In the context of the Bible, the term "leap" is often used both literally and metaphorically to describe physical movement, emotional expression, or spiritual transformation. The act of leaping is associated with joy, divine intervention, and miraculous healing.

Old Testament References

1. Physical Expression of Joy: In the Old Testament, leaping is frequently associated with joy and celebration. In 2 Samuel 6:16, as the Ark of the Covenant is brought into Jerusalem, "As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart." Here, leaping is an expression of David's exuberant worship and joy before the Lord.

2. Prophetic Imagery: The prophets often use the imagery of leaping to convey messages of hope and restoration. In Isaiah 35:6, the prophet speaks of a future time of healing and renewal: "Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert." This passage highlights the transformative power of God's intervention, where physical limitations are overcome, and joy is restored.

New Testament References

1. Miraculous Healing: In the New Testament, leaping is prominently featured in accounts of miraculous healing. In Acts 3:8, after Peter heals a man lame from birth, it is recorded, "He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God." This act of leaping signifies not only physical healing but also spiritual awakening and gratitude.

2. Joyful Anticipation: The Gospel of Luke recounts the leaping of John the Baptist in his mother Elizabeth's womb as a response to the presence of Mary, who is pregnant with Jesus. Luke 1:41-44 states, "When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.'" This prenatal leaping is a profound acknowledgment of the Messiah's presence and the joy it brings.

Metaphorical Use

Leaping is also used metaphorically in Scripture to describe spiritual renewal and the joy of salvation. The act of leaping can symbolize a transition from despair to hope, from bondage to freedom, and from death to life. It reflects the believer's response to God's redemptive work and the joy that accompanies a restored relationship with Him.

Theological Significance

From a theological perspective, leaping in the Bible underscores the themes of joy, liberation, and divine intervention. It serves as a vivid illustration of the transformative power of God's presence and action in the lives of His people. Whether through physical healing, spiritual renewal, or prophetic promise, leaping is a dynamic expression of the joy and freedom found in God's salvation.1. (n.) A basket.

2. (n.) A weel or wicker trap for fish.

3. (v. i.) To spring clear of the ground, with the feet; to jump; to vault; as, a man leaps over a fence, or leaps upon a horse.

4. (v. i.) To spring or move suddenly, as by a jump or by jumps; to bound; to move swiftly. Also Fig.

5. (v. t.) To pass over by a leap or jump; as, to leap a wall, or a ditch.

6. (v. t.) To copulate with (a female beast); to cover.

7. (v. t.) To cause to leap; as, to leap a horse across a ditch.

8. (n.) The act of leaping, or the space passed by leaping; a jump; a spring; a bound.

9. (n.) Copulation with, or coverture of, a female beast.

10. (n.) A fault.

11. (n.) A passing from one note to another by an interval, especially by a long one, or by one including several other and intermediate intervals.

242. hallomai -- to leap
... to leap. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hallomai Phonetic Spelling:
(hal'-lom-ahee) Short Definition: I leap, bubble up Definition: I leap, leap up; ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/242.htm - 6k

4640. skirtao -- to leap
... to leap. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: skirtao Phonetic Spelling:
(skeer-tah'-o) Short Definition: I leap for joy Definition: I leap (for joy), skip ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4640.htm - 6k

1814. exallomai -- to leap up
... to leap up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: exallomai Phonetic Spelling:
(ex-al'-lom-ahee) Short Definition: I leap up Definition: I leap up (for joy). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1814.htm - 6k

2177. ephallomai -- to leap upon
... to leap upon. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ephallomai Phonetic Spelling:
(ef-al'-lom-ahee) Short Definition: I leap upon Definition: I leap upon ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2177.htm - 6k

376a. anapedao -- to leap up
... to leap up. Transliteration: anapedao Short Definition: jumped. Word Origin from
ana and pedao (to leap) Definition to leap up NASB Word Usage jumped (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/376a.htm - 5k

1601a. ekpedao -- to leap out
... 1601, 1601a. ekpedao. 1601b . to leap out. Transliteration: ekpedao
Short Definition: rushed. Word Origin from ek and pedao (to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1601a.htm - 5k

1601. ekpipto -- to leap out
... to leap out. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekpipto Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-pip'-to) Short Definition: I fall out, fall off, fall away, fade away, wither ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1601.htm - 6k

376. anaperos -- to leap up
... to leap up. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: anaperos Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ap'-ay-ros) Short Definition: crippled, maimed Definition: crippled ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/376.htm - 5k

1530. eispedao -- to rush in
... to rush in. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eispedao Phonetic Spelling:
(ice-pay-dah'-o) Short Definition: I leap into, rush into Definition: I leap into ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1530.htm - 6k

21. agalliao -- to exult, rejoice greatly
... of joy. 21 (from , "much, very" and 242 , "jump, leap") -- properly, getting
so in celebration; to () because . Word Origin from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/21.htm - 7k

1801. dalag -- to leap
... to leap. Transliteration: dalag Phonetic Spelling: (daw-lag') Short Definition:
leap. ... root Definition to leap NASB Word Usage climbing (1), leap (4). leap. ...
/hebrew/1801.htm - 5k

2187. zanaq -- to leap
... zanaq. 2188 . to leap. Transliteration: zanaq Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-nak') Short
Definition: leaps. ... root Definition to leap NASB Word Usage leaps (1). leap. ...
/hebrew/2187.htm - 5k

1750. duts -- to spring, leap, dance
... duts. 1751 . to spring, leap, dance. Transliteration: duts Phonetic Spelling:
(doots) Short Definition: leaps. ... be turned. A primitive root; to leap -- be turned ...
/hebrew/1750.htm - 5k

