When Dancing Has Positive Connotations in Scripture

“Dancing”

When one becomes a Christian, there are many behaviors that need to be put away from us (Ephesians 4:17-5:1). Some of the changes to be made are readily accepted by most (Mark 12:31), but there are some changes that others will not see as necessary (1 Peter 4:4). At times, one may find that Christians are unaware of some changes that should be made (1 Thessalonians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 12:1), so we need to study what God says on specific matters (1 Thessalonians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 12:1). Dancing is a subject that many seem strange for Christians to study, but the Bible does address the matter of various kinds of dancing. There are also principles that God expects for Christians to follow, that will affect one’s view of the subject. Therefore, let us examine what the Scriptures reveal, and see if we can determine any modern-day applications concerning dance.

I have done my best to compile a list of Bible verses that deal with the subject of dancing. This list includes passages with the words “dance”, “danced”, and “dancing”.If you observe that the selection of passages as incomplete, then please let me know, and I will add them to the list. The Bible indicates various circumstances for which dancing is addressed. It may come as a surprise, but dancing is referenced with both positive and negative connotations. Therefore, this list has the verses under the headings “positive” and “negative”. As we look at the Scripture, take note of who it was that did the dancing, who they danced with, why they were dancing, and if the circumstances denote God’s approval, or His disapproval. Then we will compare the instances with our modern forms of dancing, and we will look to some principles that will help us draw conclusions for application’s sake.

When Dancing has Positive Connotations in Scripture

Considering how dancing is viewed in favorable ways, remember to examine the context. Let us determine in the following verses: who danced, with whom did they dance, why did they dance, and did they have onlookers (people watching them)?

After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Moses’ sister Miriam and all the women went out after her with timbrels and “with dances” (Exodus 15:20-21). This was done in celebration of God’s mighty work (Praise/Celebration).
It also was a time of celebration when Jephthah’s daughter came out to meet him with “timbrels and dancing” albeit the moment of joy was turned to sadness soon thereafter (Judges 11:34). (Celebration)
When the tribe of Benjamin took wives from the daughters of Shiloh, the men hid in the vineyards, waiting for all the women “to come out to perform their dances”. This was done in the celebration of the feast of the LORD (Judges 21:20-21, 23). (Praise)
After the slaughter of the Philistines, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, “singing and dancing”, to meet Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments (1 Samuel 18:6-7). This was in celebration of victory in battle. (Celebration)
King David danced (2 Samuel 6:16 describes him as leaping and whirling) “before the LORD” (2 Samuel 6:21) in celebration of the ark being brought to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14-23; 1 Chronicles 15:25, 29). Again, this celebration was an expression of joy “before the LORD”.Therefore, this was an act of praise to God. (Celebration/Praise)
With the injustices for which Job describes concerning the wicked, the dancing described in this instance involves the play of children. Job answered his friends, and was stating how wicked people seem to many times have a comfortable life in the earth, stating “They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.” (Job 21:11) (Child’s Play/Celebration)
The Psalmist (believed to be David) wrote that God had “turned” his “mourning into dancing” (Psalm 30:11). This is an expression of praiseto God in the context, because God answered his prayer for deliverance. (Celebration)
In the assembly of the saints, the writer of the 149th Psalm says, “Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and harp” (Psalm 149:1, 3). This kind of praise, however, is not authorized New Testament worship. (Praise)
The Old Testament Scriptures are consistent in describing such expressions of praise to God, as the 150th Psalm instructs the reader to praise Jehovah God “with the timbrel and dance”; “with stringed instruments and flutes” (Psalm 150:4) (Praise)
Solomon wrote of the expressing of joy when he wrote of how there is, “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). (Celebration)
The King James Version renders the term “dance” to describe how animals would move about in the land after Babylon would laid to waste (Isaiah 13:21). *
In giving promise that a remnant if Israel would be saved, God promised that Israel would again go forth with tambourines in dances of those who rejoice (Jeremiah 31:4, 13). This signified how the remnants’ joy would be returned. (Celebration/Praise)
Jeremiah would also contrast the state of mourning with dancing, as he expressed sorrow in his prayer to God for restoration (Lamentations 5:15). The dancing in this passage would signify again, an expression of joy. (Celebration)
Jesus told the multitudes of his day that they were acting like children, nit-picking and finding fault both He and John. In that context, Jesus likened His critics to children saying, “We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced” (Matthew 11:17; Luke 7:32). The type of dancing referred to by Jesus would have been an expression of joy, or of child’s play; not unlike what we have considered thus far. (Child’s Play/Celebration)
There is of course, mention made of music and dancing in association with the return of the lost son in Luke 15:25, also. This was an outward expression of joy, in response to one’s spiritual restoration. (Celebration/Praise)

