On Eagle's Wings Inc.

The full understanding of Dance, as used in the Bible, has been lost for most people. There may be many reasons for this. One reason lies in the way the Hebrew words were translated in the English Bible. Translation is not an easy task, because sometimes the original word does not have an exact copy in the language you are translating to. Many words have a meaning that fits into another language only by use of multiple words in the other language. Let me give an example:

In Exodus 5:1 KJV the Bible says: “And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD [Yahuwah] God [Elohim] of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.”

The English word “feast” was used to translate the Hebrew word “chagag”. It carries the meaning: to move in a circle, to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; to be giddy, celebrate, dance, to keep a holiday. So basically God [Elohim] had Moses tell Pharaoh to let his people go to the wilderness to have a Jewish Dance Festival to Worship God [Elohim]. When they actually left Egypt and came to the wilderness, they held this “feast” or chagag and were betrothed to God [Elohim] in marriage. (Jeremiah 2:2) It's very appropriate to Dance at Wedding Betrothal Ceremonies!

Of the Seven Biblical Feasts found in Leviticus, three are designated as major Dance Festivals in which God [Elohim] has commanded all believers to celebrate each year. These are the Festivals of Passover/Unleavened Bread, Shavuot and Sukkot. Each of these festivals are directly related to a believer's marriage to Yeshua. Unleavened Bread is celebrated right after Passover, and relates to the celebration of the Bride Price being paid by Yeshua when He was crucified on Passover, paying the penalty of death for His Bride's sin. The Bride price He had to pay was His very life. Shavuot, or the “Feast of Pentecost” represents the traditional gift given by the Groom to the Bride after a Jewish Betrothal. The Bride of Yeshua receives the gift of the Holy Spirit in their lives, which makes sanctification possible. This begins the process of the Bride fashioning herself after her Groom. In fact, a Jewish word for Betrothal is kiddushin and means sanctification. This is the stage all believers in Yeshua are in right now. The feast of Sukkot, is celebrated in honor of the actual marriage of Yeshua and His Bride, when He comes to take her to His home. Since these “feasts” relate to such a beautiful wedding and the salvation of mankind, is it any wonder that God [Elohim] has instructed us to dance as part of these important Wedding Rehearsals?

The Hidden Dance In Scripture

In addition to the word "feast" in the English translation of the Bible, there are many other words in Scripture that refer to Dance when read from the original Hebrew language. Below is a list of some verses with such words highlighted, followed with the original Hebrew Word in [brackets] and its meaning. Due to the importance of understanding the meaning of the Hebrew word its definition will be repeated after each Bible reference.

(Leviticus 23:41 KJV) And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD [Yahuwah] seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations: ye shall celebrate [chagag] it in the seventh month.

Chagag - means to move in a circle, to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; to be giddy, celebrate, dance, (keep, hold) a (solemn) feast (holiday), reel to and fro.

(Numbers 29:12 KJV) And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep [chagag] a feast unto the LORD [Yahuwah] seven days

Chagag - means to move in a circle, to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; to be giddy, celebrate, dance, (keep, hold) a (solemn) feast (holiday), reel to and fro.

(Nahum 1:15 KJV) Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep [chagag-celebrate and worship in dance] thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

(Deuteronomy 16:15 KJV) Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast [chagag -celebrate and worship in dance] unto the LORD [Yahuwah] thy God [Elohim] in the place which the LORD [Yahuwah] shall choose: because the LORD [Yahuwah] thy God [Elohim] shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

(Psalms 42:4 KJV) When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God [Elohim], with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday [chagag-celebrated and worshipped through dance].

For our last example we will show what the Bible says regarding those who do not chagag [worship Elohim in dance] the Feast of Tabernacle's during the millennial reign of Yeshua.

(Zechariah 14:16-18 KJV) And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD [Yahuwah] of hosts, and to keep [chagag] the feast of tabernacles. {17} And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD [Yahuwah] of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. {18} And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD [Yahuwah] will smite the heathen that come not up to keep [chagag] the feast of tabernacles.

