Celebration is a fundamental aspect of human experience, and the Bible contains many references to it. Typically, celebrations in the Bible were communal and joyous occasions, often involving music, feasting, and dancing. These celebrations usually marked significant religious or spiritual events, such as festivals, feasts, or victories. While the Bible highlights the importance of celebration, it also underscores the need for genuineness, reverence, and gratitude during these times.
Who Celebrates in the Bible?
A wide variety of individuals and groups celebrate in the Bible. Kings, priests, prophets, and everyday people are all seen engaging in celebrations. Even Jesus himself participated in celebrations, the most famous of which is the wedding at Cana where he performed his first miracle. The Bible illustrates that celebration is not exclusive to a specific group or status; rather, it’s a vital aspect of communal life and religious observance for everyone.
What Do Celebrations Look Like in the Bible?
In the Bible, celebrations often involve specific rituals, activities, and protocols. They typically encompass communal gatherings, feasts, singing, dancing, and sometimes sacrifices. An example is the yearly feast of Passover, where the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt is celebrated. Another example is the feast of tabernacles, a joyful seven-day celebration with lots of food, singing, and rejoicing. Crucially, in all these celebrations, God is always at the center, with the purpose of the celebrations often being to honor, thank, or seek Him.
Where Do Celebrations Occur in the Bible?
Celebrations in the Bible occur in a wide range of settings. These might be publicly held in city squares, such as when King David danced with all his might before the Ark of the Covenant. They might be in a temple, like the many feasts and festivals held by the Israelites. Other celebrations, like the wedding at Cana, happen in private residences. Regardless of the location, the Bible shows that celebration is both a public and private affair, meant for communal enjoyment, remembrance, or worship.
When Do Celebrations Happen in the Bible?
While the Bible doesn’t explicitly lay out a calendar for celebrations, it does give guidance on when they might take place. They often occur after victories, as a sign of gratitude and joy. Celebrations also happen during religious festivals and feasts, as ordained by God in the Old Testament. Notably, celebrations also occur during unplanned, spontaneous events – think about the return of the prodigal son, a surprise that led to a joyous celebration. This demonstrates that while some celebrations are fixed, others happen as responses to unexpected but welcome occurrences.
Why Does the Bible Emphasize Celebration?
The Bible emphasizes celebration as a way to honor God and express gratitude, joy, and reverence. It’s a communal activity that strengthens bonds among individuals and their spiritual connection to God. But it also has a personal aspect, as seen in Psalms where David often purports his personal celebration of God’s goodness. The Bible brings attention to celebration as not only a merited response to blessings but also an act of worship and communion with God. It’s a reminder that moments of joy and gratitude, both individually and collectively, are integral to a rounded spiritual life.
Below is the full list of bible verses on celebration (King James Version – KJV). The list is ranked in order of popularity and we hope you find the inspiration you need.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Celebration
Psalm 150:1-6
“1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
Related Themes: Music Earth Creativity Singing
1 Corinthians 10:31
“31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Related Themes: Pride Dating Food Health Technology
1 Corinthians 5:8
“8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
Related Themes: Bitterness Truth
Psalm 118:24
“24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Luke 15:23-24
“23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
Related Themes: Food
Ecclesiastes 3:13
“13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”
Related Themes: Happiness
Ecclesiastes 3:4
“4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”
John 15:11
“11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
Matthew 2:11
“11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
Related Themes: Gold Money Omnipotence Worship Reverence
Luke 15:3-10
“3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”
Proverbs 9:11
“11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.”
Romans 14:5-6
“5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”
John 16:21
“21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.”
Psalm 16:11
“11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Related Themes: Joy Life Attitude Loneliness Birthday
Numbers 6:24-26
“24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Related Themes: Birthday Saying Goodbye Peace Health Children
Philippians 4:4
“4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
Related Themes: Joy Complaining Self Confidence Happiness Failure
Luke 15:7
“7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
Related Themes: Repentance Joy Guilt Tears Motivation
John 3:16
“16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Related Themes: Trespassing Life Love Money Omnipotence
Isaiah 7:14
“14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Related Themes: Omnipotence
Psalm 149:5
“5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.”
Jeremiah 29:11
“11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Related Themes: Hope New Beginnings Patience Frustration Life
Numbers 9:2
“2 Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.”
2 Chronicles 7:1-10
“1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house.3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.6 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.9 And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.”
Related Themes: Fire
1 Peter 1:8-9
“8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
Matthew 18:20
“20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Related Themes: Omnipresence Omnipotence Working Together Community Church
Galatians 5:22
“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”
Related Themes: Holy Spirit Arguing Criticism Self-Control Strangers
Psalm 23:1-6
“1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
Related Themes: Criticism Gossip Life Hope Omnipotence
Luke 1:45
“45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
Romans 6:23
“23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Related Themes: Life Hell Repentance Sin Omnipotence
Colossians 3:14
“14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”
