What does סֶלָה mean in the Bible?
e. pause".
Hebrew · H5542
סֶלָה
Suspension (of music), i.e. pause
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
סֶלָה H5542
What does סֶלָה mean in the Bible?
סֶלָה is a Hebrew word meaning "suspension (of music), i.e. pause".
Full entry for סֶלָה (H5542) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5542?
The BSB source-word alignment has 74 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Selah (74).
Where does סֶלָה appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Psalms 3:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (71), Habakkuk (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It Selah 74× Psalms 3:2, Psalms 3:4, Psalms 3:8, Psalms 4:2
Show sample aligned rows
Psalms 3:2 סֶֽלָה׃ to Selah Interjection Psalms 3:4 סֶֽלָה׃ to Selah Interjection Psalms 3:8 סֶּֽלָה׃ to Selah Interjection Psalms 4:2 סֶֽלָה׃ to Selah Interjection Psalms 4:4 סֶֽלָה׃ to Selah Interjection Psalms 7:5 סֶֽלָה׃ to Selah Interjection Psalms 9:16 סֶֽלָה׃ to Selah Interjection Psalms 9:20 סֶּֽלָה׃ to Selah Interjection Psalms 20:3 סֶֽלָה׃ to Selah Interjection Psalms 21:2 סֶּֽלָה׃ to Selah Interjection
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Psalms 3:2
Aligned rows 74
Books represented 2
Psalms 71 Habakkuk 3
Source forms
סֶֽלָה׃ 61x se·lāh Psalms 3:2, Psalms 3:4, Psalms 4:2, Psalms 4:4
סֶּֽלָה׃ 8x se·lāh Psalms 3:8, Psalms 9:20, Psalms 21:2, Psalms 61:4
סֶ֑לָה 3x se·lāh Psalms 57:3, Habakkuk 3:3, Habakkuk 3:9
סֶ֥לָה 1x se·lāh Psalms 55:19
סֶֽלָה׃פ 1x se·lāh Habakkuk 3:13
Parsing patterns
Interjection 74x Psalms 3:2, Psalms 3:4, Psalms 3:8, Psalms 4:2
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. suspension (of music), i.e. pause
Source Gloss
suspension (of music), i.e. pause
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
suspension (of music), i.e. pause BDB: lift up Usage: Selah.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
סֶלָה is built from this root:
סָלָה H5541
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain