Lexical Summary mecholah: Dance Original Word: מְחֹלָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance company, dancing Feminine of machashabah; a dance -- company, dances(-cing). see HEBREW machashabah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of machol Definition a dance NASB Translation dance (1), danced (1), dances (2), dancing (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מְחוֺלָה] noun feminine id.; — construct מְחֹלַת Cant 7:1; plural מְחֹלֹת Exodus 32:19; מְחֹלוֺת Exodus 15:20 5t.; dancing, token of joyousness after victory, Judges 11:34; 1 Samuel 18:16; 1 Samuel 21:12; 1 Samuel 29:5; in worship, at feast Judges 21:21; act of praise to ׳י Exodus 15:20 (song); in idolatrous worship Exodus 32:19 (E); as graceful and beautiful Cant 7:1; accompare by timbrel Exodus 15:20; Judges 11:34, and by singing Exodus 15:20; 1 Samuel 18:6 (where however read probably Po`lel Participle הַמְּחֹלְלוֺת, compare verb חוּל above; so ᵐ5 We Dr), 1 Samuel 21:12; 1 Samuel 29:5. Topical Lexicon Definition and Overview מְחֹלָה denotes a festive, usually circular dance performed to the accompaniment of hand-held percussion (timbrels, tambourines). Scripture links the word almost exclusively with moments of intense communal emotion—either grateful celebration before the LORD or misplaced revelry in idolatry. Biblical Occurrences 1. Exodus 15:20 – Miriam leads the women after the Red Sea deliverance: “all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing.” Themes and Theological Insights • Victory and Thanksgiving The earliest use (Exodus 15:20) establishes מְחֹלָה as a spontaneous response to divine salvation. The redeemed cannot remain still; their bodies join their voices in praise. The pattern recurs whenever Israel receives national triumph (1 Samuel 18:6). • Warning against Misplaced Celebration Exodus 32:19 counterbalances Miriam’s worship. Identical external actions—music, movement, communal joy—become sin when the object is an idol. Scripture thus distinguishes holy dance from profane revelry, reminding worshipers that motivation and object determine acceptability before God. • Female Leadership in Worship Six of the eight texts place women at the center of the dance. Far from marginal, their artistic leadership reinforces the corporate nature of covenant life. Miriam’s prophetic role (Exodus 15:20), the maidens of Shiloh (Judges 21:21), and the Shulammite (Song 6:13) together testify that the adornment of holiness includes feminine expression. • Communal Memory and Identity The refrain about David (1 Samuel 18:6; 21:11; 29:5) shows how the מְחֹלָה fixed national memory in song and movement. What the people danced, they remembered; what they remembered shaped loyalty and hope. • Covenant Joy Shadowing Eschatological Fulfillment Song of Songs 6:13 elevates the dance to poetic symbol—the “dance of Mahanaim” (literally “two camps”). The mutual gaze on the beloved anticipates the final union of Christ and His Bride, when every redeemed tongue and limb will celebrate the Lamb’s victory. Historical Context Archaeological finds from the Late Bronze and Iron Ages depict line and circle dances with tambourines identical to biblical descriptions. Such dances marked military victories, harvest festivals, and covenant renewals across the Ancient Near East. Israel adopted the form but reoriented its meaning: the dance served Yahweh, not the fertility gods. Instruments named with מְחֹלָה (timbrels, three-stringed lutes) were portable, allowing immediate, outdoor celebration. Ministry Application 1. Embodied Worship: Scripture affirms the legitimacy of physical expression when directed to the LORD. Congregations may incorporate choreographed or spontaneous movement that reflects reverence, order, and joy. Christological Reflection Miriam’s post-exodus dance foreshadows the greater exodus accomplished by Christ (Luke 9:31). Just as Israel’s redemption erupted in מְחֹלָה, so the ultimate victory in the Resurrection summons the Church to holistic praise. Revelation anticipates a final, universal song; the biblical dance hints that redeemed bodies will join redeemed voices in everlasting celebration. Summary מְחֹלָה portrays the heartbeat of covenant life: bodies rejoicing in God’s salvation, yet ever mindful of the danger of misplaced worship. From the shores of the Red Sea to the poetic heights of Solomon’s Song, the dance calls believers to celebrate rightly, remember faithfully, and anticipate the consummate joy when “mourning will turn to dancing” forever (echoing Psalm 30:11). Forms and Transliterations בַּמְּחֹל֖וֹת בַּמְּחֹלוֹת֒ בַמְּחֹלוֹת֙ במחלות וְהַמְּחֹל֔וֹת וּבִמְחֹל֑וֹת וּבִמְחֹלֹֽת׃ וּמְחֹלֹ֑ת ובמחלות ובמחלת׃ והמחלות ומחלת כִּמְחֹלַ֖ת כמחלת bam·mə·ḥō·lō·wṯ ḇam·mə·ḥō·lō·wṯ bammecholOt bamməḥōlōwṯ ḇamməḥōlōwṯ kim·ḥō·laṯ kimchoLat kimḥōlaṯ ū·ḇim·ḥō·lō·wṯ ū·ḇim·ḥō·lōṯ ū·mə·ḥō·lōṯ ūḇimḥōlōṯ ūḇimḥōlōwṯ umechoLot ūməḥōlōṯ uvimchoLot vammecholOt vehammechoLot wə·ham·mə·ḥō·lō·wṯ wəhamməḥōlōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 15:20 HEB: אַחֲרֶ֔יהָ בְּתֻפִּ֖ים וּבִמְחֹלֹֽת׃ NAS: her with timbrels and with dancing. KJV: her with timbrels and with dances. INT: after timbrels dancing Exodus 32:19 Judges 11:34 Judges 21:21 1 Samuel 18:6 1 Samuel 21:12 1 Samuel 29:5 Songs 6:13 8 Occurrences |
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