Dance in the Bible

© 2012 Katina Davenport

Have you ever heard that dancing should not be done in church, but you still see spontaneous dance known as shouting in the Pentecostal denomination? Have you ever been confused by that? I have and the reason is because most people do not know if dance is Biblical. Dancing is Biblical and here are two well-known dancers in the Bible.

David

2 Samuel 6:14,16 (KJV) And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

This well-known dancer was a man who enjoyed being in the presence of God so much that he danced in celebration as the Ark of the Covenant returned to its rightful place.

Miriam

Exodus 15:20, 21 And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

Sister of Aaron and Moses, Miriam was the tiny helper that saved her brother Moses from being killed. She grew up and became a prophetess. She was a leader, the praise dance leader that lead all the women into singing, rejoicing, and dance after the closing of the Red Sea. She grabbed her tambourine and sang the well-known song at the sea in verse 21.

Judges 11:34 (KJV) Jephthah's daughters celebrates with timbrels and dances.

And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

1 Samuel 18:6 The women of Israel danced and sing after Saul and David came back from defeating the Philistine.

And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.

Psalm 30:11 Mourning turned into dancing.

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness...

Psalm 149:3 Praise His name with the use of dance.

Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.