What does the Bible say about dancing in church?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible permits and at times commends dancing as a joyful, reverent response to God’s saving goodness, while calling all worship to be governed by love, order, and edification. Psalms 149:3 and 150:4 invite God’s people to praise him with dancing and music, and Psalm 150:1-6 summons every living creature to praise the Lord. Miriam danced after the Lord delivered Israel at the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20), and David danced before the Lord as the ark came to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14). Jeremiah 31:13 pictures restored people rejoicing in dance, and Psalm 30:11 celebrates God turning mourning into dancing. Such joy should honor God rather than display self, distract from the Word, or imitate worldly excess.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Psalms 149:3 12 votes
Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!
- Psalms 150:4 10 votes
Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute!
- Jeremiah 31:13 9 votes
Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, 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.
- Ecclesiastes 3:4 9 votes
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
- Psalms 30:11 8 votes
You have turned my mourning into dancing for me. You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness,
- 2 Samuel 6:14 6 votes
David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.
- Luke 15:25 6 votes
“Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
- Psalms 150:1-6 5 votes
Praise Yah! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power! Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre! Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute! Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise Yah! Praise Yah!
- Exodus 15:20 4 votes
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.
- Jeremiah 31:4 3 votes
I will build you again, and you will be built, O virgin of Israel. You will again be adorned with your tambourines, and will go out in the dances of those who make merry.
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