רָקַד (ra.qad)
ra.qad
to skip about
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb raqad describes a lively, energetic movement, typically rendered as "to skip," "leap," or "dance." It appears eight times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic books like Psalms and Job, where it captures physical joy or celebratory motion. Unlike static verbs of standing or sitting, raqad implies dynamic energy, often associated with celebration or exuberant praise.
In its basic Qal form, the word conveys skipping or hopping, suggesting lightness and agility. The Piel stem intensifies this meaning to "dance" or "leap," emphasizing deliberate, rhythmic movement. For instance, Psalm 149:3 commands believers to "praise his name with dancing," using this term to depict active, bodily worship rather than silent contemplation.
The word also appears in Job 21:11, describing children "leaping" like lambs, which highlights its connection to natural, unforced joy and vitality. Translators often choose between "skip," "dance," or "leap" depending on context, but the core sense remains one of spirited, upward or forward motion that expresses inner delight.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word raqad paints a picture of lively, energetic movement. It describes skipping, leaping, or dancing with an agility that suggests inner delight. This is not a stiff or formal posture but a dynamic expression of joy that engages the whole body. When Scripture uses this term, it often highlights a spirit that is unburdened and free.
In Psalm 114, even the mountains are described as skipping like rams. This imagery reminds us that creation itself responds to God’s presence with vibrant energy. For your faith life, this word invites you to bring your full self into worship. It suggests that praise can be an active, physical response to God’s goodness, rather than just a quiet thought.
Whether in the playful leaping of children or the celebratory dance of David, raqad points to a joy that overflows. It encourages us to find moments of lightness and celebration in our daily walk with God, trusting that He is the source of such vitality.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will skip about1×
- to dance1×
- they will leap about1×
- they skipped about1×
- they leap/ !1×
- they leap about/ !1×
- dancing1×
- and/ he made skip/ them1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּרְקְד֣וּ1×
- רָקְד֣וּ1×
- רְקֽוֹד\׃1×
- מְרַקֵּ֣ד1×
- יְרַקֵּדֽוּ/ן\׃1×
- יְרַקֵּד֔וּ/ן1×
- יְרַקְּדוּ\־1×
- וַ/יַּרְקִידֵ֥/ם1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 114:4
The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like lambs.
This verse uses the word to describe mountains skipping like rams, illustrating how creation reacts with dynamic energy to God's presence.
-
I Chronicles 15:29
As the ark of Yahweh’s covenant came to David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and playing; and she despised him in her heart.
Here it describes David dancing before the ark, showing that bodily movement can be a genuine expression of reverence and joy in worship.
-
Ecclesiastes 3:4
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
The term appears in this famous list to balance mourning with dancing, acknowledging dance as a God-ordained time for celebration.