What Does Selah Mean? The Word in the Margins of the Psalms

Selah is a Hebrew word that appears 74 times in the Bible: 71 times in the Psalms and 3 times in Habakkuk. No one knows its meaning for certain, but it is widely understood as a pause, a moment to stop and let what has just been said sink in.

Pronunciation and origin

Selah is usually pronounced SEE-lah or SAY-lah. It is almost certainly a musical or liturgical note, written in the margins of songs that were sung in worship. Some scholars connect it to the Hebrew salal, to lift up, suggesting a moment where voices or instruments rose. Others see it as a rest, an interlude or a cue to pause and reflect.

Where it appears in the Bible

Selah sits at the end of lines in psalms of every kind: laments, praise and prayers for help. It appears three times in Psalm 46 (verses 3, 7 and 11), the psalm that also contains one of the best-known lines in Scripture:

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10

Its three appearances outside the Psalms are all in Habakkuk 3, a prayer that is also set to music.

What it means for us

Whatever its exact meaning, Selah interrupts. It doesn't let you rush to the next line. In a culture that rarely stops, a word that says pause, breathe, let that land is a gift.

Why SELAH is a SEALED design

SELAH was one of our first designs. You might not be able to pronounce it, but once you know what it means, you see it everywhere you need it. It comes as a tee, a crewneck and a women's fitted tee.

Shop the SELAH Tee · Crewneck · Women's Fitted Tee

Questions people ask

How many times is Selah in the Bible?

74 times: 71 in the Psalms and 3 in Habakkuk 3.

What does Selah mean in Hebrew?

Its exact meaning is uncertain. It is most often understood as a pause or musical interlude, possibly linked to the word for lifting up.

How do you pronounce Selah?

SEE-lah or SAY-lah. Both are common.

More words we wear

Ruah · Maranatha · ABIDE · ENOUGH · already known

Written by Joel, founder of SEALED, a UK Christian clothing brand rooted in Ephesians 1:13. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.