Topical Encyclopedia
Dancing in the Bible is a multifaceted activity that appears in various contexts, ranging from expressions of joy and worship to instances of idolatry and moral caution. The practice of dancing is mentioned throughout the Scriptures, reflecting both cultural customs and spiritual expressions of the ancient Near Eastern peoples.
Expressions of Joy and WorshipDancing is often depicted as an expression of joy and celebration in the Bible. One of the most notable instances is found in the account of the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt. After crossing the Red Sea, Miriam, the sister of Moses, led the women in dance to celebrate God's miraculous intervention.
Exodus 15:20-21 states, "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.'"
Similarly, King David is famously known for dancing before the Lord with all his might as the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 6:14 records, "And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD." This act of worship, though misunderstood by his wife Michal, was a genuine expression of David's devotion and joy in the presence of God.
Cultural and Social ContextsIn addition to religious celebrations, dancing also appears in social and cultural contexts. For example, in the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus describes a scene of festivity upon the son's return, which includes music and dancing (
Luke 15:25). This indicates that dancing was a common feature of celebrations and gatherings in biblical times.
Warnings and CautionsWhile dancing is often associated with joy and worship, the Bible also provides cautionary tales where dancing is linked to idolatry and moral compromise. In
Exodus 32, the Israelites engage in revelry, including dancing, around the golden calf, an act of idolatry that incurs God's wrath.
Exodus 32:19 notes, "As soon as Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain."
Another cautionary example is found in the New Testament, where the dance of Herodias's daughter leads to the beheading of John the Baptist.
Mark 6:22-25 describes how Herodias's daughter pleased Herod with her dance, resulting in a rash promise that ultimately led to John's execution.
Symbolism and Prophetic ImageryDancing is also used symbolically in prophetic literature to depict restoration and divine favor.
Jeremiah 31:13 prophesies, "Then the maidens will rejoice in the dance, and young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow." This imagery conveys the transformation from sorrow to joy that God promises to His people.
ConclusionIn summary, dancing in the Bible serves as a powerful expression of human emotion, ranging from joyous worship to cautionary tales of moral failure. It reflects the cultural practices of the time while also providing spiritual lessons and prophetic imagery. As with many biblical themes, the context in which dancing occurs is crucial to understanding its significance and implications.
ATS Bible Dictionary
DancingThe Hebrew word signified "to leap for joy," Psalm 30:11; and the action of the lame man healed by Peter and John, Acts 3:8, more nearly resembled the Hebrew dancing than the measured artificial steps of modern times do. The Jewish dances were expressive of religious joy and gratitude. Sometimes they were in honor of a conqueror, as in the case of David, 1 Samuel 18:6,7; when he had slain the Philistine giant, "the women came out all the cities of Israel singing and dancing." It was practiced on occasions of domestic joy. See the case of the prodigal son's return. In the religious dance, the timbrel was used to direct the ceremony, and some one led, whom the rest followed with measured step and devotional songs; thus Miriam led the women of Israel, Exodus 15:20,21, and king David the men, 2 Samuel 6:14 Psalm 150:4.
Several important conclusions have been drawn from a careful comparison of the portions of Scripture in which there is allusions to dancing. It was religious in its character; practiced exclusively on joyous occasions; only by one of the sexes; usually in the daytime, and in the open air: no instances are on record in which the two sexes united in the exercise; and it was not practiced for amusement. The exceptions to this latter assertion are "vain fellows," alluded to by Michal, 2 Samuel 6:20, the ungodly rich families referred to by Job, Job 21:11, and the daughter of Herodias, Matthew 14:6.
Among the Greeks and Romans dancing was a common pastime, resorted to in order to enliven feasts, and also on occasions of domestic joy. Still Cicero says, "No one dances, unless he is either drunk or mad;" and these words express the prevailing sense as to the impropriety of respectable individuals taking part in the amusement. Hence the gay circles of Rome, as is the case in the East at the present time, derived their entertainment from the performances of professional dancers. These were women of abandoned character; and their dances, like those in heathen temples, were often grossly indecent, Isaiah 23:16.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Dance.
2. (p. a. & vb. n.) from Dance.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DANCINGdan'-sing. See GAMES.
Greek
5525. choros -- a dance, chorus ... a dance, chorus. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: choros Phonetic
Spelling: (khor-os') Short Definition: a dance,
dancing Definition: a dance
... 3815. paizo -- to play as a child
... Verb Transliteration: paizo Phonetic Spelling: (paheed'-zo) Short Definition: I
play, sport Definition: I play, sport (includes singing and dancing), play in ...
Strong's Hebrew
4246. mecholah -- a dance... a dance. Transliteration: mecholah or mecholah Phonetic Spelling: (mek-o-law')
Short Definition:
dancing. Word Origin fem.
... company,
dancing.
