Greek · G3738 · unreviewed

ὀρχέομαι

To dance (from the ranklike or regular motion)

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ὀρχέομαι G3738
Pronunciation orchéomai

What does ὀρχέομαι (orchéomai) mean in the Bible?

ὀρχέομαι (orchéomai) is a Greek word meaning "to dance (from the ranklike or regular motion)". ὀρχέομαι, -οῦμαι [in LXX for רָקַד, etc.

Full entry for ὀρχέομαι (G3738) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to dance (from the ranklike or regular motion)
Extended definition

Dancing as rhythmic, ordered movement; appears in NT contexts of entertainment or celebration rather than worship.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Aorist
Voices
Middle
Indicative states a fact or reality
Aorist Middle Matt 11:17 · Luke 7:32 · Matt 14:6
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality
Aorist Middle Mark 6:22
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 4 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 3 participle 1
Tense
aorist 4
Voice
middle 4
Mood
indicative 3 participle 1

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources