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.
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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!
- Psalms 150:4
Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute!
- 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.
- 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,
- 2 Samuel 6:14
David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
- Luke 15:25
"Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.
- 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!
- 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.
- Jeremiah 31:4
Again will I build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel: again shall you be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who make merry.
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