In my religious experiences, one thing could be
said; many opinions abound on the subject of
dancing. The diversity of opinions are
interesting, and depending on the upbringing and
exposure of the individual they will express
disdain, enjoyment or neutrality.
Conservative Christian thinking in times past may
have been that dancing leads to sin. Other
conservative sects such as the infamous Shaker
movement may have been the opposite.
Dancing
and denominations sometimes brings to mind thoughts
of those in the Pentecostal movement or Charismatic
movement.
But what does the Bible really
teach on the subject? In my many years of the
Sabbath keeping faith I’ve heard very little spoken
about a subject that has such prominence in the
Scriptures.
Many subjects that have a
negative stigma or connotation are relegated to a
“backseat” place in teaching, let alone in worship.
I intend to inform the reader of this study and
the importance, especially in these latter days, of
implementing the direction of Yahweh’s Word in
worship.
It’s important to remember that in
some pagan cultures dancing is considered a
religious ritual and many counterfeit worship styles
can be found all over the earth. Please do not be
distracted by this as you read this study.
ETYMOLOGY In our Strong’s Concordance we find
four words related to our subject. Dance, danced,
dances, and dancing will make up the bulk of our
study. Several Hebrew words are used to describe
dance or dancing. Instead of listing all the
Strong’s numbers for each word we will go over most
of them in Scripture hopefully giving us a
contextual aspect that a numbered list may not
achieve.
Exodus 15:20 has the first
occurrence of a form of dance in the Bible:
“And
Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a
timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out
after her with timbrels and with dances.”
WOY
The term “dances” is the Hebrew word
mechôlâh from H4246 meaning a dance: - company,
dances (-cing).
This is a reference to the
Exodus of the Israelites and after crossing “yam
suph” they were rejoicing for Yahweh had delivered
them from the Egyptians. Yahweh had drowned
Pharaoh’s army in the sea, and they were giving
thanks unto Him with timbrel and dance (earlier in
the chapter we read they sang unto Yahweh).
A QUICK TURN FOR THE WORSE After such a
blessed occasion found in the above paragraph there
is a sad turn for some of the Israelites in the next
example of dance. Our study picks up in Exo. 32 as
Moses was away from his people up on the mount.
Verse 19 reads:
“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 grew hot, and he
cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them
beneath the mount.” WOY
Even though this is
the same Hebrew word H4246 we see that the
Israelites have perverted beautiful, worshipful act
such as dancing. They worshipped their molten calf
with song and dance as they did the Creator, a
pivotal mistake that will incur a notable punishment
from Yahweh.
DAUGHTERS OF SHILOH An
interesting account occurs in Judges when the men of
Israel have already slain a good portion of the
tribe of Benjamin. It seems they have slain all the
women and children of that tribe, and are feeling
somewhat remorseful of that act.
Jdg 21:16
“Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall
we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the
women are destroyed out of Benjamin? Jdg 21:17
And they said, There must be an inheritance for them
that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not
destroyed out of Israel. Jdg 21:18 Howbeit we may
not give them wives of our daughters: for the
children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he
that giveth a wife to Benjamin. Jdg 21:19 Then
they said, Behold, there is a feast of Yahweh in
Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side
of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that
goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of
Lebonah. Jdg 21:20 Therefore they commanded the
children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in
the vineyards; Jdg 21:21 And see, and, behold, if
the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance (H2342) in dances (H4246), then come ye out of the
vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the
daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. Jdg 21:22 And it shall be, when their fathers or
their brethren come unto us to complain, that we
will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our
sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife
in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this
time, that ye should be guilty. Jdg 21:23 And the
children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives,
according to their number, of them that danced, whom
they caught: and they went and returned unto their
inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in
them. Jdg 21:24 And the children of Israel
departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe
and to his family, and they went out from thence
every man to his inheritance.”
