Author: Laura

From ancient times to the present, dancers have expressed ideas, stories, and rhythm with their bodies. They use a variety of dance forms that allow free movement and self-expression, including classical ballet, modern dance, and culturally specific dance styles. The Biblical significance of dance is better understood by thoroughly examining the diversity and frequency with which scripture uses terms for dance.

Hastings Dictionary of the Bible defines dance as “an expression of the feelings by movements of the body, more or less controlled by a sense of rhythm.”
The bible says that in him we move, breathe and have our being. God made the human body with both eyes and ears, and the “Body of Christ” also needs to see and hear, to be seen and heard. When we can visualize the nature and character of God we can better understand and better worship Him. Dance adds the visual aspect to worship.

Dancing seems to have occurred at certain very great occasions in Israel’s history.

Ex 15:20—Miriam leads the dance after the Red Sea crossing, Israel birthed
as a nation.
2 Sam 6:14—Dance ushered in the establishment of the Davidic Kingdom and a new order of worship. Jer 31:4,13—Dance and the return from captivity in Babylon.

Dance is the fulfillment of prophecy.

“Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice” Jer 31:4 (“virgin of Israel” = the Bride, the end time church).

Dance is a sign of blessing and restoration in the church.

2 Sam 6:13-14—dance is associated with the restoration of the glory of God to his people. The joy of our heart has ceased; our dance has turned into mourning” Lam 5:15—the absence of dance is a sign of judgment.

Dance resists the enemy (Jam 4:7).

3 main occasions for dance in Israel’s day—harvest, marriage, victories in battle—all 3 of which spiritually point to the end times. When we dance it is a sign to Satan that his time is short! The authority of the feet—Gen 3:5, Rom 16:20, Ps 8:6, etc.—Satan is particularly nervous about what your feet are doing!

The range of expressive movement which the Bible describes includes leaping, jumping, running, to hop, skip, whirl, turn, twist, spiral, spin, to writhe or contract, to gallop, prance, stamp feet, to tremble, to circle around, to laugh and rejoice, to stretch, be limber, to throw up the hands, to clap, bow down, fall down prostrate, arise and stand up.

A. Mahol—“to dance with joy” over the blessings of God both present and future.
1) Ps 149, 150—because of His mighty acts and greatness.
2) Jer 31:31—because of future blessings.
3) N.T. parallel “choros” Luke 15:25 (dancing at banquet of prodigal son).

B. Mehola—“a joyous dance of celebration” usually for military victories or festivals.
May include round dances, interpretive or imitative dance (pantomimic dance), or responsive movement to a dance leader (“choregos” in Greek).
1) Song 6:13—“the dance of Mahanaim” or 2 armies (military).
2) Ex 15:20—victory over Pharoah’s armies (responsive).
3) 1 Sam 18:6-7—David & Saul’s victory (military).
4) N.T. parallel “orcheomai”—to dance in a row or rings as in ranks (Mark 6:22)

C. Hul—root word with 2 primary meanings: “writhing in travail or trembling,” and “whirling in a spiral motion.” Used in a broader sense, more figuratively applies to emotions or attitudes associated with the movements.
1) Ps 97:4—the earth saw and “trembled;” Is 23:5—“agony” at God’s judgment.
2) Jer 23:19—God’s anger in a “whirlwind;” Hos 11:6—whirling of a sword.

D. Giyl—“to circle in joy”—rejoicing at God’s works or attributes.
1) Ps 45:15—joy of a wedding procession.
2) 2. Is 9:3—joy of a redeemed nation.
3) Zech 9:9—joy of the coming Messiah
4) 4. Ps 118:24—rejoice in a new day.
5) N.T. parallel “agalliao”—to exult & jump for joy (1 Pet 1:6-8, 4:13, Rev 19:7, Luke1:14, Luke 10:21)

E. Pazaz—“to be supple or agile in movement, to spring up.”
1) 2 Sam 6:16—David leaping before the ark.
2) N.T. parallel “hallomai”—Acts 3:8 healed lame man leaped up.

F. Dalag—“to leap” as hurtling over an object.
1) Song 2:8—leaping on the mountains.
2) 2. 2 Sam 22:30—leaping over a wall.

G. Ragad—“to stamp feet and skip about” as in playful movements of children.
1) Job 21:11—children dancing
2) 2. Ps 29:6—Lebanon to “skip” like a calf.

H. Yadah—“to throw up the hands” in confession of praise, to acknowledge God’s character, or to acknowledge sin (surrender)
1) Ps 86:12—“praise” Him with all your heart.
2) Ps 105:1—“give thanks” “make known His deeds among the peoples!”
3) Ps 32:5—“acknowledge” sin and “confess” transgressions to the Lord.

I. Shaha—“to fall down in worship, to bend or stoop”
1) Is 45:14—“they shall fall down to thee.”
2) 2. Is 49:23—“they shall bow down.”

