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מְחֹלָה

𐤌𐤇𐤋𐤄

mᵉchôlâh

H4246 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חול to whirl, twist, circle, dance

Definition

A circling or processional dance, typically performed in a communal or festive context. The term primarily refers to a round dance or group dance, often connected with celebration, thanksgiving, or ritual observance. It is most often used for dances performed collectively, especially by women, during significant religious or communal events.

Semantic Range

circular dance, round dance, communal dance, processional dance, company of dancers, occasion of dancing, event marked by dancing

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root חול (חוּל), meaning 'to whirl, twist, writhe, dance in a circle.' The word מְחֹלָה is the feminine form from this root, indicating the act or place of dancing in a circle. Related to מָחוֹל (machol), another term for dance, but with a focus on the circular or communal aspect.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מְחֹלָה appears in narratives describing moments of communal joy or victory, such as Miriam and the women celebrating at the Sea of Reeds (Exodus 15:20), Jephthah's daughter (Judges 11:34), and at the celebration of Saul's kingship (1 Samuel 18:6). The term emphasizes communal participation, differing from terms denoting solo or individual performance. English translations often simplify מְחֹלָה to 'dance' or 'dancing,' but the original term conveys the communal, often circular, and sometimes ritual nature of the event. In contrast, other Hebrew terms for dancing (e.g., רָקַד) may not imply a circular formation. Over time, translated usage in post-biblical Hebrew shifted and expanded to broader forms of dance, but the biblical context stresses the round or procession-like quality in a group setting. Translation traditions sometimes use 'dances' or 'companies of dancers,' but may obscure the imagery implied by the circle or ring formation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

xlit mᵉchôwlâh corrected to mᵉchôlâh; feminine of מָחוֹל; a dance; company, dances(-cing).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חול (ḥ-w-l) — whirl, twist, circle, dance

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2341 חֲוִילָה Whirling Region
H2342 חוּל we writhed
H2343 חוּל and Whirl
H2344 חוֹל in whirling sand
H2426 חֵיל encircling rampart

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4246-04 וּ/בִ/מְחֹלֹֽת uvimecholot HC/R/Ncfpa and with dances and in circling dances 2
H4246-01 בַּ/מְּחֹלוֹת֒ bamecholot HRd/Ncfpa in the dances in the round dances 2
H4246-06 וְ/הַ/מְּחֹל֔וֹת vehamecholot HC/Td/Ncfpa and the dances and the round dances 1
H4246-03 וּ/מְחֹלֹ֑ת umecholot HC/Ncfpa and the dances and circling dances 1
H4246-05 בַ/מְּחֹלוֹת֙ vamecholot HRd/Ncfpa in dances in the circling dances 1
H4246-02 כִּ/מְחֹלַ֖ת kimecholat HR/Ncfsc like-a-dance like a circling-dance of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4246-04 Exodus 15:20 וּ/בִ/מְחֹלֹֽת uvimecholot HC/R/Ncfpa and with dances and in circling dances
H4246-03 Exodus 32:19 וּ/מְחֹלֹ֑ת umecholot HC/Ncfpa and the dances and circling dances
H4246-04 Judges 11:34 וּ/בִ/מְחֹל֑וֹת uvimecholot HC/R/Ncfpa and with dances and in circling dances
H4246-01 Judges 21:21 בַּ/מְּחֹלוֹת֒ bamecholot HRd/Ncfpa in the dances in the round dances
H4246-06 1 Samuel 18:6 וְ/הַ/מְּחֹל֔וֹת vehamecholot HC/Td/Ncfpa and the dances and the round dances
H4246-05 1 Samuel 21:12 בַ/מְּחֹלוֹת֙ vamecholot HRd/Ncfpa in dances in the circling dances
H4246-01 1 Samuel 29:5 בַּ/מְּחֹל֖וֹת bamecholot HRd/Ncfpa in the dances in the round dances
H4246-02 Song of Songs 7:1 כִּ/מְחֹלַ֖ת kimecholat HR/Ncfsc like-a-dance like a circling-dance of
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