One could make
the assumption, based on the account above, that
dancing at a Feast of Yahweh is permitted especially
of the unmarried women. In verse 21:21 we have two
Hebrew words H2342 and H4246. Since we already have
defined H4246 here is the definition of H2342 from
Strong’s:
chûl chı̂yl
khool, kheel
A primitive root; properly to twist or whirl (in
a circular or spiral manner), that is,
(specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain
(especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively to
wait, to pervert: - bear, (make to) bring forth,
(make to) calve, dance, drive away, fall grievously
(with pain), fear, form, great, grieve, (be)
grievous, hope, look, make, be in pain, be much
(sore) pained, rest, shake, shapen, (be) sorrow
(-ful), stay, tarry, travail (with pain), tremble,
trust, wait carefully (patiently), be wounded.
As this definition is much more general in
meaning we must gather that its association with
H4246 secures its meaning of (to) “dance”.
DAVID DANCED, MICHAL WAS CURSED Probably our most
famous reference comes out of 2Sam 6 as we find
Yahweh’s favored, David rejoicing before his
Creator.
2Sa 6:12 “And it was told king
David, saying, Yahweh hath blessed the house of
Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because
of the ark of Elohim. So David went and brought up
the ark of Elohim from the house of Obededom into
the city of David with gladness. 2Sa 6:13 And it
was so, that when they that bare the ark of Yahweh
had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 2Sa 6:14 And David danced before Yahweh with all his
might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
2Sa 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel
brought up the ark of Yahweh with shouting, and with
the sound of the trumpet.” WOY
But in David’s
household an adversary was lurking:
2Sa 6:16
“And as the ark of Yahweh came into the city of
David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a
window, and saw king David leaping and dancing
before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart.
2Sa 6:20 Then David returned to bless his household.
And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet
David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel
to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of
the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain
fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself 2Sa 6:21
And David said unto Michal, It was before Yahweh,
which chose me before thy father, and before all his
house, to appoint me ruler over the people of
Yahweh, over Israel: therefore will I play before
Yahweh. 2Sa 6:22 And I will yet be more vile than
thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the
maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them
shall I be had in honour. 2Sa 6:23 Therefore
Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the
day of her death.” WOY
More than one lesson
could be learned in this passage, first, when you
are lead to rejoice before Yahweh do not stifle the
urge. Second, if you see someone dancing and
worshiping the Almighty be careful not to judge them
negatively.
JOB SPEAKS To be fair in our
study we must search out as many different Hebrew
words as necessary even when they may not contribute
to proving our point. This appearance of the word
“dance” in Job twenty one seems to be a reference to
the act of dancing or something similar such as
“stamping” or stomping. Here is the definition first
so that you may read advised of the meaning(s).
Strong’s H7540
râqad
raw-kad' A
primitive root; properly to stamp, that is, to
spring about (wildly or for joy): - dance, jump,
leap, skip.
Job 21:11 “They send forth their
little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
Job 21:12 They take the timbrel and harp, and
rejoice at the sound of the organ. Job 21:13 They
spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down
to the grave. Job 21:14 Therefore they say unto
El, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge
of thy ways. Job 21:15 What is the Almighty, that
we should serve him? and what profit should we have,
if we pray unto him?”
Those of whom Job is
speaking of, are a prideful, haughty bunch at best.
This “dance” is not a worshipful act, but an act of
rebelliousness. These remind me of those Yahshua
spoke of in Mat 24:38, 39:
Mat 24:38 “For as
in the days that were before the flood they were
eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the
ark, Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came,
and took them all away; so shall also the coming of
the Son of man be.”
PRAISE HIS NAME IN THE
DANCE One of my personal favorite references is
found in Psalms 149:
Psa 149:1 “Halleluyah.
Sing unto Yahweh a new song, and his praise in the
congregation of saints. Psa 149:2 Let Israel
rejoice in him that made him: the children of Zion
be joyful in their King. Psa 149:3 Let them
praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises
unto him with the timbrel and harp. Psa 149:4 For
Yahweh taketh pleasure in his people: he will
beautify the meek with salvation. Psa 149:5 Let
the saints be joyful in honour: let them sing aloud
upon their beds.”
One could read this Psalm
and gather that in verse 3 it speaks of all of those
mentioned in verse 2. This would mean that this is
the first Scripture to include all of Israel and the
children of Zion in this dance! In other words, we
could conclude that males, females and children
would have been included per verse 2. Would this
give us all permission to worship in dance? Not just
unmarried women?
The Hebrew word used here is
H4234:
mâchôl
maw-khole'
From
H2342; a (round) dance: - dance (-cing).
