Selah

An enigmatic term found 71x in 39 psalms and 3x in Hab 3 (v3, 9, 13). There are many conjectures as to its precise meaning but none has gained universal acceptance. Most scholars believe that it is a liturgical rather than a theological term. On the basis of 1 Chron 16:41, Norman Snaith ("Selah," Vetus Testamentum 2.1 (Jan 1952):43-56; available JSTOR; click here to read the opening paragraph of the article. ) suggests that it marks the end of a strophe/stanza. At this point in the services where the psalm is sung, this marks the point where the Levites breaks in with the refrain, "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever." Possibly too, at this point the congregation would, in response, prostrate themselves before the Lord. It makes good sense but remains a matter of conjecture. That its meaning should already be lost so early in the history of the Psalter suggests that the term is very ancient in origin.

Selah is distributed amongst the following Psalms.

Psm 3 - 3x

Psm 4 - 2x

Psm 7 - 1x

Psm 9 - 2x

Psm 20 - 1x

Psm 21 - 1x

Psm 24 - 2x

Psm 32 - 3x

Psm 39 - 1x

Psm 44 - 1x

Psm 46 - 3x

Psm 47 - 1x

Psm 48 - 1x

Psm 49 - 2x

Psm 50 - 1x

Psm 52 - 2x

Psm 54 - 1x

Psm 55 - 2x

Psm 57 - 2x

Psm 59 - 2x

Psm 60 - 1x

Psm 61 - 1x

Psm 62 - 2x

Psm 66 - 3x

Psm 67 - 2x

Psm 68 - 3x

Psm 75 - 1x

Psm 76 - 2x

Psm 77 - 2x

Psm 81 - 1x

Psm 82 - 1x

Psm 83 - 1

Psm 84 - 2x

Psm 85 - 1x

Psm 87 - 2x

Psm 88 - 2x

Psm 89 - 4x

Psm 140 - 3x