sela

S1E1L1A1

proper noun

The capital of Edom, near Mount Hor; also known as Joktheel and Petra.

UncommonScrabble 4

Meanings

sela1

noun
  1. pluralplural of selo

Sela2

proper noun

alternative Selah

  1. historicalbiblicalThe capital of Edom, near Mount Hor; also known as Joktheel and Petra.
    1 more example

    Selah, the capital of Idumea, built on an elevated plain, was situated in a deep valley, the entrance to which is by a lengthened defile, in some places not more than eight feet wide, which, in some parts, rising from 400 to 700 feet, nearly meet over head, about ninety miles to the south-east of Jerusalem. Mount Hor, celebrated in Scripture, overlooks the ruins of this ancient capital. It was called by the name of Petra from its rocky position; and by one of the prophets it is denominated "the Rock": it is also said, that Amaziah slew of Edom in the valley of Salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called of it the name of Joktheel unto this day. (Jer. xlix. 16, 2 Kings xiv. 7)

    1838, John R. Miles, Scripture Geography; Containing Illustrations of all the Places Mentioned in the Old and New Testament; with Accounts of their Past and Present Condition, their History, Population, Customs, Laws, Produce, and Manufactures, and the Leading Events Connecting Them with the Christian Religion: To which are Added, Chronological, Geographical, and other Tables, Illustrative of the History of the Countries and People Mentioned in the Body of the Work, Manchester: S. Johnson, 88, Market Street; sold by Simpkin and Marshall, London; Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh; and Wm. Collins, Glasgow, →OCLC, page 268
  2. A village in modern-day Jordan near the location of historical Sela.

Origin

  1. Biblical Hebrewסֶּלַע“rock”
  2. EnglishSela

Borrowed from Biblical Hebrew סֶּלַע (Sela‛, “rock”); compare Arabic السَّلَع (as-salaʕ).

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

sela. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sela

MLA

“sela.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sela. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sela,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sela.

Source: sela on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.