Topical Encyclopedia
Dance in the Bible is a multifaceted expression of joy, worship, celebration, and sometimes even idolatry. It appears in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, reflecting both the cultural practices of the ancient Near East and the spiritual life of the Israelites.
Old Testament ReferencesDance is often associated with joy and celebration in the Old Testament. One of the earliest mentions is found in
Exodus 15:20-21, where Miriam, the sister of Moses, leads the women of Israel in dance and song after the crossing of the Red Sea: "Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: 'Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.'"
In
Judges 11:34, Jephthah's daughter comes out to meet her father with tambourines and dancing, a customary expression of joy and victory. Similarly, in
1 Samuel 18:6, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes, celebrating David's victory over the Philistine.
Dance is also a part of religious worship. In
2 Samuel 6:14, King David famously "danced before the LORD with all his might" as the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem. This act of worship, however, was met with disdain by his wife Michal, who criticized him for his exuberance (
2 Samuel 6:16).
The Psalms also reflect the use of dance in worship.
Psalm 149:3 encourages, "Let them praise His name with dancing; let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and harp." Similarly,
Psalm 150:4 calls for praise with "tambourine and dancing."
New Testament ReferencesThe New Testament contains fewer references to dance, but it is mentioned in the context of celebration and joy. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus describes a scene of festivity upon the son's return: "So they began to celebrate. Meanwhile, the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing" (
Luke 15:24-25).
Cultural and Spiritual SignificanceDance in biblical times was a communal activity, often involving both men and women, and was typically accompanied by music and singing. It was a natural expression of joy and gratitude, especially in response to God's deliverance and blessings. However, dance could also be associated with pagan worship and idolatry, as seen in
Exodus 32:19, where the Israelites danced around the golden calf, leading to Moses' anger and the breaking of the tablets.
The Bible presents dance as a legitimate form of worship when directed towards God, reflecting a heart of joy and reverence. However, it also warns against the misuse of dance in contexts that lead away from God’s commandments and into idolatry or immorality.
Theological ReflectionsFrom a theological perspective, dance can be seen as an expression of the soul's joy in the Lord. It is a physical manifestation of worship, reflecting the biblical principle that worship involves the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. Dance, when used appropriately, can be a powerful form of praise and a testament to the joy found in a relationship with God.
Topical Bible Verses
Psalm 149:3Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises to him with the tambourine and harp.
Topicalbible.orgPsalm 150:4
Praise him with the tambourine and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
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2 Samuel 6:14
And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
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Psalm 30:11
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing: you have put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
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Jeremiah 31:4
Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel: you shall again be adorned with your tabrets, and shall go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
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Judges 11:34
And Jephthah came to Mizpeh to his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
Topicalbible.org
Matthew 14:6-8
But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
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Smith's Bible Dictionary
DanceThe dance is spoken of in Holy Scripture universally as symbolical of some rejoicing, and is often coupled for the sake of contrast with mourning, as in (Ecclesiastes 3:4) comp. Psal 30:11; Matt 11:17 In the earlier period it is found combined with some song or refrain, (Exodus 15:20;32:18,19;1 Samuel 21:11) and with the tambourine (Authorized Version "timbrel"), more especially in those impulsive outbursts of popular feeling which cannot find sufficient vent in voice or in gesture singly. Dancing formed a part of the religious ceremonies of the Egyptians, and was also common in private entertainments. For the most part dancing was carried on by the women, the two sexes seldom and not customarily intermingling. The one who happened to be near of kin to the champion of the hour led the dance. In the earlier period of the Judges the dances of the virgins of Shiloh. (Judges 21:19-23) were certainly part of a religious festivity. Dancing also had its place among merely festive amusements, apart from any religious character. (Jeremiah 31:4,13;Mark 6:22)
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Found in
Judges 21:21, 23;
Psalm 30:11;
149:3;
150:4;
Jeremiah 31:4, 13, etc., as the translation of hul, which points to the whirling motion of Oriental sacred dances. It is the rendering of a word (rakad') which means to skip or leap for joy, in
Ecclesiastes 3:4;
Job 21:11;
Isaiah 13:21, etc.
In the New Testament it is in like manner the translation of different Greek words, circular motion (Luke 15:25); leaping up and down in concert (Matthew 11:17), and by a single person (Matthew 14:6).
It is spoken of as symbolical of rejoicing (Ecclesiastes 3:4.Comp.Psalm 30:11;Matthew 11:17). The Hebrews had their sacred dances expressive of joy and thanksgiving, when the performers were usually females (Exodus 15:20;1 Samuel 18:6).
The ancient dance was very different from that common among Western nations. It was usually the part of the women only (Exodus 15:20;Judges 11:34; Comp.5:1). Hence the peculiarity of David's conduct in dancing before the ark of the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14). The women took part in it with their timbrels. Michal should, in accordance with the example of Miriam and others, have herself led the female choir, instead of keeping aloof on the occasion and "looking through the window." David led the choir "uncovered", i.e., wearing only the ephod or linen tunic. He thought only of the honour of God, and forgot himself.
From being reserved for occasions of religious worship and festivity, it came gradually to be practised in common life on occasions of rejoicing (Jeremiah 31:4). The sexes among the Jews always danced separately. The daughter of Herodias danced alone (Matthew 14:6).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To move with measured steps, or to a musical accompaniment; to go through, either alone or in company with others, with a regulated succession of movements, (commonly) to the sound of music; to trip or leap rhythmically.
2. (v. i.) To move nimbly or merrily; to express pleasure by motion; to caper; to frisk; to skip about.
3. (v. t.) To cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about, or up and down; to dandle.
4. (n.) The leaping, tripping, or measured stepping of one who dances; an amusement, in which the movements of the persons are regulated by art, in figures and in accord with music.
5. (n.) A tune by which dancing is regulated, as the minuet, the waltz, the cotillon, etc.
Greek
3738. orcheomai -- todance... orcheomai. 3739 . to
dance. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: orcheomai Phonetic
Spelling: (or-kheh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I
dance Definition: I
dance...5525. choros -- adance, chorus
... adance, chorus. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: choros Phonetic
Spelling: (khor-os') Short Definition: adance, dancing Definition: adance...
4402. Prochoros -- Prochorus, a Christian at Jer.
... NASB Word Usage Prochorus (1). Prochorus. From pro and choros; before thedance;
Prochorus, a Christian -- Prochorus. see GREEK pro. see GREEK choros....
5524. choregeo -- to lead a chorus (ie a group of performers), to...
... give, minister. From a compound of choros and ago; to be adance-leader, ie (generally)
to furnish -- give, minister. see GREEK choros. see GREEK ago....
Strong's Hebrew
4234. machol -- adance... machol. 4235 . a
dance. Transliteration: machol Phonetic Spelling: (maw-khole')
Short Definition: dancing.
... dancing. From chuwl; a (round)
dance --
dance(-cing)
...4246. mecholah -- adance
... mecholah or mecholah. 4247 . adance. Transliteration: mecholah or mecholah Phonetic
Spelling: (mek-o-law') Short Definition: dancing. Word Origin fem....
2342. chuwl -- to whirl,dance, writhe
... 2341, 2342. chuwl. 2342a . to whirl,dance, writhe. Transliteration: chuwl
Phonetic Spelling: (khool) Short Definition: bear. bear...
3769. karar -- todance
... karar. 3770 . todance. Transliteration: karar Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-rar') Short
Definition: dancing.... root Definition todance NASB Word Usage dancing (2)....
2342a. chul -- to whirl,dance, writhe
chul or chil. 2342, 2342a. chul or chil. 2342b . to whirl,dance, writhe.
Transliteration: chul or chil Short Definition: anguish. Word Origin a prim....
1750. duts -- to spring, leap,dance
... 1749, 1750. duts. 1751 . to spring, leap,dance. Transliteration: duts Phonetic
Spelling: (doots) Short Definition: leaps. Word Origin a prim....
