Greek word · G5525
χορός
choros
a dance
A round dance or line dance. A band of dancers, or the dancing ground. In Greek drama, the chorus of dancers and singers.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
A round dance or line dance. A band of dancers, or the dancing ground. In Greek drama, the chorus of dancers and singers.
- Against the English
English versions say 'dancing', which is a fair rendering. The Greek is plural ('dances'). It suggests groups of people dancing together, and what reaches the older son's ears is their sound: stamping, clapping and singing.
- Used elsewhere in the period
In the LXX, choros is used for the dancing of joy and victory: the women dancing in circles after battle (e.g. Exod 15:20; Judg 11:34; 1 Sam 18:6 have the related idea), and Ps 150:4, 'praise him with tambourine and dance (chorō)'. In Jeremiah 31:4, 13 (LXX 38:4, 13), restored Israel goes out 'in the dance of those who make merry'. That is the joy of exiles brought home.
Similar words
Where it appears
Luke · 1
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Luke 15:25 χορῶν. dancing.
Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
Here: It is plural: 'dances', meaning group dances in a circle or line. What he *hears* is the clapping, stamping and singing that go with them. The whole community is celebrating.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.