So basically, this verse is saying that all people of the earth shall go up every year to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles in Worship Dance. Those who do not go up will receive no rain, and after that, if they still do not go up, then Yahuwah calls them the children of Egypt and He will smite (kill) them. Remember, Elohim used the people of Egypt during the time of Moses to represent those who keep Elohim's people in slavery. This has nothing to do with Egyptians in general. Elohim's Plan of Redemption and Betrothal is for Egyptians as well. All they have to do is say, "yes" to His invitation of Marriage.

Another example, showing the importance Yahuwah Elohim places on Worship through Dance can be found in Numbers 9:6-14, where Yahuwah gives directions for those who could not participate in Passover, because they became unclean or had to be on a journey during the Festival. He gives an alternative day, exactly one month later on the 14th. If they do not celebrate that one either, then they are to be cut off from their people and die in their sin. Remember, this is an Old Covenant principle applied to someone strictly under the law. The Bible also says that liars will not enter the kingdom of heaven. New Covenant Believers are under grace and will not go to hell because they have lied in their life time. Nor will they go to hell if they have not celebrated the Biblical Holidays. The point Yahuwah is making, is that these Holidays are important because they point to Elohim's Great Plan of Redemption. Just as we commit to not lying, we also should commit to following Elohim's pattern in the Feasts, which includes dance, the best we can. To continue to do so otherwise, could mean that we are the symbolic children of Egypt, working to keep others and ourselves in slavery to sin.

(Exodus 12:14 KJV) And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep [chagag] it a feast [chag] to the LORD [Yahuwah] throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast [chagag] by an ordinance forever.

In Hebrew, when they use the word chagag it refers to the worship dance aspect of the feast. When they use the word chag it refers to just the solemn festival part. When reading the English translation there is no indication which Hebrew word was used. You must look it up for yourself. I recommend that everyone purchase a good Hebrew Concordance/Dictionary. They now have electronic ones where you can just click on the English word to see it's Hebrew counterpart and definition.

Other Hebrew Words for Dance in Scripture

(1 Chronicles 15:29 KJV) And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD [Yahuwah] came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing [raqad] and playing: and she despised him in her heart.

(Ecclesiastes 3:4 KJV) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance [raqad]

In Zephaniah 3:17 KJV we read: “the LORD [Yahuwah] thy God [Elohim] in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”

In the above verse, the second use of the word joy in the English translation comes from the Hebrew word gheel and means to spin round under the influence of great emotion or basically to dance with joy. So God [Elohim] promises to dance over His Bride with singing!

(Psalms 149:1-4 KJV) Praise ye the LORD [Yah]. Sing unto the LORD [Yahuwah] a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. {2} Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. {3} Let them praise his name in the dance [machowl]: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. {4} For the LORD [Yahuwah] taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation [yeshua].

The word dance above comes from the Hebrew word machowl and means a round dance or dancing. This refers to the traditional Jewish dance that is done in a circle. Here at On Eagle's Wings, we find it very interesting to see round dance in Scripture. This is because God [Elohim] gave us a picture of the ministry in the form of a Honey Bee. Honey Bees do a circle dance to inform the rest of the labor force where the nectar can be found. In like manner, we do circle dances to bring awareness to the Gentiles, that there are still dispersed Jews that need to be regathered. At the time God [Elohim] gave us our picture of the Honey Bee we did not know about the round dance contained in Scripture.

(1 Samuel 18:6 KJV) And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing [mechowlah], to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.

In this instance, the Hebrew word for dance is mechowlah, and is the feminine word used for a dance, dance company or dances or dancing.

Below is another use of the feminine word for dance: mechowlah:

(Judges 11:34 KJV) 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.

(Psa 30:11 NIV) You turned my wailing into dancing [machowl]; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
Again, in Hebrew, we have the use of machowl to describe a round dance.

(Jeremiah 31:13 KJV) Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance [machowl-round 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.

Below is an example of King David's wife despising him for worshiping the LORD [Yahuwah] in dance;
(1 Chr 15:29 KJV) And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD [Yahuwah] came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.

The Hebrew word for dance in that instance is raqad, and means to stamp, to spring about (wildly or for joy), dance, jump, leap, skip.

Here is the Scriptural account of what happened to Michal after she spoke against David for dancing in public:

(2 Samuel 6:20-23 NIV) When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!" {21} David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD [Yahuwah], who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord's [Yahuwah's] people Israel--I will celebrate before the LORD [Yahuwah]. {22} I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor." {23} And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

By the way, it is said that David did not totally disrobe but only took off a part of his garment. Probably because he was hot. This is consistent with Biblical patterns of modesty.