J. Kara—“to bend the knee, to prostrate oneself.”
1) Ps 95:6—“come let us worship and bow down.”
2) Is 45:23—“every knee shall bow.”
3) N.T. parallel “kampto”—to bend or bow low (Phil 2:10)

K. Quwm—“to rise up and stand”
1) Song 2:13—arise my love.
2) 2. Is 60:1—“arise, shine; for your light has come!”

The range of expressive movement which the Bible describes includes leaping, jumping, running, to hop, skip, whirl, turn, twist, spiral, spin, to writhe or contract, to gallop, prance, stamp feet, to tremble, to circle around, to laugh and rejoice, to stretch, be limber, to throw up the hands, to clap, bow down, fall down prostrate, arise and stand up.

Dancers normally work with choreographers, who create original dances and develop new interpretations of existing dances. Because few dance routines are written down, choreographers instruct performers at rehearsals to achieve the desired effect. In addition, choreographers usually are involved in auditioning performers.

1. Halal

Halal is a primary Hebrew root word for praise. Our word “hallelujah” comes from this base word. It means “to be clear, to shine, to boast, show, to rave, celebrate, to be clamorously foolish.”Ps 113:1-3 Praise (halal) ye the Lord, praise (halal) o ye servants of the Lord, praise (halal) the name of the Lord.

Ps 150:1 Praise (halal) the Lord! Praise (halal) God in his sanctuary; Praise (halal) him in his mighty expanse.

Ps 149:3 Let them praise (halal) his name in the dance: let them sing praises with the timbrel and harp.

(Other references: 1Chr 2)

2. Yadah

2Chr 8:14; Ezra 3:10; Ps 22:22; Ps 63:5; Ps 69:30

Yadah is a verb with a root meaning, “the extended hand, to throw out the hand, therefore to worship with extended hand.” According to the Lexicon, the opposite meaning is “to bemoan, the wringing of the hands.”

2Chr 20:21 Give thanks (yadah) to the Lord, for his lovingkindness is everlasting.

Ps 63:1 So I will bless thee as long as I live; I will (yadah) lift up my hands in thy name.

Ps 107:15 Oh that men would praise (yadah) the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.

Other references: Gen 49:8; 2Chr 7:6; 2Chr 20:21; Isa 12:4; Jer 33:11

3. Towdah

Towdah comes from the same principle root word as yadah, but is used more specifically. Towdah literally means, “an extension of the hand in adoration, avowal, or acceptance.” By way of application, it is appratent in the Psalms and elsewhere that it is used for thanking God for “things not yet received” as well as things already at hand.

Ps 50:14 Offer unto God praise (towdah) and pay thy vows unto the Most High.

Ps 50:23 Whoso offereth praise (towdah) glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Other references: 2Chr 29:31; Jer 33:11; Ps 42:4

4. Shabach Shabach means, “to shout, to address in a loud tone, to command, to triumph.”

Ps 47:1 O clap your hands, all peoples; shout (shabach) to God with the voice of joy (or triumph).

Ps 145:4 One generation shall praise (shabach) thy works to another and declare thy mighty acts.

Isa 12:6 Cry aloud and shout (shabach) for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Other references: Ps 63:1-4; Ps.117:1; Ps 35:27; Ps 106:47

5. Barak

Barak means “to kneel down, to bless God as an act of adoration.”

Ps 95:6 O come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel (barak) before the Lord our maker.

1Chr 29:20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless (barak) the Lord your God.” And all the assembly blessed (barak) the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed low and did homage to the Lord and to the king.

Ps 34:1 I will bless (barak) the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Other references: Job 1:21; Ps 96:2; Ps 103:1-2; Ps 18:46

6. Zamar

Zamar means “to pluck the strings of an instrument, to sing, to praise; a musical word which is largely involved with joyful expressions of music with musical instruments.

Ps 21:13 Be exalted O Lord, in Thine own strength, so will we sing and praise (zamar) Thy power.

1Chr 16:9 Sing to Him, sing praises (zamar) to Him; speak of all His wonders.

Ps 57:8-9 Awake my glory; awake harp and lyre, I will awaken the dawn! I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord among the peoples; I will sing praises (zamar) to Thee among the nations.

Other references: Ps 66:2-4; Isa 12:5; Ps 27:6; Ps 149:3; Ps 30:4

7. Tehillah

Tehillah is derived from the word halal and means “the singing of halals, to sing or to laud; perceived to involve music, especially singing; hymns of the Spirit.

Ps 22:3 Yet Thou art holy, O Thou who art enthroned upon the praises (tehillah) of Israel.

Ps 33:1 Rejoice in the Lord, o ye righteous, for praise (tehillah) is comely for the upright.

Isa 61:3 To grant to those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise (tehillah) instead of the spirit of fainting, So they shall be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Other references: Ps 34:1; 1Chr 16:35; 2Chr 20:22; Deut 10:21; Exod 15:11; Ps 147:1-2

When people think of the word “puppet” most people think of Sesame Street, Muppets, or a children’s puppetry performance. However, puppets have a very long history and today they are used in many movies and theatrical productions as well as in ministry.

Puppets are fun, silly, and colorful. They live in a world of pretend, but they can talk about real issues. If ministering to children is your calling then starting a puppet ministry is a great way to fulfill that calling. Puppetry offers a unique way of presenting the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Things you will need:

• Puppets
• Stage
• Scripts

Begin by asking for the Lord’s guidance through prayer, next decide on the ministry’s mission statement.

How To Build A PVC Puppet Stage:

PVCPipePuppetStage