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"And all life forms shall thank You Selah and praise Your Name, O’ Mighty God of our salvation and help, blessed are you…"
But what does Selah mean?
Selah is a word used over 70 times in the Hebrew Bible – mostly in Tehilim (71) or Psalms and several times (3) in the book of Habakkuk. The exact source and meaning of the word are not exactly known, though various interpretations are given below.
We inherited this text from the sages of the Great Assembly 1 (Kenesset Hagdola), who based on earlier versions of the Amida, instituted these words in our standardised prayers of today.
Selah should not be confused with a similar Hebrew word Sela, which means "rock", although the G-d f Israel is compared in some places to a mighty, solid and eternal rock.
In instances, however, the word used is Tzur.
An example of this is after we recite Haftarah, when we day;
…Tzur Kol Ha’Olamim… - rock/foundation stone for eternity/all the worlds…
In most cases in Psalms, the word Selah is taken to mean eternity, forever, Amen/confirmation, solid validity, cast iron/absolute guarantee, uninterrupted consistency etc.
In the Babylnian Talmud , tractate Eruvin (54:1) - R’ Eliezer Ben Yaakov say that Selah means forever and ever and without a break – eternally continuous and consistent.
The Aramaic Targum also interprets Selah to mean for eternity and consistent for all times.
The Radak and Malbim hold that the word Selah is used as a musical note or a word to punctuate a specific spot in the verse or the end of the verse, which the Levites sang in the Temple.
This fascinating explanation does not necessarily preclude the other explanations given above.
Finally, Selah stands in Hebrew for the acronym used in music and singing, as follows:
S iman L eharamt H akol – a sign to raise the voice.
Another possible acronym is: S iman L e’Hamenazeah – a sign to/for the conductor.
Both explanations sit nicely with Radak and the Malbim .
Source: wikipedia.org
^ 1.An assembly of 120 scribes, sages, and prophets, in the Jerusalem Temple, during period from the end of the Biblical prophets since the early Second Temple period to the early Hellenistic period (c. 323 BCE)
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
