The Greek word orchéomai, represented by G3738, means to dance. According to its base definition, it describes a ranklike or regular motion. This specific term appears 6 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible, making its appearances notable and contextually significant.
In the biblical narrative, G3738 is used in two primary contexts. First, it describes a performance at a royal birthday feast, where the daughter of Herodias danced and pleased G700 Herod (Matthew 14:6, Mark 6:22). This act of dancing was so effective that it moved the king to make a great promise to her. Second, it appears in a parable-like saying about children in the marketplace who complain, "We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept" (Luke 7:32, Matthew 11:17). In this context, dancing is the expected joyful response that was inappropriately withheld.
Several related words help frame the meaning of G3738 by providing context for either its cause or its opposite:
- G832 auléō (to play the flute): This word describes the action, "piping," which is presented as the direct call for the response of dancing Matthew 11:17.
- G700 aréskō (to be agreeable... to seek to be so): This term is explicitly linked to the outcome of dancing in the court of Herod, where the performance successfully pleased the king Mark 6:22.
- G2354 thrēnéō (to bewail): This action is set up as the direct contrast to the celebratory context of dancing. The children's saying contrasts piping and dancing with mourning and lamenting Luke 7:32.
The narrative weight of G3738 is found in its specific, illustrative uses.
- Expected Response: Dancing is framed as the proper response to a joyful stimulus (piping). The failure to dance in the marketplace parable illustrates a generation's refusal to respond appropriately to the calls they were given Matthew 11:17.
- Performance and Influence: The term is used to describe a performance with a clear purpose. In the story of Herodias's daughter, the dance is a tool used to gain favor and influence, successfully pleasing Herod and his guests Matthew 14:6.
- Contrast between Joy and Grief: The word is always placed in opposition to sorrow. The parallel structure "piped/danced" versus "mourned/lamented" Matthew 11:17 establishes dancing as a key expression of celebration, distinct from acts of grief like bewailing G2354 and weeping G2799.
In summary, G3738 is more than a general term for movement; it is a specific word for dance used to make sharp narrative and theological points. It appears in contexts of both royal performance and parabolic teaching. Through its usage, it defines a proper response to joy, stands as a stark counterpart to mourning, and demonstrates how a physical act can be used as a powerful tool of influence.
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