7540. raqad -- to skip about
... root Definition to skip about NASB Word Usage bounding (1),dance (1), frolic (1),
leap (1), leaping (1), skip (2), skip about (1), skipped (1)....
2287. chagag -- to make a pilgrimage, keep a pilgrim feast
... 1), observe (1), reeled (1). celebrate,dance, keep, hold a solemn feast
holiday, reel to and fro. A primitive root (compare chagra...
6452. pacach -- to pass or spring over
... A primitive root; to hop, ie (figuratively) skip over (or spare); by implication,
to hesitate; also (literally) to limp, todance -- halt, become lame, leap...
Library
TheDance
... TheDance. Heinrich Suso Psalm 149:3. To praise Him in thedance! O glorious day!
The pilgrim journey done". No more press forward on the weary way,....
The Surprise Party.
... A very strange feeling came over Bessie when some one asked her todance. She
shook... rather not.". She was the only one that did notdance....
The Red Shoes
... "Fit so tightly when youdance!".... And Karen could not resist: she was obliged to
dance a few steps; and when she once began, her legs went on dancing....
Dancing.
... passions. For example, thedance of the Furies, so represented, would create
complete terror among those who witnessed them. The...
Stichera
... away,". Almighty, in our life give peace, we pray; Praise Him with cymbals in
thedance. III.... now;". Praise Him with cymbals in thedance. V....
While Vergilius, Going Slowly, was Thinking of These Things...
... "When the sunlight falls on the floor yonder, I will get up anddance in it."....
"Think"think of more," said she, "and I willdance the tourina."....
The Races --A Letter
... To the music of tom-tom and chac-chac, the coloured folk woulddance perpetually
till ten o'clock, after which time the rites of Mylitta are silenced by the...
The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day.
... divines, both old and new, have in their times most bitterly inveighed: insomuch,
that Augustine affirms, "that it was better to plough than todance on the...
Song of Songs
... carpets and pillows; and upon this throne, the "king and queen," ie the bride and
bridegroom, are seated, while the guests honour them with song, game anddance...
Fruits of Recognized Union
... The eager look of the daughters of Jerusalem surprised the bride, and she says,
You might be looking "upon thedance of Mahanaim""thedance of two companies...
Thesaurus
Dance (18 Occurrences)... 6). The ancient
dance was very different from that common among Western nations.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Dance (18 Occurrences). Matthew
...Sword-dance (1 Occurrence)
Sword-dance. Sword, Sword-dance. Swords . Multi-Version Concordance
Sword-dance (1 Occurrence). Song of Songs 6:13 Come...
Games (2 Occurrences)
... The New Testament has one reference to children's play, namely, the half-parable
about the children in the market-place who would neitherdance to the flute as...
Dancing (21 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofDance. 2. (pa & vb. n.) fromDance.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DANCING. dan'-sing. See GAMES....
Mahol (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible DictionaryDance, the father of four sons (1 Kings 4:31) who were
inferior in wisdom only to Solomon. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MAHOL....
Company (287 Occurrences)
... are a great host"). In the East it is the women who celebrate victories with song
anddance (see 1 Samuel 18:6, 7). (10) A chorus,dance (mecholah)....
Wailed (11 Occurrences)
... Wailed (11 Occurrences). Matthew 11:17 and say, We piped unto you, and ye did
notdance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn. (ASV DBY RSV)....
Timbrel (7 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV). Psalms 149:3 Let them praise his name in thedance:
let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp....
Reel (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A livelydance of the Highlanders of Scotland;
also, the music to thedance; -- often called Scotch reel....
Danced (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofDance. Multi-Version Concordance
Danced (7 Occurrences). Matthew 11:17 And saying, We have...
Resources
Dance in worship - what does the Bible say? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about dancing? Should Christians dance? | GotQuestions.orgDid David dance naked (2 Samuel 6:14)? | GotQuestions.orgDance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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