The Greek word skirtáō, represented by G4640, means to jump or leap. Its base definition specifies a sympathetic movement, like the quickening of a fetus. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, consistently describing a physical eruption of profound joy or reaction.
In the biblical narrative, G4640 is used in two significant contexts, both found in the Gospel of Luke. Primarily, it describes the reaction of the unborn John the Baptist, who leaped in his mother Elisabeth's womb upon hearing the salutation of Mary Luke 1:41. The word is also used by Jesus to command believers to leap for joy when facing persecution, because their reward is great in heaven Luke 6:23. In both instances, the term signifies an outward, physical action prompted by an inward spiritual reality.
Several related words help clarify the specific kind of joy that compels this physical leaping:
- G20 agallíasis (exultation; gladness, exceeding joy): This word is directly tied to G4640 when Elisabeth recounts that the babe leaped in her womb for joy Luke 1:44, defining the leap as an expression of exultant gladness.
- G5463 chaírō (to be cheerful, rejoice): This verb is paired with G4640 in Jesus's command to rejoice and leap for joy Luke 6:23, indicating that the leap is a celebratory act of cheerfulness rooted in faith.
The theological weight of G4640 lies in its portrayal of joy as an irrepressible, bodily response to God's work.
- Spirit-Prompted Recognition: The leap of the babe in the womb is not a random movement but a response that occurs as Elisabeth is "filled with the Holy Ghost" Luke 1:41. It functions as a pre-natal, prophetic acknowledgment of the presence of the Messiah.
- Joy in Future Hope: The command for believers to leap for joy Luke 6:23 connects a physical act in the present with a future, unseen reality. It is an expression of faith in the "great reward in heaven" promised by God.
- Physical Response to Divine Presence: In both the womb and in the life of a disciple, the leap described by G4640 is a reaction to the nearness of God—either physically in the person of the unborn Christ, or spiritually in the promise of eternal reward.
In summary, G4640 is not simply a word for jumping. It is a powerful descriptor of a joy so profound that it cannot be contained, resulting in a physical expression. From the womb of Elisabeth recognizing the presence of the Savior (Luke 1:41, Luke 1:44) to the believer's active celebration of a future heavenly reward Luke 6:23, skirtáō illustrates how the truths of God can provoke a tangible, physical response in the human body.
TRV