Meaning of selah in the book of psalms

In modern times, the word is used in the rastafarian culture as an amenesque substitute. There is no help for him in god god hath utterly forsaken him for his many crimes, and will never help him more. The meaning of the word is not known, though various interpretations are given below. Most scholars believe it refers to a pause or silence. This word is found in the psalms of david and the book of habakkuk. It is in this musical chapter that we find the word selah. Print out all the information in this selah file and put it in a notebook 2. Selah, celah, is from the primary hebrew root word calah which means to hang, and by implication to measure or weigh. Just as the hebrew word amen amen is an exclamation of confidence or truth and certainty of what has been said, so selah celah, is an exclamation that we. Phd describes his theory on the meaning of the biblical hebrew word selah, which occurs in the book of psalms and habakkuk.

There is a great deal of uncertainty about the meani. In this video, keith massey, phd describes his theory on the meaning of the biblical hebrew word selah, which occurs in the book of psalms and habakkuk. Book of psalms overview insight for living ministries. It is probably a term which had a meaning in the musical nomenclature of the hebrews, though what that meaning may have been is now a matter of pure conjecture. Throughout its many pages, psalms encourages its readers to praise god for who he is and what he has done. Selah may be a marker of a mood shift, a new paragraph, a transition in thought or a way of reframing the psalm see psalm 77. Has the exact meaning of selah in some psalms been definitely determined. This word, which is found only in the poetical books of the old testament, occurs seventyone times in the psalms and three times in habakkuk. It would be the same as a name since most names have a meaning. There is a great deal of uncertainty about the meaning of selah. Few who read the bible have any meaningful idea about what that means. Most scholars believe it is an instruction for the reader to pause and reflect on what has been written, others think it may be a musical instruction for the singers. It is found in the poetical books of the old testament.

An example is in the 9th psalm, where verse 16 has not only selah, but the word higgaion, which mean that a harp entered with music at that point. There is a statement by a tanna quoted at eruvin 54a that selah has a meaning like vaed and netzach, i. Selah is a word frequently found in the book of psalms, and also in habakkuk 3. Due to the confusion around the meaning of selah, bible translators have translated it in different ways. Four times it appears at the end of the entire psalm. The first time we see the word selah in the bible is in 2 kings 14. If this word is a musical direction in the psalms it probably means a lifting up of the voices or. A word frequently found in the book of psalms, and also in habakkuk 3.

Thirtyone of the thirtynine psalms that include the word selah are titled, to the choirmaster. A word frequently found in the book of psalms, and also in hab. Selah seela is a hebrew word meaning a musicalinterlude. The other uses of the word selah in the bible are the ones on which we will focus our studies. Jul 05, 2009 selah is found in two books of the bible, but is most prevalent in the psalms, where it appears 71 times. Selah the power of an ancient word from god every word of god is flawless. Selah is believed to be a specific musical notation, explaining what was expected at that point in the song. Alternatively, selah may mean forever, as it does in some places in the liturgy notably the second to last blessing of the amidah. Some say the purpose of this pause was to allow the listeners to reflect for a moment on the words being sung. Every now and then, after spending some time digging in the scriptures, an obscure word begins to radiate eternal meaning. Apr 24, 2019 thirtyone of the thirtynine psalms that include the word selah are titled, to the choirmaster, which seems to connect this word to musical notation, according to this crosswalk article. Selah is used 71 times in the psalms and 3 times in habakkuk. There are different views about the exact purpose of the word in the psalms.

Another interpretation claims that selah comes from the primary hebrew root word calah which means to hang, and by implication to measure weigh. Since the psalms were actually songsset to musicmany conclude that selah refers to musicians directions. The jewish study bible indicates the meaning of this hebrew word is uncertain and does not speculate about the meaning. The talmud eruvin 54a says that selah means forever. Psalm 20 meaningmy experience in fact, i can recall a time when i was. The first mention of selah in the bible is in 2 kings 14. No one knows exactly what it means anymore, but many feel it denotes a pause or holding back in. Sela, as in actress sela ward, is an unrelated biblical place name usually pronounced seel. To what do the various musical terms in the book of psalms.

The arabic equivalent is known as petra, also called so by the greeks and in english we know it to mean rock. The word selah is one of several musical terms in psalm superscriptions. Feb 11, 2014 if you look closely, every psalm that contains the word selah, also contains some musical direction. Selah is the most frequently used musical term in the psalms, occurring 71 times in the book.

The word has two meanings, one of a general character, implying thought. The prophetic book of habakkuk, like the psalms, is a book of poetry, and the third chapter is a prayer in the form of a song. This particular word appears about seventy times in the psalms and three times in the book of habakkuk. The title is derived from the greek translation, psalmoi. In fact, the greatest number of old testament quotations found in the new testament are from the book of psalms, psalm 110 being the most quoted by new testament writers. The book of psalms is the ancient hebrew songbook used for the temple singers.

Another interpretation claims that selah comes from the primary hebrew root word salah, which means to hang, and by implication to measure weigh. The 1907 catholic encyclopedia has a lengthy article on the psalms. When used in the psalms, which were sung rather than spoken, it marked a place where the singers were to pause for an instrumental interlude. The selah is there to signal the believer to measure carefully the meaning of what has been said. Selah definition, 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. Selah is found in two books of the bible, but is most prevalent in the psalms, where it appears 71 times.

Mar 17, 2007 selah is a word frequently found in the book of psalms, and also in habakkuk 3. Jan 06, 2008 the 1907 catholic encyclopedia has a lengthy article on the psalms. Higgaion meditation, a word which occurs three times in the book of psalms psalms 9. He slew of edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took selah by war, and called the name of it joktheel unto this day. Selahand the chapters and verses in which the word appearsis a part of the scripture inspired by god and is profitable for us to study.

But, it is his speculation, based on the similarity to another hebrew word in which the psalms were originally written that it is. Selah in the book of psalms sacred scripture catholic. An example of selah is seeing the term used seventyone times in the psalms in the hebrew bible. In light of a persian cognate meaning song, koehlerbaumgartner concludes probably a technical term. Probably it was a musical note, directing the singer either to lift up his voice. The name is derived from the term commonly used in the book of psalms, which has a many hebrew scholars in confusion over its meaning. Selah is a word used 74 times in the hebrew bibleseventyone times in the psalms and three times in the book of habakkuk. Selah is defined as a hebrew word that has been found at the ending of verses in psalms and has been interpreted as an instruction calling for a break in the. In fact, i can recall a time when i was living on a sheep farm and was having all sorts of struggles. Its precise meaning is mysterious, but it is interpreted as a pause to breathe and reflect on the important words just uttered. In modern synagogues, some rabbis use it to cue repetition or to change the tone when chanting the psalm. Are you suppose to say the word selah when reading the.

It should not be confused with the hebrew word sela which means rock. Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in god. The hebrew word selah appears throughout the book of psalms. Few who read the bible have any meaningful idea about what that. This musical term refers to a musical instrumentpossibly an. The psalms are notable for prophecies of the messiah, such as psalm 2, fulfilled in matthew 3. What is the meaning of the word selah in the bible. The book of psalms psalm 3 a morning prayer for gods protection objectives in studying this psalm 1 to note how historical events often served as the impetus for the writing of particular psalms 2 to observe the use and possible meaning of the word selah 3 to consider how david trusted in the lord to deliver him from his enemies. Given its context in the bible, selah is likely to mean to praise or pause and reflect upon what has just been said. I cried unto the lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy. When you read the book of psalms you come across the term selah 71 times. The radak 12th century france saw it as a musical notation for the.

The word selah appears to be related to the hebrew word salal which is used in sentences where it means to lift up, or to exalt for example proverbs 4. It is probably connected with the hebrew word salal which means to lift up or to increase the sound. This chapter of habakkuk ends with the words lamenatzeach beneginotai. These terms designate types of songs or names of melodies. As pointed out by the radak, evidence for this approach is that selah only appears in the book of psalms and in the third chapter of habakkuk. Psalms, with three mentions in the book of habbakuk. The psalms illuminate the greatness of our god, affirm his faithfulness to us in times of trouble, and remind us of the absolute centrality of his word. Hi pamela, thanxxx for the article and your interpretation many people dont think of this word and as a psalmist and writer myself i believe the writer wants to make a statement like amen which means so be it but i believe selah a feminine word is more so shall it beor ive always believed this word at the end of the psalms means so shall it be but it. Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for.

The word selah is used frequently in the book of psalms for example, in psalms 3. Jun 30, 2018 the word selah is found in two books of the bible, but is most prevalent in the psalms, where it appears 71 times. Nov 23, 2014 in this video, keith massey, phd describes his theory on the meaning of the biblical hebrew word selah, which occurs in the book of psalms and habakkuk. Selah a word frequently found in the book of psalms, and also in hab.

There are many points to be recounted in the history of the study of the psalms, but on this one, the author of the article says this. Why does the word selah occur several times in some of the psalms. Selah this word, which is found only in the poetical books of the old testament, occurs seventyone times in the psalms and three times in habakkuk. Selah dictionary definition selah defined yourdictionary. Selah is a hebrew word that literally means to lift up, or exalt. The diagram below shows the hebrew text analysis of psalm 3. The meaning of selah is uncertain, although it appears to be a liturgical direction of some sort. Psalm 20 is a very positive, upbeat kind of psalm even though it shares some characteristics with lament psalms. But, it is his speculation, based on the similarity to another hebrew word in which the psalms were originally written that it is a liturgical. The precise definition of selah is unknown, but most scholars believe that it indicates either a rest or a pause of the voice in singing so that only the instruments were heard, or a break in the psalm where there is a call to rest and reflect on the preceding words. And typically as you know lament psalms arent really upbeat.

It is probably either a liturgicomusical mark or an. Selah is defined as a hebrew word that has been found at the ending of verses in psalms and has been interpreted as an instruction calling for a break in the singing of the psalm or it may mean forever. Selah is a hebrew expression found in the psalms the hebrew song book and habakkuk 3, and is believed to supply technical direction for a piece of music. How to study the selah psalms to study the selah psalms in depth. Most scholars think its meant to be an instruction to the person reading the text to pause and think. The word selah is found in two books of the bible, but is most prevalent in the psalms, where it appears 71 times. But withal, it is generally placed at some remarkable. Sep 12, 2019 this view was expressed by the radak d.

The word selah appears 71 times in the book of psalms but its exact meaning is not known. In the new international version, a footnote is used at the end of the verse. Selah this word is nowhere used but in this poetical book, and in the song of habakkuk. But i have yet to see a good, consistent translation. What does the word selah mean in the book of psalms answers. Has the exact meaning of selah in some psalms been. It also appears three times in the third chapter of the prophet habakkuk 3. It also appears three times in the third chapter of the minor prophet habakkuk. Selah is a hebrew word that appears throughout the book of psalms in the bible. More correctly translated as sela it refers to a strong city and even the capital city of edom which is surrounded by mountains. There is a great deal of confusion about the meaning of selah, primarily because the hebrew root word from which it is translated is uncertain. The hebrew word selah occurs seventyone times in the book of psalms and three times in the book of habakkuk. The word selah is a hebrew word that occurs seventyone times in the book of psalms and three times in habakkuk.