Word Study for H4234 (מָחוֹל)

mâchôwl /maw-khole'/ Ask about this word

Meaninga (round) dance

KJV usagedance(-cing).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâchôwl — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word mâchôwl, represented by H4234, refers to a (round) dance. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible, typically symbolizing an exuberant expression of joy and celebration, often in a religious context.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H4234 frequently marks a transition from sorrow to gladness. It is an outward sign of God's restorative work, as when He turns mourning into dancing and replaces sackcloth with gladness Psalms 30:11. This theme is prominent in prophecy, where the restoration of Israel is described as the virgin of Israel once again going forth in the dances of them that make merry Jeremiah 31:4. Conversely, the cessation of dance signifies profound national tragedy, as lamented when "our dance is turned into mourning" Lamentations 5:15. The act is also explicitly linked with worship, a way to praise God's name with instruments like the timbrel and harp (Psalms 149:3, Psalms 150:4).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help frame the meaning of mâchôwl:

H2015 hâphak (to turn about or over): This verb is central to the context of H4234, describing the divine act of turning mourning into dancing Psalms 30:11 or, conversely, turning the dance into mourning Lamentations 5:15.
H60 'êbel (lamentation; mourning): As the emotional antithesis of the joy found in dance, mourning is what is often replaced by dancing as a sign of God's comfort and deliverance Jeremiah 31:13.
H8596 tôph (a tambourine; tabret, timbrel): This musical instrument is frequently mentioned alongside the dance, showing that mâchôwl was part of a vibrant, musical celebration. The Psalms call for praise with the timbrel and dance Psalms 150:4, and Israel is promised to be adorned with tabrets before going forth in dances Jeremiah 31:4.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H4234 is centered on themes of joy and restoration.

Sign of Divine Restoration: The act of dancing is a powerful symbol of God's intervention to reverse sorrow. It is a physical manifestation of joy that comes directly from God turning a dire situation into one of gladness Psalms 30:11.
Expression of Worship: Dance is presented as a valid and encouraged form of worship. It is listed among other acts of devotion like singing praises and playing musical instruments to honor God's name (Psalms 149:3, Psalms 150:4).
Promise of Communal Celebration: The restoration of the dance is a promise of renewed community life, where all generations—virgins, young men, and old—rejoice together Jeremiah 31:13. It is a feature of a people rebuilt and adorned by God Jeremiah 31:4.

Summary

In summary, H4234 is far more than a physical activity. It serves in Scripture as a potent symbol of joy restored by divine power, a dynamic form of worship, and a mark of a thriving, celebratory community. It stands in stark contrast to mourning, representing the tangible result of God's comfort and deliverance in the lives of His people.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 6 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מָחוֹל
מְחוֹל

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (3 verses); never once in the other 36.

Psalms

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.