The word selah appears about 75 times in the Bible, what does it mean?

Answer 1

Selah means to lift up, or exalt. The word selah is from two roots: s_lah, to praise; and s_lal, to lift up. It is commonly assumed that this can also refer to a technical musical term showing accentuation, pause, or interruption, as the Psalms were, indeed, the hymnbook of Israel.1

Selah does connect the end of one strophe with the beginning of the next; and, in four cases it connects the end of one Psalm with the beginning of the next, thus uniting the two Psalms (Ps 3 with 4; 9 with 10; 24 with 25; and 46 with 47). Selah is, thus, a connector: it connects the two passages between which it is placed. However, it appears that selah is to connect with subject matter, not with music; with truth, not tunes. It is a "thought-link" which bids us to look back at what has been said and to mark its connection with what is to follow, or to some additional consequent teaching.2 It is neither the pausing on one subject nor the passing on from one subject to another, but it is the connecting of the two subjects together. Sometimes it is the structures that are connected. Sometimes it is synthetic, and adds a development of thought by connecting a prayer with that which forms the basis for it. Sometimes it is antithetic, and adds a contrast. And sometimes it connects a cause with an effect, or an effect with a cause.

Thus, if it be derived from salah, "to pause," it is not the instruments of music which are to pause while voices continue to sing; but it is our hearts which are to pause and to note the connection of precious truths. If it is derived from salal, "to lift up," then it is not the instruments which are to lift up their sound in louder degree, but our hearts which are to be lifted up to consider more solemnly the two truths which are thus connected.

Answer 2

The word Selah occurs seventy-three times in the Psalms, and is found also in Hab 3:3,9,13. It is a musical term and it means to pause, or reflect. For example, in Psalm 32:5 we read:

“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah”

When we see “Selah” it means we should pause and reflect on these words. It’s also believed that when the word Selah appears it indicates an instrumental interlude because the Psalms are poetry often set to music.

Answer 3

From Hitchcock's Bible Names:

Selah
the end; a pause


From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia:

It is disappointing after all this to have to confess that of the nature of Hebrew music we have no real knowledge. If any system of notation ever existed, it has been entirely lost. Attempts have been made to derive one from the accents, and a German organist once wrote a book on the subject. One tune in our hymnals has been borrowed from that source, but it is an accident, if not worse, and the ingenuity of the German organist was quite misdirected. We know nothing of the scales, or tonal system of the Hebrew, of their intervals or of their method of tuning their instruments.

Two terms are supposed by some to refer to pitch, namely, “upon,” or “set to ‛Ălāmōth,” Psa_46:1-11, and “upon,” or “set to the Shemīnīth” (Psa_6:1-10, Psa_12:1-8; compare also 1Ch_15:19-21). The former has been taken to mean “in the manner of maidens,” i.e. soprano; the latter “on the lower octave,” i.e. tenor or bass. This is plausible, but it is far from convincing.

It is hardly probable that the Hebrews had anticipated our modern division of the scale; and the word shemīnīth or “eighth” may refer to the number of the mode, while ‛ălāmōth is also translated “with Elamite instruments” (Wellhausen).

Of one feature of Hebrew music we may be tolerably sure: it was rendered in unison. It was destitute of harmony or counterpoint. For its effect it would depend on contrast in quality of tone, on the participation of a larger or smaller number of singers, on antiphonal singing, so clearly indicated in many of the Psalms, and on the coloring imparted by the orchestra. That the latter occasionally played short passages alone has been inferred from the term ṣelāh, a word that occurs 71 times in the Psalms. It is rendered in the Septuagint by diápsalmos, which either means louder playing, forte, or, more probably, an instrumental interlude.


From Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionary:

H5542
סלה -- selâh (seh'-law)
From H5541; suspension (of music), that is, pause: - Selah.

H5541
סלה -- sâlâh (saw-law')
A primitive root; to hang up, that is, weigh, or (figuratively) contemn: - tread down (under foot), value.

Answer 4

Good morning Larina,

"Selah" is a Hebrew word occuring repeately in the Psalms. Psalms is actually a "Hymnbook". Have you ever noticed that most songs have a "pause" when transitioning to a another stanza. Selah therefore in no more than a musical directive that says "Pause here".

