Key Bible verses
- Psalm 3:2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
- Psalm 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
- Psalm 46:11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 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.
Where Selah appears
Selah appears 71 times across 39 Psalms, and 3 times in the prayer of Habakkuk (Habakkuk 3:3, 9 and 13), which was also written to be sung “to the chief singer on my stringed instruments” (Habakkuk 3:19). It is never part of the sentence itself; it usually comes at the end of a line or a section, which is why scholars think it was a direction for the music.
What scholars think it means
Selah may come from a Hebrew root meaning “to lift up.” It could have told the musicians to lift their voices or instruments, or marked a pause while the instruments played. The ancient Greek translation of the Psalms rendered it diapsalma, an “interlude.” Others suggest it meant “forever” or marked a place for the people to bow. All of these ideas share one thing: a break in the words.
How to read Selah today
When you meet Selah, try stopping for a moment. In Psalm 46 it comes after “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:7 and 46:11), and between them comes “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Selah is a good reminder to be still and let a verse sink in. Some audio Bibles skip the word; others read it aloud.
Frequently asked questions
How many times does Selah appear in the Bible?
Selah appears 74 times: 71 times in the book of Psalms and 3 times in Habakkuk chapter 3.
Is Selah a name?
In the Psalms it is not a name but a word in the text. Selah is also used as a girl’s name today, and in 2 Kings 14:7 a city called Selah, a rock fortress in Edom, is mentioned.
Should you say Selah when reading the Bible aloud?
Either way is fine. Some readers say it; others pause silently in its place, which may be close to its original purpose.
What does Selah mean in Psalm 46?
In Psalm 46 Selah follows each statement that God is our refuge (verses 3, 7 and 11), inviting the reader to pause and take that truth to heart.