The response to TC Robinson’s post on praise and worship postures reminds me of some Bibles I saw on sale last week. This was a batch of I think NLT Life Application Bibles which were being sold cheaply because they were “missing just three verses”, because of a printing error, which turned out to be the last three verses of the Psalms. Now the clearest biblical injunction to dance in worship is in Psalm 150:4. So this edition of the Bible is ideal for those who don’t like dance!
This also reminds me of a story which I heard about an argument between a Baptist and a Pentecostal pastor in a remote part of Russia over whether the Bible teaches dancing in worship. Of course we know that the Pentecostal was correct, that Psalm 150:4 and a few other verses such as 2 Samuel 6:14 teach in favour of dancing in worship. But my friend who told me about this said that the Baptist really could not find any reference to dance in his Bible. I had a look at the Russian Synodal version, which he was probably using, and realised why. Nowhere in the Bible was any word used which clearly means “dance” in modern Russian. When I asked some Russian educated graduates to translate for me the Russian of the first half of Psalm 150:4, Khvalite Yego s timpanom i likami, they were puzzled and could only suggest “Praise Him with tambourine and faces”, understanding likami as the instrumental plural of lik, an archaic word for “face”. It was only with the aid of the glossary in a recent edition of the Russian Bible that I found the real source of this word: liki, a Slavonic word for a choir. So it is hardly surprising that the Baptist pastor was confused.
Peter
I wondered whether you might pick up on one of TC’s recent threads!
I guess this example illustrates the care needed in expressing the idiom of the original language in a way which conveys the author’s intention to the current reader in his own language. And I realise you have expertise in this field.
Given that these verses quote “dancing” in any English translation I have read, presumably there is no reason to question that dancing what was meant in the Hebrew? And I have to date regarded Psalms esppecially as a strong guide to what might constitute acceptable worship, as well as an excellent resource for vocalising that worship.
For myself I have to admit that dancing does little for me, either as an art form (I am not minded to watch ballet) or in worship (with or without banners and streamers), but then others won’t appreciate the occaisional choral evensong in the way I do!
Thank you, Colin. I am not a great lover of dancing either, but I do consider it a valid form of worship.
Of course we do need to ask the question whether the Hebrew word here, machol, really means “dancing”. It seems to. I note that it is also found in Psalms 30:11, 149:3, Jeremiah 31:4,13, Lamentations 5:15, and the feminine form mechola is found in Exodus 15:20 and a number of other places. The context in many such places, and especially the repeated link with tambourines, strongly suggests that the meaning is some kind of dancing. And of course the translation tradition supports this. The LXX Greek is choros, originally meaning “round dance” and only later “choir, chorus”.
In some of these places the Russian translation is khorovod “round dance”. So I don’t think the Russian translators actually had a different understanding of the word. I can’t help wondering if they deliberately chose an obscure word to avoid encouraging dancing in contemporary worship.
Now the clearest biblical injunction to dance in worship is in Psalm 150:4. So this edition of the Bible is ideal for those who don’t like dance!
Thanks for the link, Peter. This good stuff. I particularly like the humor. Some kind of dancing must be kept in mind for the Hebrew word. I don’t think we can dance our way out of that.
Peter,
Did you know my alias is the name of a dance move? That should give you an idea about my interests…
Some years ago, I did read an opponent of dance similarly asking if machol and mechola do have their traditional meanings. But he came to the opposite conclusion to you – and for once I take your view. Incidentally, I can’t remember where I read that – if you know of any sources, please let me know.
But I can’t agree with your statement that “the clearest biblical injunction to dance in worship is in Psalm 150:4”. I generally have a big dislike of proof-texting. Trying to make doctrine from a single verse is not a good idea.
As you pointed out, there are other references to dancing in the Bible. I like to say that dance in worship is mentioned more times than the phrase “born again”. Psalm 149:3 is obviously very similar to Psalm 150:4. And machol is not the only Hebrew word for dance. There are also chuwl, karar, pacach, raqad, and sachaq. (I’m aware that there is some flexibility in translation). In addition, many other Hebrew words carry a sense of expressive movement that gets lost in translation, especially as there are cultural as well as linguistic shifts involved.
