Selah
TextsWhat is the meaning of Selah in the Bible?
Selah is a term found 71 times in the Book of Psalms and three times in the Book of Habakkuk, serving as a technical instruction within the Hebrew text.
TEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing Selah allows readers to identify structural breaks in biblical poetry, indicating where pauses, instrumental interludes, or shifts in tone likely occurred during recitation.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Manuscript & Literary Context: Notice how Selah functions as an authoritative historical witness connecting earlier prophetic promises with scripture's broader fulfillment.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Selah in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Selah clarify?
Related Topics
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Selah." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/selah/