests Israel's crossing of his hands (17-18)
B' Israel blesses Ephraim and Manasseh (19-20)
A' Israel's promise that God will bring the people back to Canaan (21-22)
Reference: Genesis 49:1-33
A Jacob's sons gather to hear his words (1)
B Prologue to the prophetic oracle (2)
C Leah's sons are blessed (3-15)
D Bilhah's first son is blessed (16-18)
X Zilpah's sons are blessed (19-20)
D' Bilhah's second son is blessed (21)
C' Rachel's sons are blessed (22-27)
B' Epilogue to the prophetic oracle (28)
A' Jacob is gathered to his people (29-33)
Reference: Genesis 50:1-26
A Burial arrangements for Israel (1-3)
a Joseph weeps (1)
x Joseph's command (2-3a)
a' Egyptians weep (3b)
B Joseph's petition to Pharaoh (4-6)
a Joseph petitions Pharaoh's court (4a)
x Joseph's petition (4b-5)
a' Pharaoh grants Joseph's petition (6)
C Preparation to bury Israel (7-9)
a Joseph's entourage assent to Canaan (7-8a)
x The people who stayed behind in Egypt (8b)
a' Additional details about entourage to Canaan (9)
X Mourning for Israel (10-11)
a Place and duration of mourning (10)
x The Canaanites observe the lamentation (11a-b)
a' Place renamed (11c)
C' Burial of Israel (12-14)
a Decent to Canaan (12-13a)
x Israel is buried in Canaan (13b-c)
a' Ascent to Egypt (14)
B' Joseph brothers' petition (15-21)
a Brothers' fear (15)
x Brothers' petition and dream fulfilled (16-18)
a' Joseph reassures his brothers (19-21)
A' Burial arrangements and death of Joseph (22-26)
a Joseph's age (22)
x Promises remembered and made (23-25)
a' Joseph's age (26)