What Does the Bible Say About Dancing?

“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.”

“And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.”

“And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.”

“And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) their enemies: Heb. those that rose up against them”

“And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. beside: or, he had not of his own either son or daughter: Heb. of himself”

“Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah. yearly: Heb. from year to year on the east: or, toward the sunrising of the highway: or, on the highway”

“Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;”

“And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.”

“And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.”

“So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.”

“And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.”

“They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.”

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;”

“The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.”

“Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. in: or, with the pipe”

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise ye: Heb. Hallelujah”

“Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. dance: or, pipe”

“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”

“Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. tabrets: or, timbrels”

“Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.”

“The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.”

“And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.”

“But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them , and pleased Herod. before: Gr. in the midst”

“And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.”

“And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:”

“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”

“Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.”