The psalms are notable for prophecies of the messiah, such as psalm 2, fulfilled in matthew 3. Print out all the information in this selah file and put it in a notebook 2. Book of psalms overview insight for living ministries. The radak 12th century france saw it as a musical notation for the. In light of a persian cognate meaning song, koehlerbaumgartner concludes probably a technical term. Higgaion meditation, a word which occurs three times in the book of psalms psalms 9. The word is taken straight from ancient hebrewits just transliterated into your alphabet. The hebrew word selah appears throughout the book of psalms. How to study the selah psalms to study the selah psalms in depth. What does selah mean as we know, this word is extensively used in the psalms.
The precise definition of selah is unknown, but most scholars believe that it indicates either a rest or a pause of the voice in singing so that only the instruments were heard, or a break in the psalm where there is a call to rest and reflect on the preceding words. There are different views about the exact purpose of the word in the psalms. The diagram below shows the hebrew text analysis of psalm 3. Mar 17, 2007 selah is a word frequently found in the book of psalms, and also in habakkuk 3. This musical term refers to a musical instrumentpossibly an.
But withal, it is generally placed at some remarkable. But i have yet to see a good, consistent translation. An example of selah is seeing the term used seventyone times in the psalms in the hebrew bible. Bible scholars have come up with multiple meanings and possible explanations for the meaning of the word. The word selah is a hebrew word that occurs seventyone times in the book of psalms and three times in habakkuk. The first mention of selah in the bible is in 2 kings 14. Nov 23, 2014 in this video, keith massey, phd describes his theory on the meaning of the biblical hebrew word selah, which occurs in the book of psalms and habakkuk. Selah seela is a hebrew word meaning a musicalinterlude. The psalms illuminate the greatness of our god, affirm his faithfulness to us in times of trouble, and remind us of the absolute centrality of his word. A word occurring between verses or paragraphs in parts of the hebrew bible, often in the psalms, perhaps indicating a pause for contemplation.
The book of psalms is the ancient hebrew songbook used for the temple singers. Sep 12, 2019 this view was expressed long by the radak d. Phd describes his theory on the meaning of the biblical hebrew word selah, which occurs in the book of psalms and habakkuk. I am preaching psalm 3 tomorrow and that requires a short explanation of the term selah. A reader recently asked me if id found a good definition of selah. Selah in the book of psalms sacred scripture catholic. Selah definition, an expression occurring frequently in the psalms, thought to be a liturgical or musical direction, probably a direction by the leader to raise the voice or perhaps an indication of a pause. Has the exact meaning of selah in some psalms been. Throughout its many pages, psalms encourages its readers to praise god for who he is and what he has done. There are many points to be recounted in the history of the study of the psalms, but on this one, the author of the article says this. And typically as you know lament psalms arent really upbeat. With reference to the meaning of the word higgaion, the davis dictionary of the bible provides the following definition. Feb 11, 2014 if you look closely, every psalm that contains the word selah, also contains some musical direction.
It should not be confused with the hebrew word sela which means rock. But, it is his speculation, based on the similarity to another hebrew word in which the psalms were originally written that it is a liturgical. Selah this word, which is found only in the poetical books of the old testament, occurs seventyone times in the psalms and three times in habakkuk. Selah is used 71 times in the psalms and 3 times in habakkuk.
Its precise meaning is mysterious, but it is interpreted as a pause to breathe and reflect on the important words just uttered. Book ii comprises psalms 4272, authored by the sons of korah, asaph, david, and solomon. There is a statement by a tanna quoted at eruvin 54a that selah has a meaning like vaed and netzach, i. And the reason is because the psalms are a prayer book, divinelyinspired songs of the people of israel, often messianic, allegorical, and historically parabolic. It also appears three times in the third chapter of the minor prophet habakkuk. Thirtyone of the thirtynine psalms that include the word selah are titled, to the choirmaster. There is a great deal of confusion about the meaning of selah, primarily because the hebrew root word from which it is translated is uncertain. Sela, as in actress sela ward, is an unrelated biblical place name usually pronounced seel.
The meaning of selah is uncertain, although it appears to be a liturgical direction of some sort. It is probably a term which had a meaning in the musical nomenclature of the hebrews, though what that meaning may have been is. The hebrew word selah is mentioned frequently in the book of psalms, seventyfour times in the hebrew bible and three times in habakkuk, the eighth book of the 12 minor prophets of the hebrew bible. The talmud eruvin 54a says that selah means forever. Most of its occurrences are in the book of psalms, with three mentions in the book of habbakuk. It is in this musical chapter that we find the word selah. The first time selah appears in the bible is in psalm 3. Selah is a word used 74 times in the hebrew bibleseventyone times in the psalms and three times in the book of habakkuk. Selah is a hebrew word that appears throughout the book of psalms in the bible.
The word selah is used frequently in the book of psalms for example, in psalms 3. Selah is the most frequently used musical term in the psalms, occurring 71 times in the book. Some say the purpose of this pause was to allow the listeners. Most scholars believe it refers to a pause or silence. The prophetic book of habakkuk, like the psalms, is a book of poetry, and the third chapter is a prayer in the form of a song. Selah, celah, is from the primary hebrew root word calah which means to hang, and by implication to measure or weigh. Selah definition, an expression occurring frequently in the psalms, thought to be a liturgical or musical direction, probably a direction by the leader to raise the voice or. It is found in the poetical books of the old testament. Jan 06, 2008 the 1907 catholic encyclopedia has a lengthy article on the psalms. When used in the psalms, which were sung rather than spoken, it marked a place where the singers were to pause for an instrumental interlude.