I’ll leave you with a little puzzle… what’s the link between Psalm 30:11 and Psalm 100:2a?
Thanks, Sidefall. I agree with you in not liking proof texting. My point was that for those who do Psalm 150:4 is the clearest text. But I was of course only being humorous in suggesting that a Bible without this verse has nothing to say about dance in worship.
The only link I can see is that in Psalm 30:11 the psalmist is clothed with joy amd in Psalm 100:2a he is still “in” joy/gladness (same Hebrew word). Is that what you were looking for?
Peter,
You’re almost there, but didn’t you spot the parallels?
Psalm 30:11 –
You turned my wailing into dancing;
You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy
Hebrew poetry, as I’m sure you know, makes use of parallelism as a literary technique (there’s a good web page on it at http://www.cresourcei.org/parallel.html if this is an unfamiliar concept).
The most common form is synonymous parallelism, where the same concept is stated twice. We see this in the above verse – the two phrases are saying the same thing. In the mind of the psalmist, wailing and sackcloth are equivalent (some versions say mourning instead of wailing, and we know that wearing sackcloth was a sign of mourning), as are dancing and joy.
Psalm 100:2a –
Worship the Lord with gladness
As you say, the Hebrew word translated “gladness” in Psalm 100:2 is also found in Psalm 30:11, where it is translated “joy” and equated to dancing. (I’m using the NIV, it looks like you used a different translation, which doesn’t matter).
So, in my view, Psalm 100:2 is actually suggesting (or commanding?) dance in worship!
This amazed me when I first discovered it – I felt it was a minor revelation from the Lord. How many times have we read, said, or sung Psalm 100 (or something based on it, even All People That On Earth Do Dwell)? Rather a lot, I think. And how many times have associated it with dancing, let alone actually danced? Probably none. Perhaps our outlook on worship isn’t really Biblical…
Peter,
Looks like another comment’s just fallen into the spam bin…
Peter,
You’re almost there, but didn’t you spot the parallels?
Psalm 30:11 –
You turned my wailing into dancing;
You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy
Hebrew poetry, as I’m sure you know, makes use of parallelism as a literary technique (there’s a good web page on it at http://www.cresourcei.org/parallel.html if this is an unfamiliar concept).
The most common form is synonymous parallelism, where the same concept is stated twice. We see this in the above verse – the two phrases are saying the same thing. In the mind of the psalmist, wailing and sackcloth are equivalent (some versions say mourning instead of wailing, and we know that wearing sackcloth was a sign of mourning), as are dancing and joy.
Psalm 100:2a –
Worship the Lord with gladness
As you say, the Hebrew word translated “gladness” in Psalm 100:2 is also found in Psalm 30:11, where it is translated “joy” and equated to dancing. (I’m using the NIV, it looks like you used a different translation, which doesn’t matter).
So, in my view, Psalm 100:2 is actually suggesting (or commanding?) dance in worship!
This amazed me when I first discovered it – I felt it was a minor revelation from the Lord. How many times have we read, said, or sung Psalm 100 (or something based on it, even All People That On Earth Do Dwell)? Rather a lot, I think. And how many times have associated it with dancing, let alone actually danced? Probably none. Perhaps our outlook on worship isn’t really Biblical….
Sidefall, I retrieved your comments. The only reason I can think of for your comments being treated as spam is that you have been reported as a spammer for your unwanted negative comments on other blogs. I have considered doing this, but have not done it, with you and a few others who have been commenting unhelpfully on another matter.
On this matter your comment is helpful, thank you. Yes, the way that “dancing” and “joy” are paralleled here does suggest that for the ancient Hebrews joy was expressed in dance, something which makes a lot of sense, and it is this kind of joy which God expects from worshippers. I would not go as far as saying that he commands dance in worship, just that he thinks it is a good thing.
But don’t assume that no one these days dances to Psalm 100. Maybe not to it said or chanted in the Anglican liturgy or sung as “All People That On Earth Do Dwell”. But do you remember the now rather old chorus Jubilate, everybody, clearly based on Psalm 100? This certainly got many people, sometimes even me, dancing in worship in the 1980s.
