Selah
/ˈsiː.lə/noun
A Hebrew liturgical term found in the Psalms, likely indicating a pause or musical/meditative interlude.
Did you know?Because its exact meaning is uncertain, scholars have long treated Selah as a ritual or musical marker rather than ordinary speech, which gives it the eerie power of a word that functions like an instruction to the soul.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
סֶלָה (selāh)
“A liturgical or musical marker in the Psalms, probably signaling a pause, lift, or interlude.”
Ancient Hebrew tradition
Hebrew
סֶלָה (selāh)
“Used repeatedly in poetic scripture, likely as a performance or meditation cue.”
Septuagint / Ancient Greek
Greek
διάψαλμα (diápsalma)
“Rendered as a musical pause or interlude in Greek translation traditions.”
Latin
Latin
selah
“Carried over in biblical transmission as an untranslated sacred term.”
Modern English
English
selah
“A Hebrew word used in English Bible translations and devotional writing, often understood as a pause for reflection.”
Explore more surprising origins