מָחוֹל (ma.chol)
ma.chol
dance
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun machol refers to a circle or ring dance, a communal movement that signifies joy and celebration in the Hebrew Bible. It appears in five verses, primarily within Psalms, Jeremiah, and Lamentations. The word captures the physical act of dancing as a collective expression rather than an individual performance.
Its usage highlights the social nature of biblical worship and festivity. In Psalm 149:3, for instance, Israel is called to praise God with dance, linking physical movement directly to spiritual gratitude. Conversely, Jeremiah 31:4 uses the term when describing God restoring the young women of Zion, where dancing becomes a symbol of renewed hope and community restoration after exile.
The root likely relates to circling or revolving, emphasizing the inclusive, cyclical nature of the dance. This imagery reinforces unity among participants, as they move together in a shared rhythm. Translators typically render machol simply as "dance," preserving its straightforward meaning while allowing the context to convey whether the scene is one of jubilation or lament.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word machol describes a circle or ring dance, a communal movement where people join hands and move together in rhythm. This imagery highlights that worship and celebration are not solitary acts but shared experiences. When Israel danced, they did so as a united community, expressing collective joy and gratitude to God.
In the Bible, this dance often signifies deep spiritual restoration. Jeremiah 31:4 speaks of young women going out in dances after exile, showing how communal joy can return even after seasons of loss. It reminds us that our faith is lived out in relationship with others, celebrating God’s goodness together.
Yet the word also carries weight in times of sorrow. Lamentations 5:15 notes when dance turns to mourning, acknowledging that grief can silence communal joy. This honest expression shows that our emotional lives are part of our spiritual journey. We find comfort knowing that God sees both our celebrations and our tears, inviting us to trust Him in every season.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ dancing2×
- in/ [the] dancing of1×
- dancing/ our1×
- and/ dancing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְחֹלֵֽ/נוּ\׃1×
- וּ/מָח֑וֹל1×
- בִּ/מְח֥וֹל1×
- בְּ/מָח֔וֹל1×
- בְ/מָח֑וֹל1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 149:3
Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!
This verse explicitly links praising God’s name with dance, establishing movement as a valid and joyful form of worship.
-
Jeremiah 31:4
I will build you again, and you will be built, O virgin of Israel. You will again be adorned with your tambourines, and will go out in the dances of those who make merry.
Here, dancing symbolizes the restoration of community and hope for Israel after the trauma of exile.
-
Lamentations 5:15
The joy of our heart has ceased. Our dance is turned into mourning.
The cessation of dance illustrates how profound grief can disrupt communal joy, validating honest lament before God.