(Chapter 1 of Strange Scriptures) Have you ever wondered what the word “Selah” means
in Psalms? I have. I’ll be reading something, and I’ll randomly see “Selah” at the end of a verse.
The annoying thing is that I’ve heard the meaning for it a gazillion times, but I always forget!
Hopefully this time will be different.
It’s a relatively simple explanation. Originally, the Psalms were meant to be sung. That’s
why you’ll read “Sing unto the Lord” or some variation of it a thousand times in the psaltery (the
Psalms were not meant to be read along like prose). All “Selah” means is a break, or a pause, in
the singing. Instead of hearing voices, the listeners would hear a musical interlude until the
singer started up again.
This is sort of like in my church where, after a verse or a chorus, the band will just play
music while everyone contemplates the lyrics and what they are singing.
P.S. The Hebrew word for “Selah” means “to be silent” (shut up :).
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