Meaning of SELAH

Term that appears 71 times in the psalms; It is also found in Hab. 3:3, 9, 13.
It is a musical or liturgical term, the precise meaning of which is unknown.

(a) The LXX translates it as "diapsalma", which could mean a musical interlude to be inserted in this place. In this case the singers would remain silent while the instrumentalists would be playing a forte or fortissimo.

(b) The Targums, Aquila and Jerome translate by "Ie-olam", "from eternity to eternity", as if a doxology similar to that of Ps. 41:14 were introduced during the interruption.

(c) James of Edessa (640-708) sees here an analogy with the Christian Amen, sung by the faithful after the Gloria. Then, "Selah" would mean: "lift up your eyes and bless," and would designate a doxology, sung after each psalm or psalm fragment, which would be separated from the following section by a liturgical intermission.

This term was probably introduced towards the end of the Persian period, and is related to the liturgical use of the Psalms; There is no doubt that it indicates the moment of blessings in the cult.