In these passages where dancing is mentioned with approved (positive) connotations, we find some commonalities. They all describe celebration being made, expressions of joy, and/or expressions of praise to Jehovah God. Therefore, since praising God is a form of celebrating and expressing happiness, dancing was used by the Israelites to praise God. We can also note that no examples include members of the opposite sex dancing with each other. Nor do any of the examples above present dancing as a form of entertainment (These are the facts).

When Dancing has Negative Connotations in Scripture

After having observed the passages concerning dance with positive connotations, we now turn our attention to the passages associated with the negative.

When the children of Israel broke their covenant with God at Mount Sinai through, the worship of the golden calf, they are said to have “sat down to eat and drink”, “rose up to play”, and they were “dancing” (Exodus 32:6, 19). This dancing was part of a drunken feast and idol worship.
There is a negative connotation associated with dancing in 1 Samuel, chapter 30. When David and his troops attacked the Amalekites, the Scripture says he was brought to the enemy “there they were, spread out all over the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah” (1 Samuel 30:16). Here, dancing was indeed part of a celebration, but it was done about a drunken party, of sorts, by the pagan Amalekites. This was a drunken feast.
The only instances in Scripture where dancing was presented as a form of entertainment are found in Matthew 14:6-8 and Mark 6:22-23. Both of those passages describe the same event. In celebration of Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the group present, and Herod and his company were so “pleased” that Herod then promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. She requested John the Baptist’s head on a platter, and it was then granted to her! Her dancing pleased Herod so much that he made a rash oath, one that he was sorry about afterward. This kind of dancing, when performed by a woman, stirred up an adulterous man to act rashly. That certainly gives the entertainment form of dance, a negative association.

With all the passages under this heading, we see that various works of the flesh are evident. These instances of dance are associated with idol worship, drunken feasts, and even the arousal of men due to watching a member of the opposite sex dance for entertainment (Those are the facts).

Summary Contrast of Two Groups

There is no way for us to be certain about what type of bodily movements were performed by Miriam, Jephthah’s daughter, the women who came out to meet Saul, or even with David. The definitions of the words basically tell us that their bodies “whirled about”. In comparison, however, the circumstances of the listsabove, provide much for us to discern. The approved dances that the Israelites engaged in (again) were celebratory, outward expressions of joy, and/or expressions of praise to God. Furthermore, none of the passages that have positive implications presented members of the opposite sex dancing together, nor do they present dancing as an acceptable form of entertainment. The negative instances did, however, did include dancing as a form of entertainment, were connected idol worshipers, and/or with drunken feasts.

With the forms of dance that we are aware of in our present-dayexperiences, what category would provide authority for us to dance, in a public way?

Applications of Scriptural Principles

God says, “Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill in the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). He also says that the works of the flesh are evident, and provides alist of “such things” “and the like”that will cause one to “not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). In other words, the list of “the works of the flesh”can include other things beyond what is mentioned in that text. Within the list, though, we do find that the works of the flesh include the sin of “lasciviousness” (Galatians 5:19, KJV). The NKJV renders the word “lewdness”, whereas the ESV and NASB both render the word “sensuality”.Additionally, Jesus called lasciviousness “an evil thing”, “that will defile a man” (Mark 7:21-23). The definition of the Greek word consists of "unbridled lust...wanton acts or manners (including) filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females" (Thayer’s Greek Definitions). The legal definition of the English word “lasciviousness” is “reflecting or producing sexual desire or behavior especially that is considered indecent or obscene” ( Anything which excites the lust of the flesh (bodily movements, immoral touching, even speaking words that excite lust) is therefore considered sinful. Of course, this applies to the stirring up of sexual desires outside the bond of marriage. The Bible does recognize the place for sexual expression, but limits such to those who are married (Hebrews 13:4). Therefore, the excitement of lust between those not married is sinful (Matthew 5:28). The question in the minds of some remain, do modern forms of dancing incite lust?

