Greek word · G4640

σκιρτάω

skirtaō

to leap

To leap, spring, skip or bound. It is used of young animals frisking, of joyful dancing or jumping, and in pictures of nature 'skipping'. It is a lively, often happy movement, not a twitch or a kick.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

σκιρτάω, -ῶ

[in LXX: Genesis 25:22 (רָצַץ hithpo.), Psalms 114:4, 6 (רָקַד), etc. ;]

to leap: Luke 1:41, 44 6:23.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 1:41

Range of meaning

To leap, spring, skip or bound. It is used of young animals frisking, of joyful dancing or jumping, and in pictures of nature 'skipping'. It is a lively, often happy movement, not a twitch or a kick.

Against the English

English 'leaped' is accurate. 'Kicked' or 'moved', as some paraphrases put it, would lose the sense of bounding, joyful movement. The Latin Vulgate's 'exultavit' ('exulted') goes the other way and already reads the joy of v.44 into this verse.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint): Gen 25:22, where Rebekah's twins 'leaped/struggled' inside her (ἐσκίρτων), an omen of the two nations' future. Ps 113:4, 6 (Ps 114 in Hebrew numbering), where at the Exodus 'the mountains skipped like rams'. Mal 3:20 (4:2 in English), where on the day the 'sun of righteousness' rises, the faithful 'leap like calves let loose from the stall'. Luke uses it again at 6:23: 'rejoice in that day and leap for joy.'

From the study of Luke 6:23

Range of meaning

To leap, spring, skip or bound about. In Greek it is used above all of lively young animals: calves, kids, lambs, colts. It can mean playful frisking, an excited jump, or (rarely) a struggling movement.

Against the English

"Leap for joy" (BSB, KJV, WEB, NIV, ESV) is accurate, but "for joy" is added from context. The Greek just says "leap!" (YLT keeps it bare). English readers may hear "leap for joy" as a stock phrase for being very happy. The Greek is literal, physical and a little undignified.

How it drifted

Partly. The phrase "leap for joy" has become a dead metaphor in English, so the bodily, animal-like picture is lost.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint): Genesis 25:22, the twins struggling in Rebekah's womb; Psalm 114:4, 6 (113 in the Greek), mountains skipping like rams; Jeremiah 50:11, "you frisk like calves"; Malachi 4:2 (3:20 in the Greek), where on the coming day of the Lord those who fear God's name "will go out and leap like calves released from their bonds." In Luke, the word appears only here and at 1:41, 44, where John leaps in Elizabeth's womb at Mary's greeting.

Where it appears

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 1:41 ἐσκίρτησεν leaped

    When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

    Here: A vivid word for leaping or bounding, used of lively animals and of joyful jumping. The past tense describes one sudden movement. Elizabeth later explains it as leaping 'for joy' (v.44).

  2. Luke 1:44 ἐσκίρτησεν leaped

    For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

  3. Luke 6:23 σκιρτήσατε· do leap for joy;

    Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in the same way.

    Here: A physical word for jumping and frisking, used in Greek of young animals and in Luke 1:41, 44 of the unborn John leaping in Elizabeth's womb. Jesus calls for joy you can see in the body, not just quiet contentment.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.