סֶ֫לַע (se.la)
se.la
rock
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 44 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun sela refers to a craggy rock or cliff, often serving as a natural fortress. In the Hebrew Bible it describes both physical stone formations and places where people hide from danger, such as when Saul’s soldiers pursued David into the rocky terrain of Engedi (1 Samuel 23:28). The word also appears in geographical names like Petra, known in Scripture as Sela, the fortified city of Edom (2 Kings 14:7).
Metaphorically, sela becomes a powerful image for God’s protection. Psalms frequently call Him “my rock,” emphasizing His stability and safety against enemies (Psalm 18:2; Psalm 31:3). This usage highlights how ancient readers saw divine security in the same solid, unyielding stone that provided refuge in harsh landscapes.
Its root sense of height or loftiness reinforces its symbolic weight. Unlike softer ground, a crag stands firm and inaccessible, making it an ideal picture of God’s enduring strength. Translators often render it simply as “rock,” but the Hebrew carries connotations of ruggedness and impregnability that enrich the text.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sela describes a rugged cliff or craggy outcrop, often serving as a natural fortress in ancient landscapes. When Scripture calls God our rock, it draws on this image of solid, unyielding stone that offers safety from storms and enemies. In the harsh terrain of Israel, such rocks provided shelter for those fleeing danger, like David hiding from Saul or Samson’s companions seeking refuge.
For your faith, this imagery reminds us that God is not a shifting sand but a firm foundation. When life feels unstable, you can trust in His steadfast presence. The Psalms frequently express this confidence, declaring that He is a place of refuge where we may always go. This stability does not mean the absence of trouble, but the assurance of protection through it.
Even when circumstances seem overwhelming, the promise remains that God stands firm. You do not need to rely on your own strength to endure. Instead, you can rest in the security He provides, knowing that His love is as enduring as the mountains themselves.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 44 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ rock14×
- a rock4×
- [the] rock of4×
- rock3×
- from/ a rock3×
- the/ rocks2×
- the/ cliffs2×
- in the/ rock2×
- the/ crags1×
- the/ cliff1×
- rocks1×
- on the/ crag[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סֶ֣לַע4×
- הַ/סָּֽלַע\׃3×
- הַ/סֶּ֔לַע3×
- מִ/סֶּ֔לַע2×
- הַ/סָּ֑לַע2×
- הַ/סֶּ֣לַע2×
- הַ/סֶּ֛לַע2×
- הַ/סְּלָעִֽים\׃2×
- הַ/סְּלָעִ֑ים2×
- בְּ/סֶ֣לַע2×
- סֶּ֖לַע1×
- סָֽלַע\׃\ \ס1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 22:2
and he said: “Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;
David explicitly identifies Yahweh as his rock and fortress, linking divine protection to the physical security of a cliff.
-
Psalms 71:3
Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
The psalmist asks God to be a rock of refuge, emphasizing the word’s role in providing ongoing safety for the believer.
-
I Samuel 23:25
Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told, he went down to the rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.
David stays in the rock during Saul’s pursuit, illustrating how sela served as a literal hiding place from danger.
-
Numbers 20:11
Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice, and water came out abundantly. The congregation and their livestock drank.
Moses strikes the rock to bring forth water, showing God’s provision emerging from an otherwise hard and barren source.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does sela mean in the Bible?
How is sela different from other Hebrew words for rock?
Where does sela appear in Scripture?
Every Occurrence (44 verses across 16 books)
Numbers 4 verses
“Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes,…
Numbers 20:10Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Shall we…
Numbers 20:11Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice, and water came out abundantly. The congregation and…
Numbers 24:21He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, “Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the…