Selah, a word

The word “Selah” occurs 71 times in the Book of Psalms (in 39 different psalms) and 3 times in the prayer of Habakkuk in chapter 3.

I cannot expound on its meaning, since I do not know. However, I was taught that it meant “to pause,” to rest or pause. Since it is associated with psalms/songs, perhaps it is reasonable to believe that “selah” is a musical notation [i] – a time of reflection while one rests or pauses from to the singing and/or playing.

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[i] Habakkuk chapter 3 is a prayer “upon Shigionoth… To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.”