selah

American  

[see-luh, sel-uh] / ˈsi lə, ˈsɛl ə /

noun

1. 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.

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selah British  

/ ˈsiːlə /

noun

1. a Hebrew word of unknown meaning occurring in the Old Testament psalms, and thought to be a musical direction

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Etymology

Origin of selah

First recorded in 1520–30, selah is from the Hebrew word selāh

Example Sentences

These points, he thinks, were among the Hebrews indicated by the word selah.

From Notes and Queries, Number 236, May 6, 1854 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc by Various

The others once and again during this prayer uttered in unison a single word or exclamation—a kind of selah or amen.

From A Book-Lover's Holidays in the Open by Roosevelt, Theodore

Herder held that selah denoted a swell, or a change in the rapidity of the movement, or in the key.

From Notes and Queries, Number 236, May 6, 1854 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc by Various

In this view, the word selah directs a repetition of the air or song from the commencement, to the parts where it is placed.

From Notes and Queries, Number 236, May 6, 1854 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc by Various

The selah pause had come after the psalm.

From Mae Madden by Mason, Mary Murdoch