SELAH

From H5541; suspension (of music), that is, pause [i.e., a stop; a cessation or intermission of action]. [H5542, James Strong, Strong’s EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE OF THE BIBLE] 

 

To lift up, exalt: Selah: a technical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption. [Crosswalk.com Hebrew Lexicon]

 

[Elevation]  A word occurring seventy-one times in the Psalms, as well as in Habakkuk iii. 3, 9, 13.  Stainer gives six distinct opinions as to its meaning:  (1) a pause; (2) a repetition, like da capo; (3) the end of a strophe; (4) a playing with full power (fortissimo); (5) a bending of the body, an obeisance; and (6) a short, recurring symphony (ritornello).  It probably means an orchestral interlude (compare opinion 6) or a change from piano to forte.[Davis Dictionary of the Bible]  

 

This word may be from one of two roots; from salah = to pause; or from salal = to lift up.  … Selah, therefore, neither ends nor begins a passage, but it CONNECTS the two passages between which it is placed.  An examination of each occurrence will show what the connection is.  It is neither the pausing on one subject; nor the passing on from one subject to another:  but it is the connecting of the two subjects together.  … It is a thought-link, which bids us look back at what has been said, and mark its connection with what is to follow; or to some additional consequent teaching.  Thus, if it be derived from salah, to pause, it is not the instruments of music which are to pause while the voices continue to sing; but it is our hearts which are to pause and to note the connection of precious truths.  If it be derived from salal, to lift up, then, it is not the instruments which are to lift up their sound in a louder degree, but our hearts which are to be lifted up to consider more solemnly the two truths which are about to be connected.[A. E. Bullinger, THE COMPANION BIBLE] 

 

The right view of this word was substantially given by Luther.  The selah, says he, tells us “to pause and carefully reflect on the words of the Psalm, for they require a peaceful and meditative soul, which can apprehend and receive what the Holy Spirit there cogitates and propounds”.—Hengstenberg.[William Wilson, Old Testament Word Studies] 

 

Here signifies a lifting up of the voice, to cause us to consider the sentence as a thing of great importance.[Geneva Study Bible] 

 

This word is of very obscure meaning.  It probably denotes rest or pause, both as to the music and singing, intimating something emphatic in the sentiment (compare Psalm ix. 16).  Found seventy-one times in the Psalms and thrice in Habakkuk:  from shelah, rest.   A music mark, noting a pause, during which the singers ceased to sing, and only the instruments were heard.   It is introduced where the sense requires a rest.  It is a call to calm reflection on the preceding words of the psalm; whence, in Psalm ix. 16, it follows “Higgaion”; i.e., meditation.  The Selah reminds us that the psalm requires a peaceful and meditative soul, which can apprehend what the Holy Spirit propounds.[Jamieson-Fausset-Brown] 

 

This word is no where used but in this poetical book, and in the song of Habakkuk.  Probably it was a musical note, directing the singer either to lift up his voice, to make a pause, or to lengthen the tune.  But withal, it is generally placed at some remarkable passage; which gives occasion to think that it served also to quicken the attention of the singer and hearer.[John Wesley] 

 

A word indicating pause for reflection.[Henry M. Morris, NEW DEFENDER’S Study Bible] 

 

… At least we may learn that wherever we see "Selah", we should look upon it as a note of observation.  Let us read the passage which precedes and succeeds it with greater earnestness, for surely there is always something excellent where we are required to rest and pause and meditate, or when we are required to lift up our hearts in grateful song.  "SELAH."[C. H. Spurgeon, TREASURY OF DAVID] 

 

Much has been said on the meaning of this word; and we have nothing but conjecture to guide us.  The Septuagint always translates it by diayalma diapsalma, "a pause in the Psalm". The Chaldee sometimes translates it by yml[l lealmin, "for ever".  The rest of the versions leave it unnoticed.  It either comes from ls sal, to raise or elevate, and may denote a particular elevation in the voices of the performers, which is very observable in the Jewish singing to the present day; or it may come from hls salah, to strew or spread out, intimating that the subject to which the word is attached should be spread out, meditated on, and attentively considered by the reader.  Fenwick, Parkhurst, and Dodd, contend for this meaning; and think "it confirmed by Psalm ix.16, where the word higgaion is put before selah at the end of the verse".  Now higgaion certainly signifies meditation, or a fit subject for meditation; and so shows selah to be really a nota bene, attend to or mind this.[Adam Clarke]