סֶלָה selah
Hebrew word for “Selah” · Strong’s H5542 · used 74 times in 74 verses
Meaning
§ 1) to lift up, exalt; 1a) Selah; 1a1) a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption
How it is translated
Glosses given for selah in context, with how often each is used:
- selah 74
Where it is used
Chapters where it is used most
Psalms 89 (4), Psalms 3 (3), Psalms 32 (3), Psalms 46 (3), Psalms 66 (3), Psalms 68 (3), Psalms 77 (3), Psalms 140 (3), Habakkuk 3 (3), Psalms 4 (2)
Forms
- סלה 74
Words used with it
Words that share verses with selah more often than their overall frequency would suggest:
- יַעֲקֹב yaaqov “Jacob” 7
- נֶפֶשׁ nephesh “soul” 7
- עוֹלָם olam “forever” 6
- צָבָא tsava “Hosts” 6
- נוּ nu “us” 5
- אַךְ akh “surely” 4
- סֵתֶר seter “secrecy” 3
- כּוּן kun “to establish” 4
- אֵל el “God” 4
- רָשָׁע rasah “wicked” 4
- חָנַן chanan “be gracious” 3
- יְשׁוּעָה yeshuah “salvation” 3
Key verses
The verses using selah that are most connected by cross-references (King James Version):
- Psalms 4:2 — O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
- Psalms 9:16 — The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
- Psalms 32:5 — I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of…
- Psalms 39:5 — Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
- Psalms 46:7 — The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Psalms 46:11 — The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Psalms 52:5 — God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
- Psalms 62:4 — They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
- Psalms 62:8 — Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
- Psalms 67:1 — [To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song.] God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
- Psalms 82:2 — How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
- Habakkuk 3:3 — God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
See all 74 verses in the Word Atlas
Hebrew and Greek text, tagging, glosses and lexicon definitions: STEPBible.org, Tyndale House Cambridge (TAHOT, TAGNT, TBESH, TBESG; CC BY 4.0), adapted. Counts follow King James verse numbering; a word counts each time it is written.