Bible glossary
What Does ‘Selah’ Mean in the Bible?
Selah is a word found in the Psalms that likely marks a musical or reflective pause, an invitation to stop and consider.
In short
Selah is a word found in the Psalms that likely marks a musical or reflective pause, an invitation to stop and consider.
Selah appears dozens of times in the Psalms and a few times elsewhere, almost always in poetry meant to be sung. Its exact meaning is uncertain, and honest readers admit this. Most understand it as a pause: a break in the music, a moment to lift up and weigh what was just said.
Whatever its precise origin, selah functions like a held breath in a song. It says: do not rush past this. Let the truth land. Stop and let your heart catch up with the words.
Key verses
“Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.”
Psalm 3:2
“Be still, and know that I am God... The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
Psalm 46:10-11
“God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens.”
Habakkuk 3:3
Selah and Jesus
Selah invites the kind of stillness in which we can meet Jesus. He said, come unto me, all ye that labour, and I will give you rest. Every pause to consider God's truth is a small step toward the rest He offers.