Kind of an embarrassing question, but no one has ever told me.

__________________
Grace and Peace in Christ,

Brett Rader
Member
Redeemer Presbyterian(PCA)
Austin, TX

It means either one of two thing - strange enough:

1) Pick up the beat.

2) Slow down the beat.

Strange huh? In hebrew we do not have a clear idea. It could mean to go faster, or it could mean to go slower in the song. Most colleagues I have read think it is to slow it down. There are a couple of professors I had that beleive it woudl be better to pick it up. It is, though, agreed, that it is a musical term of sorts.

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C. Matthew McMahon, Ph.D.
John 5:39, "...search the Scriptures..."

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Scholar in Residence at Christ Presbyterian Church, Professor at WTS for Puritan History & Theology.

Life Maxim: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
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Here's what Strong's says:

H5542
selâh
seh'-law
From H5541; suspension (of music), that is, pause: - Selah.

H5541
sâlâh
saw-law'
A primitive root; to hang up, that is, weigh, or (figuratively) contemn: - tread down (under foot), value.

I've always thought of it as just saying "Stop and think about what was just said. Its important.

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Bob Howes
Framingham, MA

A reoccurring thought:

Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Short answer:

no one knows. Anyone who says they know (and I don't think that is what Bob was saying) is either lying or wrong.

__________________
Fredrick T. Greco
Senior Pastor, Christ Church PCA (Katy, TX)
Christ Church Blog

"The heart is the main thing in true religion...It is the hinge and turning-point in the condition of man's soul. If the heart is alive to God and quickened by the Spirit, the man is a living Christian. If the heart is dead and has not the Spirit, the man is dead before God." (J.C. Ryle)

But honestly, I am rather disappointed.

I was hoping for something a bit more grandiose.

Must be my sinful nature.

__________________
Grace and Peace in Christ,

Brett Rader
Member
Redeemer Presbyterian(PCA)
Austin, TX

That's interesting what Matthew and Fred say about the word Selah. Learn something new (almost) every day.

Regardless of what it actually means, my mind is "programmed" to pause and think whenever I see the word. I only wish there were more Selahs sprinkled throughout the rest of the scriptures to remind me not to read too quickly over important material.

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Bob Howes
Framingham, MA

A reoccurring thought:

Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

I had always been told that the most likely explanation was a pause, or perhaps a pause for musical interlude. When I read the Psalms, I always pause for a few seconds at each Selah.

Many ministers I have heard pause in the public reading of the psalms also, and don't actually say 'Selah' - they insert a pause instead.

The college ministry at my church is called "Selah."

They say it means "Pause, Reflect, Think" (that is the slogan for the ministry), but who knows...

Rembrandt

[quote:3df7396cd0][i:3df7396cd0]Originally posted by blhowes[/i:3df7396cd0]
I've always thought of it as just saying "Stop and think about what was just said. Its important." [/quote:3df7396cd0]
You are not alone in this application of it Bob. Spurgeon used this understanding of the term in his Treasury of David (commentary on the Psalms). In the first occurence of the word (Psalm 3?) he goes into how the meaning is lost so he simply uses it as a point to stop in the Psalm and reflect upon the verses just read.

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Patrick
OPC
MDiv, RTS Jackson.

"He does well, that discourses of Christ; but he does infinitely better, that by experimental knowledge, feeds and lives on Christ." Thomas Brooks.

It means, to consider carefully the weight,the importance,the gravity of what has been revealed to us.
andreas.

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andreas; By the grace of God,a Christian .

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ean gar kai poreuqw en mesw skias qanatou ou fobhqhsomai kaka oti su met¢ emou ei h rabdos sou kai h bakthria sou autai me parekalesan [/font]
Psalm 23:4