Hi pamela, thanxxx for the article and your interpretation many people dont think of this word and as a psalmist and writer myself i believe the writer wants to make a statement like amen which means so be it but i believe selah a feminine word is more so shall it beor ive always believed this word at the end of the psalms means so shall it be but it. Selah is defined as a hebrew word that has been found at the ending of verses in psalms and has been interpreted as an instruction calling for a break in the singing of the psalm or it may mean forever. An example is in the 9th psalm, where verse 16 has not only selah, but the word higgaion, which mean that a harp entered with music at that point. In modern times, the word is used in the rastafarian culture as an amenesque substitute. The word has two meanings, one of a general character, implying thought. Selah a word frequently found in the book of psalms, and also in hab.
Has the exact meaning of selah in some psalms been definitely determined. Psalm 20 is a very positive, upbeat kind of psalm even though it shares some characteristics with lament psalms. In fact, i can recall a time when i was living on a. A word frequently found in the book of psalms, and also in hab. The word selah is found in two books of the bible, but is most prevalent in the psalms, where it appears 71 times. It is probably a term which had a meaning in the musical nomenclature of the hebrews, though what that meaning may have been is now a matter of pure conjecture. To what do the various musical terms in the book of psalms. The 1907 catholic encyclopedia has a lengthy article on the psalms. Four times it appears at the end of the entire psalm. I see this word often in psalms and no one has been able to tell me what it means. As a matter of fact, if you separate out the four closing selahs from the 74 uses of selah there is a definitive topic heart change in the text of the psalms 96% of the time. Book iv contains psalms 90106 without named authors except for psalm 90 moses. The true meaning of selah in the bible is a mystery.
Are you suppose to say the word selah when reading the. The other uses of the word selah in the bible are the ones on which we will focus our studies. This chapter of habakkuk ends with the words lamenatzeach beneginotai. Selah occurs seventyone times in the psalms, as well as in habakkuk 3. Given its context in the bible, selah is likely to mean to praise or pause and reflect upon what has just been said.
As pointed out by the radak, evidence for this approach is that selah only appears in the book of psalms and in the third chapter of habakkuk. Why does the word selah occur several times in some of the psalms. Most scholars think its meant to be an instruction to the person reading the text to pause and think. This word is found in the psalms of david and the book of habakkuk. Few who read the bible have any meaningful idea about what that means. This word, which is found only in the poetical books of the old testament, occurs seventyone times in the psalms and three times in habakkuk. The word selah appears to be related to the hebrew word salal which is used in sentences where it means to lift up, or to exalt for example proverbs 4. It probably means an orchestral interlude or change from piano to forte. There is a great deal of uncertainty about the meaning of selah. Book iii has psalms 7389, composed primarily by asaph and the sons of korah, with psalm 86 by david and psalm 89 by ethan. No one knows exactly what it means anymore, but many feel it denotes a pause or holding back in the singing of a psalm, for emphasis. What is the meaning of the word selah in the bible.
Since the psalms were actually songsset to musicmany conclude that selah refers to musicians directions. Selah is believed to be a specific musical notation, explaining what was expected at that point in the song. Selah is a hebrew word that literally means to lift up, or exalt. Psalm 67 explained discover the 66 books of the bible. Given my mild obsession with the psalms as of late, i enjoyed looking into this the definition of selah has long been a mystery. The name is derived from the term commonly used in the book of psalms, which has a many hebrew scholars in confusion over its meaning. Selah is a word frequently found in the book of psalms, and also in habakkuk 3. Its obviously an important word, but we do not know what it means. The new american standard hebrew lexicon defines the hebrew word as to lift up, exalt. As they were glad, and did sing for joy, and glorified god, when christ was made known, and the gospel was preached unto them acts 8. The first time we see the word selah in the bible is in 2 kings 14. Many are saying of my soul, there is no deliverance for him in god. Selah is a hebrew expression found in the psalms the hebrew song book and habakkuk 3, and is believed to supply technical direction for a piece of music.
Selahand the chapters and verses in which the word appearsis a part of the scripture inspired by god and is profitable for us to study. It also appears three times in the third chapter of the prophet habakkuk 3. Oct 06, 2019 has the exact meaning of selah in some psalms been definitely determined. Due to the confusion around the meaning of selah, bible translators have translated it in different ways. What does the word selah mean in the book of psalms answers. The jewish study bible indicates the meaning of this hebrew word is uncertain and does not speculate about the meaning. The meaning of the word is not known, though various interpretations are given below. This is readily understood because in biblical history, money, food and. It is probably either a liturgicomusical mark or an instruction on the. How many times in the word selah found in the book psalms. Apr 24, 2019 thirtyone of the thirtynine psalms that include the word selah are titled, to the choirmaster, which seems to connect this word to musical notation, according to this crosswalk article.
Selah is found in two books of the bible, but is most prevalent in the psalms, where it appears 71 times. Selah, celah, is from the primary hebrew root word calah which means to hang, and by implication to measure weigh. The hebrew word selah occurs seventyone times in the book of psalms and three times in the book of habakkuk. When you read the book of psalms you come across the term selah 71 times. A word frequently found in the book of psalms, and also in habakkuk 3. Selah dictionary definition selah defined yourdictionary. The title is derived from the greek translation, psalmoi. Most of the time, as we see in psalm 46 and psalm 3, when selah is noted, there is a transformation of the lyrics to a new topic or focus. There have been numerous studies and articles on the meaning of selah and not a whole lot of agreement. In fact, the greatest number of old testament quotations found in the new testament are from the book of psalms, psalm 110 being the most quoted by new testament writers. It is probably connected with the hebrew word salal which means to lift up or to increase the sound. If this word is a musical direction in the psalms it probably means a lifting up of the voices or instruments either in pitch or in volume. Psalm 20 meaningmy experience in fact, i can recall a time when i was. The book of psalms is the ancient hebrew songbook used for the.
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