Lexical Summary Machol: Mahol Original Word: מָחוֹל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Mahol The same as machowl; dancing; Machol, an Israelite -- Mahol. see HEBREW machowl NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as machoz Definition father of Heman NASB Translation Mahol (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. מָחוֺל proper name, masculine father of Heman, etc., 1 Kings 5:11, ᵐ5 Μαλ, A Μαουλ, ᵐ5L Μααλα. מְחוֺלָה see II. אָבֵל above; see also מְחֹלָה. מַחֲזֶה, מֶחֱזָה, מַחֲזִיאוֺת see חזה. מחח (√ of following; compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Meaning and Background מָחוֹל (machol) lies on the verb root חוּל, “to whirl, twist, writhe,” and developed the concrete sense of rhythmic whirling in festive dance. It came to denote both the act of dancing and, by metonymy, places or groups associated with it. While the term is rare, the concept of holy rejoicing through movement saturates Israel’s account (Exodus 15:20; Psalm 150:4). Biblical Occurrence 1 Kings 4:31 records “the sons of Mahol,” renowned sages whose wisdom was eclipsed only by Solomon’s: “He was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol—and his fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations”. Whether “Mahol” is taken as a personal name or an honorific meaning “dance,” the lone occurrence preserves a link between joyous artistic expression and cultivated insight. Dance in Israel’s Worship Culture Scripture consistently pairs machol-type rejoicing with praise: Together these passages show dance as a bodily proclamation of God’s victory, covenant joy, and eschatological hope. The Sons of Mahol and the Tradition of Wisdom Ancient Near-Eastern courts prized sages skilled in poetry, music, and riddles (compare Proverbs 1:6). The “sons of Mahol” likely belonged to such a guild. If “Mahol” originally signified “dance,” the title may point to a Levitical household where musical and choreographic service fostered reflection on God’s works. In surrounding nations, wisdom and the arts were often divorced from holiness; Israel’s wise-men demonstrate that aesthetic gifting is meant to exalt the Lord (1 Chronicles 25:1–7). Theological Significance 1. Wholeness of Worship: Machol underscores that worship engages spirit, mind, and body. True wisdom, epitomized in Solomon, flourishes in a life where the whole person moves in harmony with God’s order (Deuteronomy 6:5). Ministry Insights and Application • Encourage congregations to reclaim biblically grounded, modest physical expression as a response to redemption. Summary Though מָחוֹל appears only once, its roots and associations weave through Scripture, binding corporate joy, artistic gifting, and godly wisdom into a single tapestry. The solitary reference in 1 Kings 4:31 thus opens a doorway to a richer biblical theology of dance that calls the church to celebrate God’s salvation with heart, mind, and movement until faith becomes sight and the redeemed “will leap like calves released from the stall” (Malachi 4:2). Forms and Transliterations מָח֑וֹל מחול mā·ḥō·wl maChol māḥōwlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Kings 4:31 HEB: וְדַרְדַּ֖ע בְּנֵ֣י מָח֑וֹל וַיְהִֽי־ שְׁמ֥וֹ NAS: the sons of Mahol; and his fame KJV: the sons of Mahol: and his fame INT: and Darda the sons of Mahol become and his fame 1 Occurrence |
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IV. be fat, also contain marrow).