### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
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.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
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.
### Related Words & Concepts
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.
### Theological Significance
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.
### Summary
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