7540. raqad -- to skip about
... root Definition to skip about NASB Word Usage bounding (1), dance (1), frolic (1),
leap (1), leaping (1), skip (2), skip about (1), skipped (1). ...
/hebrew/7540.htm - 6k

4422. malat -- to slip away
... NASB Word Usage certainly rescue (1), deliver (7), delivered (9), escape (26), escaped
(25), escapes (3), gave birth (1), get away (1), lay (1), leap forth (1 ...
/hebrew/4422.htm - 6k

6339. pazaz -- to be supple or agile
... agile. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to be supple or agile NASB Word Usage
agile (1), leaping (1). leap, be made strong. A primitive ...
/hebrew/6339.htm - 6k

7520. ratsad -- to watch (stealthily)
... leap. A primitive root; probably to look askant, ie (figuratively) be jealous --
leap. 7519, 7520. ratsad. 7521 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7520.htm - 5k

6452. pacach -- to pass or spring over
... pacach. 6452a . to pass or spring over. Transliteration: pacach Phonetic Spelling:
(paw-sakh') Short Definition: halt. halt, become lame, leap, pass over ...
/hebrew/6452.htm - 5k

5425. nathar -- to spring or start up
... to spring or start up. Transliteration: nathar Phonetic Spelling: (naw-thar') Short
Definition: asunder. drive asunder, leap, let loose, make, move, undo ...
/hebrew/5425.htm - 5k

2727. charag -- to quake
... be afraid. A primitive root; properly, to leap suddenly, ie (by implication) to
be dismayed -- be afraid. 2726, 2727. charag. 2728 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2727.htm - 5k

The Knight's Leap: a Legend of Altenahr
... THE KNIGHT'S LEAP: A LEGEND OF ALTENAHR. So the foemen have fired the gate,
men of mine; And the water is spent and gone? Then bring ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the knights leap a legend.htm

'Then Shall the Lame Man Leap as an Hart'
... 'THEN SHALL THE LAME MAN LEAP AS AN HART'. 'Now Peter and John went up
together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/then shall the lame man.htm

A Leap Year Sermon *
... A Leap Year Sermon *. A Sermon (No.2663). Intended for Reading on
Lord's-Day, February 25th, 1900,. Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,. At [3 ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 46 1900/a leap year sermon .htm

Concerning the Multitudes who were Healed. Comparison of the ...
... and the lame walk, the prophecy of Isaiah being fulfilled, not only in things bodily
but in things spiritual, which said, "Then shall the lame man leap as an ...
/.../18 concerning the multitudes who.htm

"Free. "
... Presently a life-boat came alongside and the captain shouted, "Leap into the
life-boat"leap for your lives, or you will perish," and when I came to the point ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/free.htm

Celsus, Moreover, Unable to Resist the Miracles which Jesus is ...
... from what is contained in the prophecies: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf shall hear; then shall the lame man leap as an ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xlviii celsus moreover unable.htm

Moreover, if Sorcerers Call Forth Ghosts, and Even Make what Seem ...
... I suppose, regarding as gods in their temple those whose divinity you do not recognize
elsewhere; counting the madness which leads one man to leap from the ...
/.../tertullian/apology/chapter xxiii moreover if sorcerers.htm

On all the Saints.
... the wrath of princes, grasping at death as the producer of deathlessness, making
victory their own by their fall, through the body taking their leap to heaven ...
/.../dubious or spurious writings of gregory thaumaturgus/on all the saints.htm

Amasiah
... They waste their strength in trying to bring the jibbing horse up to the
leap. They try to blow up a fire of devotion and to make ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/amasiah.htm

The Devil, Since He Emulates the Truth, Has Invented Fables About ...
... Then the lame shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be distinct:
for water has broken forth in the wilderness, and a valley in the ...
/.../chapter lxix the devil since he.htm

Leap (20 Occurrences)
... Also Fig. 5. (vt) To pass over by a leap or jump; as, to leap a wall, or a ditch. ...
7. (vt) To cause to leap; as, to leap a horse across a ditch. ...
/l/leap.htm - 13k

Vault (2 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A leap or bound. 5. (n.) The bound or leap of a horse; a curvet. 6. (n.)
A leap by aid of the hands, or of a pole, springboard, or the like. ...
/v/vault.htm - 9k

Jump (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To spring free from the ground by the muscular action of the feet and legs;
to project one's self through the air; to spring; to bound; to leap. ...
/j/jump.htm - 8k

Skip (8 Occurrences)
... 6. (vi) To leap lightly; to move in leaps and hounds; -- commonly implying a sportive
spirit. ... 8. (vt) To leap lightly over; as, to skip the rope. ...
/s/skip.htm - 9k

Bound (175 Occurrences)
... 6. (vi) To move with a sudden spring or leap, or with a succession of springs or
leaps; as the beast bounded from his den; the herd bounded across the plain. ...
/b/bound.htm - 41k

Start (50 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To leap; to jump. 2. (vi) To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from
surprise, pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a voluntary act. ...
/s/start.htm - 23k

Leaping (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Leap. 2. (a. & n.) from Leap. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
LEAPING. ... You will go out, and leap like calves of the stall. (See RSV). ...
/l/leaping.htm - 9k

Leaped (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Leap. Multi-Version Concordance Leaped
(10 Occurrences). Luke 1:41 It happened, when Elizabeth ...
/l/leaped.htm - 9k

Gathers (27 Occurrences)
... (WEB RSV NIV). Isaiah 33:4 Your spoil will be gathered as the caterpillar
gathers. Men will leap on it as locusts leap. (WEB NAS RSV). ...
/g/gathers.htm - 14k

Insult (25 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To leap or trample upon; to make a sudden onset upon. ... 5. (vi) To leap or
jump. 6. (vi) To behave with insolence; to exult. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/i/insult.htm - 13k

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