This
Hebrew word seems to infer the type of dance the
Israelites were doing. Round dance is eluded to here
and other places where H4234 is used. Six references
total are mentioned with H4234 and all pertaining to
Israelites and not to other pagan cultures. Psalms
149:3, Psalm 150:4, Jeremiah 31:13, Lamentations
5:15, Jeremiah 31:4, Psalm 30:11
When turning
to Jeremiah 31:13 we will confirm that dance is
indeed permitted to all those in Israel:
Jer
31:12 “Therefore they shall come and sing in the
height of Zion, and shall flow together to the
goodness of Yahweh, for wheat, and for wine, and for
oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd:
and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and
they shall not sorrow any more at all. Jer 31:13
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both
young men and old together: for I will turn their
mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make
them rejoice from their sorrow.”
We can see
this is a prophetic passage, possibly speaking of
future times, but nonetheless it confirms what we
have put forth.
When reading Psalm 30 we get
an even deeper meaning as we read verses 10-12:
Psa 30:10 “Hear, O Yahweh, and have mercy upon
me: Yahweh, be thou my helper. Psa 30:11 Thou
hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou
hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with
gladness; Psa 30:12 To the end that my honour may
sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Yahweh my
Elohim, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. To
the chief Musician.”
The dancing here almost
seems like a healing of sorts as the act turns the
writer from a mournful state to a gladness state of
being.
NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES One might
forget that there are a couple of references to dancing
in the New Testament. In these two cases we find one
positive example and one negative example. It is
important to note that just because there aren’t
many positive examples in the NT to prove our point
doesn’t mean that it makes our point null and void.
We’ll start with a truly sad and negative
example as Herodias’ daughter dances for Herod.
Mat 14:6 “But when Herod's birthday was kept,
the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and
pleased Herod. Mat 14:7 Whereupon he promised
with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
Mat 14:8 And she, being before instructed of her
mother, said, Give me here John the Baptist's head
in a platter.”
Here is the Strong’s
definition of the word ‘danced’ from the above
verse.
G3738 ὀρχέομαι orcheomai
{or-kheh'-om-ahee} Middle voice from όρχος
[[orchos]] (a row or ring); to dance (from the
ranklike or regular motion).
LAST BUT
CERTAINLY NOT LEAST Our final Scripture comes
from Luke 15. One may not place this Scripture with
the story of the prodigal son as we focus directly
on the mending of relationships. I find the
reference, however, fitting as it sums up this
study’s intent on making a case for dancing in these
latter days. As Yahshua is speaking to His
disciples one gets a true sense of what forgiveness
entails.
Luk 15:20 “And he arose, and came to
his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his
father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and
took him in his arms, and kissed him. Luk 15:21
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned
against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more
worthy to be called thy son. Luk 15:22 But the
father said to his servants, Bring forth the best
robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand,
and shoes on his feet: Luk 15:23 And bring here
the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be
merry: Luk 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is
alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they
began to be merry. Luk 15:25 Now his elder son
was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to
the house, he heard music and dancing. Luk 15:26
And he called one of the servants, and asked what
these things meant. Luk 15:27 And he said unto
him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed
the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe
and sound. Luk 15:28 And he was angry, and would
not go in: therefore came his father out, and
intreated him. Luk 15:29 And he answering said to
his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee,
neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment:
and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might
make merry with my friends: Luk 15:30 But as soon
as this thy son was come, which has wasted your
property with harlots, thou hast killed for him the
fatted calf. Luk 15:31 And he said unto him, Son,
thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Luk 15:32 It was right that we should make merry,
and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is
alive again; and was lost, and is found.”
Some say the prodigal son and his brother are
examples of Israel and Judah, others have different
explanations. I contend that whatever the prodigal
son represents I want to be forgiven of Yahweh and
Yahshua the way the father forgives his son in the
parable.
I want to be joyful and give honor
unto Yahweh in the way this article describes
whether it be praising, singing or dancing! We can
be safe in knowing that Yahweh placed dancing in His
Scriptures for a reason, and that no man can take
away its beauty and meaning.
Let us pray for
those who misuse this precious act of worship, and
pray for those who twist and distort the given Word.