... 3769. karar -- to dance
... karar. 3770 . to dance. Transliteration: karar Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-rar') Short
Definition: dancing. ... root Definition to dance NASB Word Usage dancing (2). ...
4234. machol -- a dance
... machol. 4235 . a dance. Transliteration: machol Phonetic Spelling: (maw-khole')
Short Definition: dancing. ... dancing. From chuwl; a (round) dance -- dance(-cing) ...
2287. chagag -- to make a pilgrimage, keep a pilgrim feast
... root Definition to make a pilgrimage, keep a pilgrim feast NASB Word Usage celebrate
(9), celebrate a feast (3), dancing (1), keeping festival (1), observe (1 ...
65. Abel Mecholah -- Elisha's birthplace in Palestine
... Abel-meholah. From 'abel and mchowlah; meadow of dancing; Abel-Mecholah, a place
in Palestine -- Abel-meholah. see HEBREW 'abel. see HEBREW mchowlah. 64, 65. ...
4235. Machol -- father of Heman
... Mahol. The same as machowl; dancing; Machol, an Israelite -- Mahol. see HEBREW
machowl. 4234, 4235. Machol. 4236 . Strong's Numbers.
3753. kirkarah -- dromedary
... swift beast. From karar; a dromedary (from its rapid motion as if dancing) -- swift
beast. see HEBREW karar. 3752, 3753. kirkarah. 3754 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
The Dancing of Herodias. The Keeping of Oaths.
... Book X. 22. The Dancing of Herodias. The Keeping of Oaths. Wherefore John,
endued with prophetic boldness and not terrified at the ...
Dancing.
... IV. DANCING. DANCING is the expression of inward feelings by means of
rhythmical movements of the body. Usually these movements ...
The Surprise Party.
... evening very much. But late in the evening some one proposed dancing, and
the boys began to choose their partners. A very strange ...
St. Ambrose Teaches Out of the Prophet Isaiah what they must do ...
... who have fallen. Then referring to our Lord's proverbial expression respecting
piping and dancing, he condemns dances. Next by the ...
Having Mentioned the Baptist, St. ...
... Ambrose enters into a description of the events concerning his death, and speaks
against dancing and the festivities of the wicked. 26. ...
The Red Shoes
... And Karen also stretched out her little foot. "Look, what pretty dancing shoes!"
said the old soldier. ... "Look, what beautiful dancing shoes!". ...
The Social Challenge to the Church
... that perform much the same function as the Grange, and the more or less permanent
groupings for purely recreational purposes, such as dancing parties, card ...
St. Ambrose, Speaking of Tears, Explains David's Saying, "Every ...
... by unrestrained feasts, or nuptial concerts, for in such modesty is not safe, and
temptation may be suspected where excessive dancing accompanies festivities. ...
Theater-Going.
... WITH drunkenness, gambling, and dancing, theater-going dates from the beginning
of history, and with these it is not only questionable in morals, but it is ...
The Swift Decay of Love
... And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf,
and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of ...
Thesaurus
Dancing (21 Occurrences)... 2. (pa & vb. n.) from Dance. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
DANCING. dan'-sing.
See GAMES. Multi-Version Concordance
Dancing (21 Occurrences).
...Games (2 Occurrences)
... GAMES. gamz: I. ISRAELITISH GAMES 1. Children's Games Mimicry 2. Sports 3. Games
of Chance and Skill 4. Story-Telling 5. Dancing 6. Proverbs 7. Riddles II. ...
Abel-meholah (3 Occurrences)
... Meadow of dancing, or the dancing-meadow, the birth-place and residence of the prophet
Elisha, not far from Beth-shean (1 Kings 4:12), in the tribe of Issachar ...
Abelmeholah (3 Occurrences)
... Meadow of dancing, or the dancing-meadow, the birth-place and residence of the prophet
Elisha, not far from Beth-shean (1 Kings 4:12), in the tribe of Issachar ...
Michal (18 Occurrences)
... in which she figures indicates that her love had cooled and had even turned to disdain,
for after David's enthusiastic joy and ecstatic dancing before the ...
Leaping (8 Occurrences)
... the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul
looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Yahweh ...
Frolic (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Full of levity; dancing, playing, or
frisking about; full of pranks; frolicsome; gay; merry. 2 ...
Dance (18 Occurrences)
... 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. ...
Despiseth (23 Occurrences)
... Jehovah hath come in to the city of David, and Michal daughter of Saul, hath looked
through the window, and seeth king David moving and dancing before Jehovah ...
Ten (234 Occurrences)
... The 2nd commandment was too high even for Israel to grasp at that early day; a few
weeks later the people were dancing about the golden calf at the foot of ...
Resources
What does the Bible say about dancing? Should Christians dance? | GotQuestions.orgDance in worship - what does the Bible say? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to make a joyful noise unto the Lord? | GotQuestions.orgDancing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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