מְחוֹלָה (me.cho.lah)
me.cho.lah
dance
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun meḥôlâ refers to a circle or ring of dancers, capturing the communal and rhythmic nature of ancient Israelite celebration. Unlike a solo performance, this word implies a group moving together in a coordinated fashion, often accompanied by music and song. It appears six times in the Hebrew Bible, highlighting its role in significant moments of national joy and religious observance.
The term is frequently associated with victory and deliverance. A prominent example occurs after the crossing of the Red Sea, where Miriam leads the women in a meḥôlâ to celebrate God’s triumph over Pharaoh’s army (Exodus 15:20). It also features in the story of Jephthah’s daughter, who comes out with timbrels and dances to greet her father (Judges 11:34), and in the festivities surrounding David’s return of the ark to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:5).
Its usage underscores dance as a public, communal expression of gratitude and praise rather than private entertainment. The word connects physical movement with spiritual response, showing how ancient Israelites used their bodies to enact joy and thanksgiving before God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word meḥôlâ describes a circle of dancers moving together in rhythm. It captures the communal joy of ancient Israel when God acted on their behalf. This is not private entertainment but a public expression of gratitude and praise before God.
When we face trials, this image reminds us that our response can be one of trust and celebration. Like Miriam after the Red Sea or David bringing the ark to Jerusalem, we join others in acknowledging God’s faithfulness. Our bodies and voices become instruments of thanksgiving.
This word invites you to see worship as something shared and physical. It is not just about what happens inside your heart but how you express it with others. In community, joy multiplies and burdens lighten.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in <the>/ dances2×
- and/ with/ dancing2×
- and/ the/ dancing1×
- and/ dancing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/מְחֹלֹ֑ת1×
- וּ/בִ/מְחֹלֹֽת\׃1×
- וּ/בִ/מְחֹל֑וֹת1×
- וְ/הַ/מְּחֹל֔וֹת1×
- בַּ/מְּחֹלוֹת֒1×
- בַּ/מְּחֹל֖וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 15:20
Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dances.
Miriam leads the women in a meḥôlâ to celebrate God’s deliverance from Pharaoh, showing dance as a response to national salvation.
-
I Samuel 18:6
As they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.
Women sing and dance to welcome David, illustrating how this word marks moments of military victory and royal celebration.
-
Judges 11:34
Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter.
Jephthah’s daughter comes out with tambourines and dances, highlighting the cultural expectation of joyful greeting for a returning hero.