What does the Bible say about dance?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible presents dance as a fitting expression of joy, celebration, and praise to God, while calling all worship to be reverent and ordered. Psalms 149:3 and 150:4 invite God’s people to praise him with dancing, and Psalm 150:1-6 joins such praise to the whole worshiping life of God’s people. David danced before the Lord when the ark came to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14), while Miriam and the women celebrated God’s deliverance with tambourines and dancing (Exodus 15:20). Ecclesiastes 3:4 recognizes a proper time to mourn and a time to dance. God also promises to turn mourning into joy (Psalms 30:11; Jeremiah 31:13). Christian freedom should therefore use such joy humbly, sincerely, and for God’s glory.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Psalms 149:3
Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!
- Ecclesiastes 3:4
A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
- Psalms 30:11
You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness,
- Jeremiah 31:13
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
- 2 Samuel 6:14
David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
- Psalms 150:4
Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute!
- Exodus 15:20
Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances.
- Psalms 150:1-6
[1] Praise Yah! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power! [2] Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him according to his excellent greatness! [3] Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre! [4] Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute! [5] Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals! [6] Let everything that has breath praise Yah! Praise Yah!
- Luke 15:25
"Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
- Judges 11:34
Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
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