H7540 H7540
To skip, leap, dance — expressing joy, divine power, or vigorous motion in both literal and celebratory contexts
A vivid verb of exuberant movement found across psalms, prophecy, and wisdom literature. In Psalm 114:4, the mountains themselves 'skipped like rams' at God's presence — a breathtaking image of creation leaping in response to divine power. David dances before the ark with such abandon that Michal despises him (1 Chr 15:29). The same word describes children leaping in carefree play (Job 21:11) and locusts bounding across mountaintops like chariots (Joel 2:5). Spanish 'saltaron/danzan' and French 'bondir' capture this full range from joyful dance to powerful leaping.
Senses
1. dance, leap about (Piel intensive) — Vigorous dancing or leaping in the Piel intensive stem. David's ecstatic worship dance before the ark (1 Chr 15:29), children frolicking in merriment (Job 21:11), wild goats bounding in ruins (Isa 13:21), locusts leaping on mountains (Joel 2:5), and chariots rattling (Nah 3:2). Spanish 'danzan/danzarán/saltan' and English 'leaping/bounding/dance' reflect the energetic intensity of the Piel form. 5×
AR["تَقْفِزُ", "يَرْقُصُ", "يَرْقُصُونَ", "يَرْقُصُونَ-", "يَقْفِزونَ"]·ben["তারা-লাফায়", "নাচছিলেন", "নাচছে", "নাচবে", "নাচে"]·DE["[ירקדו]", "[ירקדון]", "[מרקד]", "[מרקדה]"]·EN["bounding", "dance", "leaping", "they-leap", "will-dance-"]·FR["[ירקדו]", "[מרקד]", "danser", "ירקדון"]·heb["ירקדו", "ירקדוּן", "ירקדון", "מרקד", "מרקדה"]·HI["कूदता-हुआ", "कूदते-हैं", "नाचता", "नाचते-हैं", "नाचेंगे-"]·ID["melompat-lompat", "melompat-lompat-", "melompat-lompat.", "menari", "mereka-melompat-lompat,"]·IT["[ירקדו]", "[ירקדון]", "[מרקד]", "[מרקדה]", "dance"]·jav["badhé-mlumpat-mlumpat-", "joged", "jogèd", "kang-mlumpat-mlumpat", "piyambakipun-mlumpat"]·KO["뛰는", "뛰니라", "뛰어다니리라", "춤추는-자", "춤추리라-"]·PT["dançam", "dançando", "saltam", "saltando", "saltarão-"]·RU["будут-скакать-", "пляшущего", "подпрыгивающая", "скачут", "скачут-они"]·ES["danzan.", "danzarán-", "saltan", "saltando", "saltando!"]·SW["akicheza", "linaloruka", "wanacheza", "wanaruka", "watarukaruka"]·TR["dans-eden", "sıçrarlar", "sıçrayan", "ziplayacak-", "zıplar"]·urd["اُچھلتا", "ناچتے", "کودتے ہیں", "کودتے-ہیں", "کودیں-گے"]
2. skip, leap (Qal) — Simple skipping or leaping in the Qal stem. Mountains personified as skipping like rams at the Exodus (Ps 114:4, 6) and the proverbial 'time to dance' balancing 'a time to mourn' (Eccl 3:4). Spanish 'saltaron/para danzar' and French 'bondir' preserve the lighter, more basic movement sense distinct from the Piel's intensity. 3×
AR["تَقفِزون", "قَفَزَت", "لِلرَّقْصِ"]·ben["তোমরা-নাচো", "নাচতে", "নাচল"]·DE["[רקוד]", "du-skip", "skipped"]·EN["skipped", "to-dance", "you-skip"]·FR["bondir", "רקוד"]·heb["רקדו", "רקוד", "תרקדו"]·HI["नाचते-हो", "नाचने-का", "नाचे"]·ID["kamu-melompat", "melompat", "untuk-menari"]·IT["a-dance", "salto'"]·jav["njoged", "sami-njoged", "sampéyan-njoged"]·KO["뛰느냐", "뛰었도다", "춤추기-위한"]·PT["para-dançar", "que-saltais", "saltaram"]·RU["скакали", "скачете", "танцевать."]·ES["para-danzar", "que-saltáis", "saltaron"]·SW["iliruka", "mnaruka", "wa-kucheza"]·TR["dans-etmek-icin", "sıçradı", "sıçradınız"]·urd["ناچنے-کا", "کودتے-ہو", "کودے"]
3. cause to skip (Hifil causative) — Causative skipping in the Hifil stem — making something leap. Used once in Ps 29:6 where the LORD's thunderous voice makes Lebanon and Sirion skip like a young wild ox. Spanish 'y los hace saltar' and French 'et bondir' both capture the causative force: it is God who compels even mountains to leap. 1×
AR["وَيُرْقِصُهَا"]·ben["এবং-তিনি-লাফান"]·DE["und-er-macht-ihnen-skip"]·EN["and-he-makes-them-skip"]·FR["et-bondir"]·heb["ו-ירקיד-ם"]·HI["और-कुदाता-है-उन्हें-वह"]·IT["e-salto'"]·jav["Lan-Panjenengan-ndadosaken-mlumpat-mlumpat"]·KO["그리고-뛰게-하시도다"]·PT["E-fá-los-saltar"]·RU["и-заставляет-скакать-их"]·ES["y-los-hace-saltar"]·SW["Na-anawafanya-kuruka"]·TR["ve-zıplatır-onları"]·urd["اور-نچاتا-ہے-اُنہیں"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† רָקַד vb. skip about (NH Pi. Hiph. = BH; so Aramaic רְקַד Pa., ܪܩܰܕ Pa.; Assyrian raḳâdu, skip, dance; Arabic رَقَدَ ix. run with leaps and bounds, رَقَدَانٌ leaping up briskly);— Qal skip about, Pf. 3 mpl. רָֽקְדוּ ψ 114:4 (of mts., כְּאֵילִים); Impf. 2 mpl. תִּרְקְדוּ v 6 (id.; both of Sinai quaking at law-giving); Inf. cstr. עֵת רְקוֹד Ec 3:4 a time to mourn (סְפֹד), and a time to skip about…