Take care

Answer 5

It means I have missed it 75 times x 5

Answer 6

It's a musical term and not a religious term, and although the exact meaning is unknown, the probable meaning is either "repeat stanza" or "Chorus--meaning all singers repeat together instead of the soloist"

The Psalms are basically a collection of poems, and not all set to music, hymns, coronation hymns, hymns for special festivals and what not and written by a large number of individuals most of whom are anonymous, but in some the author is given. Asaph was the court musician believed to have served under King David by tradition. He's responsible for quite a lot of them. Various poetic devices are used which are not noticeable in translation, and acrostics are very popular. The first Hebrew Letter in each line read down either spells a word or message or in a few cases follow the Hebrew Alphabet in order "Alef, bet, gimel....etc." This is not noticeable in translation. The Psalms are not prophecies or prophetic, nor taken by Jews as such, although a few have grandiose promises of the King's conquering the enemies of Israel and all that stuff. They are classed by Jews as part of a group known as "Ketuvim" or "The Writtings" a group of poetic, philosophical and fictional works having artistic or moral value as opposed to historical value.

Three books in particular are concidered the Crown of the Ketuvim [Sefer Emet]: Job, Psalms and Proverbs. Other possible meanings of Selah as used as a musical or poetic device could be: A capella [repeat without instrumental accompaniment], Recititavo [Switch to oral speaking mode] or Accelerando [Increase in Tempo]. The word is connected with the Hebrew root for "Measure" but its exact meaning, as quite a few Classical Hebrew words are lost. Specific plants and animals mentioned in the Bible were known to the ancients but the exact meaning lost in time. There are phrases like shittim wood in the KJV which are left untranslated because nobody knows the exact type of wood this is. Gopher wood, used to make the Ark of the Covenant is another unknown type of wood. Quite a few candidates have been proposed but nobody can prove anything. Selah is like this. The meaning that guys like Asaph had in mind when using them is flatly lost. But my own suspicion is that it means either "Chorus" or "Refrain" but unfortunately proving it is not possible outside of possessing a time-machine! Although, as a linguist, finding connections of this word in Arabic or other semitic languages, especially used in their music would provide a major clue! In fact, Arabic evidence would suggest that this is actually a DANCE instruction for the professional dancers that accompanied the singers!

A lot of these Coronation Hymns especially were major spectacles and almost as involved a job as a full Opera by Wagner! They had a large chorus of professional singers, a dance troupe, special soloists, and a large assembly of instrumental virtuosi of the day! We can thank the Hassidim for bringing dance back into Judaism!

Answer 7

Its a word that denotes the end of a psalm or a pause. There ia also a Christian band of this name and also an merican town.
Here's a link that will explain in full

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/selah

Answer 8

Good question. Selah, [celah], is from the primary Hebrew root word [calah] which means 'to hang,' and by implication to measure (weigh). This is readily understood because in Biblical history, money, food and other valuables were 'weighed' by hanging or suspending them on a type of balance (the equivalent of our measuring scale) to determine their value. We find an example of this word [calah] as it is literally translated 'valued,' in the book of Job, indicating that which is measured.
Loretta

Answer 9

se·lah /ˈsilə, ˈsɛlə/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[see-luh, sel-uh] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
an expression occurring frequently in the Psalms, thought to be a liturgical or musical direction, probably a direction by the leader to raise the voice or perhaps an indication of a pause.
[Origin: 1520–30; < Heb selāh]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Sela
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
se·lah (sē'lə, sěl'ə) Pronunciation Key
interj. Used to conclude a verse in the Psalms.


[Hebrew selâ.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
selah
1530, Hebrew word occurring frequently at the end of verse in Psalter. Supposed to be a liturgical direction, perhaps meaning "pause," or perhaps a musical direction to raise the voice (cf. Heb. base s-l-l "to raise, lift").

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Selah, WA (city, FIPS 63280) Location: 46.65616 N, 120.53392 W
Population (1990): 5113 (1930 housing units)
Area: 7.0 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 98942
U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Selah

a word frequently found in the Book of Psalms, and also in Hab. 3:9, 13, about seventy-four times in all in Scripture. Its meaning is doubtful. Some interpret it as meaning "silence" or "pause;" others, "end," "a louder strain," "piano," etc. The LXX. render the word by daplasma i.e., "a division."
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Selah

Selah, the end; a pause
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
On-line Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

selah

selah: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary
On-line Medical Dictionary, © 1997-98 Academic Medical Publishing & CancerWEB

Answer 10

It is a word used to say for all to get quiet, as in music when there is the word "pianissimo" or the letters "pp" written in the staff. It means to play the music softer and more quietly. I think it is saying to taper off with something. It is the vocal equivalent of the musical term meaning the same thing.