Sela (tone sign)

"Sela" on a tympanum of the Nikolaikirche in Stralsund

Sela ( Hebrew סֶלָה) is a frequently recurring tone sign in the Psalms of the Old Testament . It is interpreted as an indication of a resting point in the song, or as the final sign of a stanza . The origin of this Hebrew word with the spelling Samech - Lamed - Heh is obscure. It may come from the similar word Sel`a ( Hebrew סלע), which means "steep rock", "echo rock". Then this tone of the Psalms could be interpreted as an echo or refrain. It would be fitting that this tone sign often occurs in important and significant passages in the psalms that are then repeated.

The Septuagint , the Greek translation of the so-called Old Testament , reproduces the Selah with διάψαλμα (diapsalma = interlude).

The sign is also often found at the end of the inscription on Jewish gravestones in the connection “ Amen - Sela”.

literature

• R. Gyllenberg: The meaning of the word Sela. In: Journal for Old Testament Science . 58, Issue 1-2, 1941, pp. 153-156.
• Emil G. Hirsch:  Selah. In: Isidore Singer (Ed.): Jewish Encyclopedia . Volume 11, Funk and Wagnalls, New York 1901-1906, pp.  161-163 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ cf. Meaning according to Duden
2. ↑ Johann Funck: What the little word Sela has in it / A short meynung of a Leyen on a Christian vrteyl put / As one often has in psalms. o. O. [Magdeburg] 1531 ( digitized in the Google book search).