Reasoning the Scriptures, and even using one’s “common sense”, will confirm that many forms of modern dancing incites lust. Many modern forms of dancing are often performed for entertainment purposes, of which we’ve proved, the Bible does not present favorably (Matthew 14:6-8; Mark 6:22-23). Modern forms also are very popular at night clubs, which involve drinking parties (of which God disapproves, 1Peter 4:3-4). Many modern forms of dance also present sexual themes within the movements made by the one doing the dance. This is true of the gyrating and thrusting done in clubs, but is also true of many forms. Even about “traditional” waltzing or slow dances, members of the opposite sex press their bodies against one another, which rouses sexual desire. There are sexually suggestive movements among those, too. Some may have difficulty accepting this notion. Therefore, objectively consider the following questions. (1) What would you think, if you walked into a room full of grown men waltzing, or slow dancing together? You’d likely consider that you’d walked into some sort of homosexual gathering. (2) How would you feel if your spouse danced with a stranger of the opposite sex? You wouldn’t be having any of that! Realistically, these questions compel us into acknowledging the sexual undertones of dancing in front of, and/or with, members of the opposite sex.Reasoning the Scriptures, and even common sense, confirm that many modern forms incite lust.

Why is it that dancing is so often associated with night clubs, where alcohol and other are drugs are present? I’m asking you to ponder that question… God tells us to be sober minded, because the devil will take advantage of us if we are not sober-minded (we will tend to let our guard down). Regarding alcohol and drugs, they dull people’s inhibitions, and thus, people who are under the influence will be more open to act upon any unbridled lusts. God tells us to reject such partying (1 Peter 4:1-6).

Another question to pose: If the modern forms of dancing are “harmless”, then why must there be adult chaperones at all the middle and high school dances? There are adult chaperones present to, “make sure things don’t get out of hand”. Why would things get out of hand? Because some bad apples may ruin the prom? Or, is it because we all know that opposite sexes dancing with, and in the presence of each other, has the potential to incite unbridled lust? Brethren, deep down we really know the truthful answer to this.

Christians must prayerfully consider these things, and consider what may happen if we surround ourselves with those who approve of dancing among the sexes (1 Corinthians 15:33). Some may feel that they can go to the club or school dance, and not drink or dance before others. But, in the presence of such an environment, what will that invariably lead to (Job 31:1)? We must consider what, any presence at such functions, will do to our influence upon others. We certainly would not want to give anyone a false impression that we approve of sinful activities, of any sort (Romans 1:32). If we choose to abstain from places and events that condone acts of lewdness, it will allow our lights to shine (Matthew 5:16) and grant opportunities to share our faith with others (1 Peter 3:15-17).

Conclusion

Invariably, some will think this kind of study strange, perhaps unnecessary (1 Peter 4:4). But, the Bible does address the matter of dancing. There are also principles that God expects for Christians to follow, that should affect one’s view of the subject. I’ve sought to examine the Scriptures, be objective, and see if we can determine any modern-day applications concerning modern forms of dancing. Some conclusions: None of the passagespresent members of the opposite sex dancing together. The negative instances however, did include dancing as a form of entertainment, and some negative instances even associated dancing to drunken feasts. Additionally, we noted how the Bible condemnsexciting lust in another. We may be confident in these conclusions (1) It is wrong to lust in our hearts after others (Matthew 5:28), and (2) It is wrong to conduct ourselves in any way that will excite lusts in others; that is lasciviousness, which is condemned as a work of the flesh (Mark 7:21-23; Galatians 5:19-21). Should Christians be making provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts? Not per Romans 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (KJV).

If anyone has a question concerning what bodily movements are appropriate, versus what may be inappropriate… Remember that we must all learn & grow in exercising the senses to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). If there are any judgements you feel concerned about regarding certain bodily movements, I commend you to meditate on the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), versus the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Prayerfully consider, which of the two lists does your judgement fit?