Selah — Meaning in the Bible
A Hebrew word found 71 times in the Psalms and three times in Habakkuk. Its meaning is uncertain; it is often thought to mark a pause or musical direction.
Scripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition
The meaning of Selah is uncertain; any explanation is an interpretation.
What it means
Selah appears within and at the end of psalms, for example after "The LORD of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge." Psalm 46:7Psalm 3:2Habakkuk 3:3
Because its meaning is not certain, translations usually leave it as "Selah". Suggestions such as "pause" or "lift up" are scholarly guesses, not statements of the text. Psalm 3:4
Key passages
- Psalm 3 — Selah three times.
- Psalm 46 — A psalm of refuge.
- Habakkuk 3:3 — Selah outside the Psalms.