David Did Not Dance Naked

I am guilty of saying that David danced naked with nothing more than a linen ephod because I was taught this belief by a pastor who had been preaching for over 20 years. However, the longer I read inadvertently finding false doctrines, mistranslations, and misinterpretations—and I’m only 7 years in it—the more I discover the truth. Therefore, please know that if you were taught this by a pastor too, it’s inaccurate.

David was dancing for the Lord before the whole city and his wife Michal despised him when she looked out the window and saw him enter the city leaping and dancing.

And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord ; and she despised him in her heart. – 2 Samuel 6:16 KJV

She confronted David about it and told him that it was shameful that the maidservants of the servants saw the king dance like that. However, she used these words.

[20] Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!” – 2 Samuel 6:20 KJV

Michal despised the leaping and dancing because David was a king who danced as he entered his city and it was not proper etiquette to do that and yet, he did it in front of the basest of people; the maids of David’s servants. So she compared him to vain men who have no shame.

David rebuked Michal saying that God chose him, and that he would continue to worship the Lord and humble himself more than her and be base before the Lord and he said that the maidservants will honor that. Thus, David rebuked her for thinking too highly of herself and looking down on the maids of the servants.

[21] And David said unto Michal, “It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord. [22] And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. [23] Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. – 2 Samuel 6:21-23 KJV

So if David was naked, it would have been a shame for the whole city, but the “uncovering” was more about status and we see the comparisons David makes about being base when he answers Michal.

David wore upon his garments a linen ephod, which is an outer garment like a girdle that priests wore. The ephod represents truth. He danced because the ark of God was returned to the City of David.

And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. – 2 Samuel 6:14 KJV