TRANCE (תַּרְדֵּמָה, H9554, deep sleep; רָדַם, H8101, fast asleep; ἔκστασις, G1749, out of normal, displacement, confusion of mind.) That extreme form of confusion or displacement of mind wherein the person, who by some sudden emotion is transported as it were out of himself. In this rapt condition, although he is apparently otherwise awake, his mind is drawn off from all surrounding objects and available stimuli. Apparent external stimuli are entirely unnoticed as the person becomes wholly and obsessively fixed on things invisible (divine, hallucinatory, or unconscious). The person in such a condition may think and report that he perceives with his natural senses (visual and auditory, in particular) realities shown him by God or other supernatural forces. Religious or emotionally marked trances are described as “ecstasy,” an overwhelming joy or rapture, drawn from the same word, ekstasis. In extreme form, trance resembles or is coma.

Biblical usage. The Eng. word “trance” appears in the KJV only five times (Num 24:4, 16; Acts 10:10; 11:5; 22:17). In all of the NT occurrences, the RSV trs. it exactly as does the KJV, simply “trance.” All uses of the word are in the Book of Acts (10:10; 11:5; 22:17). Old Testament usage is limited to two occurrences and is in both cases rendered in the RSV “The oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, but having his eyes uncovered” (Num 24:4, 16). This particular development of the thoughts to be conveyed in these vv. in Numbers quite clearly reveals the basic intent of the term (trance) as a psychological concept.

The extreme form, which resembles or is coma, may be suggested in those passages in the OT using tardemah (deep sleep). It is to be noted that in these vv. the “deep sleep” is invariably connected with some manifest intervention of God; “So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man...” (Gen 2:21); “As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram; and lo, a dread and great darkness fell upon him. Then the Lord said to Abram...” (15:12, 13a); “a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them” (1 Sam 26:12b); “For the Lord has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep” (Isa 29:10). More lengthy treatment of this quality and association of the term (deep sleep) may be found in Job 4:13-16; 33:15-18. In Genesis 15:12 and Job 33:15 the same three Heb. words are used and are in the RSV tr. respectively, “a deep sleep fell on Abram, and lo, a dread and a great darkness fell on him,” and “In a dream in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon man.” The verb form רָדַם, H8101, is used with the same connotations* (Dan 8:18; 10:9). The same Heb. verb, however, is also used to express matters of natural conditions (Judg 4:21; Ps 76:5; Prov 10:5; Jonah 1:5).

New Testament usage of the term (trance) is always in connection with directives from the Spirit of God. As in the case of Peter (Acts 10:10), the context, the attendant circumstances and consequences, suggest that it was furnished or at least allowed and/or used by the Spirit of God (Acts 11:12, 15, 18). And the same is clearly stated by Paul (Acts 22:17). (See also: Astonishment; Dream; Vision.)

*Of divine visitation and moment.