(2 Samuel 6:14 KJV) And David danced [karar – to dance, to whirl] before the LORD [Yahuwah] with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

(Lamentations 5:14-16 KJV) The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their music. {15} The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance [machowl – round dance] is turned into mourning. {16} The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!

(Exodus 15:20 KJV) 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 [mechowlah – feminine for dance, dance company, dance, dancing].

(Judges 21:21, 25 KJV) 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. {25} In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

The Hebrew word for dance above is chuwl, and carries with it the meaning to twist or twirl in a circular or spiral manner. The Hebrew word for dances above (plural) is mechowlah and is the feminine word for dance or dance company.

(Psalms 150:4 KJV) Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

In this instance the Hebrew word is machowl and this verse is telling us to praise God [Elohim] with the round dance.

(Exodus 12:13-14 KJV) And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. {14} And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD [Yahuwah] throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

The second use of the word feast comes from the Hebrew word chagag which means to move in a circle, to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; to be giddy, celebrate, dance, (keep, hold) a (solemn) feast (holiday), reel to and fro.

(Exodus 23:14-16 KJV) Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. {15} Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) {16} And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.

The first word for “feast” in the English translation translates the Hebrew word “chagag” and instructs all three Pilgrimage feasts to include dancing and celebration.
Remember chagag means to move in a circle, to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; to be giddy, celebrate, dance, (keep, hold) a (solemn) feast (holiday), reel to and fro.

The other three words used for feast in verses 15 through 16 translate the word chag which basically means a festival.

So, believers dance and celebrate Unleavened Bread because it represents the Bride Price being paid. We celebrate Pentecost because it represents the Bridal Gift or Gift of the Holy Spirit and the wedding contract, which is now on the believer's heart and mind. We celebrate Tabernacles, because it looks forward to the Groom's arrival and the full completion of the marriage. Every Dance Festival in the Biblical Feasts are to be like anniversaries and rehearsals for the purpose of remembering the past and pointing to the future events to come.

As we continue to learn about the Restoration of Dance in Worship from Scriptures, we should keep these Words from Malachi in mind:

For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD [Yahuwah] of hosts. (Malachi 2:7 KJV)

The word keep translates the Hebrew word chagag and is telling us to celebrate knowledge of God [Elohim] with Dance for we are the messengers of the LORD [Yahuwah] of Hosts!

Practical Steps to Bring Dance to Your Family

Teach these principles to your family and friends. Most people have no idea what the Bible says about the importance of dance. In fact, most people have been taught that dancing is a sin and not appropriate for church. You will need a Hebrew Dictionary and Concordance to show them.

Practice Jewish Dance in your home with your family. Invite friends when possible but don't depend on them. Dance alone if you must, but being head of your household, you should be able to get your family's participation. Friends will eventually follow. Remember that you are breaking up very hard ground, but the soil gets soft after awhile.

Learn the Basic Jewish Dance Steps. We have free dance instruction videos on our website. You may go there by clicking here.

Obtain some Messianic Music with Choreographed Dance Steps. You may obtain some free downloads from our website as well as links to where you can purchase some by clicking here. You may also be creative and choreograph the basic steps to this music as you desire. The Ministry of On Eagle's Wings Inc. is dedicated to helping people Restore proper Biblical Dance. You can contact us for assistance by clicking here.

If you have lots of money, you can purchase a portable sound system, which really brings the music to life. If not, a portable CD player works also.

Have lots of love and patience. People resist change and can feel awkward at first. Give it time and practice. One will not appreciate dance until they have actually participated in it. It simply is not the same as watching it.

Study the Biblical Holidays and the Concept of the Bride of Christ and Betrothal. These are so intricately related to dance, that they should not be separated. You obviously do not have to wait for a Biblical Holiday, but understanding you are the Betrothed Bride of Yeshua can really bring your celebration to life.

Be ready to stand up to persecution and resistance. The Bible says that we do not battle against flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities of this world. Trouble and persecution will bring perseverance. The fruit of your labor will last for eternity and bring great joy, even while still on earth.

Copyright Myron L. Martin 2009
Used with permission
All rights reserved