Selah
A pause; meaning uncertain
SAY-lah · Hebrew · Old Testament
Meaning
A pause; meaning uncertain
Also rendered as: Lift up; Musical interlude.
Selah appears in the Psalms as a notation rather than a personal name. Its precise meaning is genuinely uncertain; the common reading of 'pause and reflect' is a scholarly proposal, not a settled definition.
The meaning of this name is genuinely disputed among scholars. We present the readings that circulate rather than choosing one as certain.
The Story Behind the Name
A term in the Psalms, not the name of a biblical person.
Scripture
“Be still, and know that I am God... Selah.”
Psalm 46:10-11
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