Thank you Mr. Kirk, for this very informative post. This discussion has challenged me to go back to the Word of God and study the dance in worship.
Jocelyn
Peter,
Spam is unsolicited bulk advertising, not comments expressing a view contrary to yours. So I’d hope you don’t report me (or anyone else) for that. I think it is external hyperlinks that trigger the spam filter.
I forgot to say that the Hebrew word for joy or gladness used in both these verse is “simcha”, a word which to this day is associated with dance. Jewish people refer to any celebration (such as a wedding or bar/bat mitzvah) as a simcha, and there is always dancing at these events.
I put a question mark after “commanding” as I accept that people’s views may vary on that. I have also heard it suggested that Psalm 149:3 constitutes a command to dance.
Yes, I’m old enough to remember Jubilate. It was in the original Mission (England) Praise blue booklet. At one time I could have told you what number it was, but my memory fails me.
I wasn’t just suggesting that we dance to Psalm 100 – as you agreed, the Biblical view is that worship in general is associated with joy and dancing. Also, many people believe Psalm 100 relates to gathering for worship in the Temple, which could be paralleled to meeting in church.
I feel that their should not be a time that people just come into the place of worship and peole line up to dance. Dancing should be let by the spirit. It should have to take some form of musics to make one dance before the Lord. I have been in worship and the spirit move me to leap and jump for the Lord, now that was my form of dancing but wasn’t no music being played when dance for the Lord.
When it get to a place that we as Christian Leader’s start Let People think it ok to have a Team of people come in to God house and play music so them to dance that not dancing before the Lord in Spirit and Truth.
One Must Be careful where they dance and why they are dance. Dancing Cause some of the Children of Israel to sin against God Exodus 32:19-33 Dancing cause John the Baptist to lose his Head Matthew 14:6-11
Yes, as a Pastor, preacher of God word the word of God does not tell us form dance team or praise dance team to come into His House to worlhip him in that way. If one happen to dance let it be done through the Spirit of God by the Spirit of God.
I feel that their should not be a time that people just come into the place of worship and peole line up to dance. Dancing should be let by the spirit. It shouldn’t have to take some form of musics to make one dance before the Lord. I have been in worship and the spirit move me to leap and jump for the Lord, now that was my form of dancing but there wasn’t no music being played when I dance for the Lord.
When it get to a place that we as Christian Leader’s start Let People think it ok to have a Team of people come in to God house and play music for them to dance that not dancing before the Lord in Spirit and Truth.
One Must Be careful where they dance and why they are dance. Dancing Cause some of the Children of Israel to sin against God Exodus 32:19-33 Dancing cause John the Baptist to lose his Head Matthew 14:6-11
Yes, as a Pastor, preacher of God word the word of God does not tell us form dance teams or praise dance teams to come into His House to worlhip Hin that way. If one happen to dance let it be done through the Spirit of God by the Spirit of God.
I feel that their should not be a time that people just come into the place of worship and peole line up to dance. Dancing should be let by the spirit. It shouldn’t have to take some form of musics to make one dance before the Lord. I have been in worship and the spirit move me to leap and jump for the Lord, now that was my form of dancing but there wasn’t no music being played when I dance for the Lord.
When it get to a place that we as Christian Leader’s start Let People think it ok to have a Team of people come in to God house and play music for them to dance that not dancing before the Lord in Spirit and Truth.
One Must Be careful where they dance and why they are dance. Dancing Cause some of the Children of Israel to sin against God Exodus 32:19-33 Dancing cause John the Baptist to lose his Head Matthew 14:6-11
Yes, as a Pastor, preacher of God word the word of God does not tell us form dance teams or praise dance teams to come into His House to worship Him that way. If one happen to dance let it be done through the Spirit of God by the Spirit of God. Oh, yes by the way I’m proud to be ”A Baptist.”
ML, I agree that dancing in Christian worship, as indeed every aspect of worship, should be led by the Spirit. I don’t see that as ruling out dancing to music, nor as ruling out praise dance teams as long as this doesn’t become a performance for spectators.