Topical Bible: Zion or Sion (2024)

ATS Bible Dictionary

Zion or Sion

In the New Testament, the highest and southernmost mount of Jerusalem, rising about twenty-five hundred feet above the Mediterranean, and from two to three hundred feet above the valleys at its base. It was separated from Akra on the north and Moriah on the north-west by the valley Tyropeon; and had the valley of Gihon on the west, that of Hinnom on the south, and that of the Kidron on the south-east. It was a fortified town of the Jebusites till subdued by David, and thenceforward was often called "the city of David," 2 Samuel 5:7 1 Kings 8:1. He seems to have greatly delighted in its beauty and strength, and to have loved it as a type of the church of the Messiah: "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." "Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof; mark ye well her bulwarks; consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generation following:" "The kings were assembled, they passed by together; they saw it, and so they marveled; they were troubled, and hasted away," Psalm 48:2,12,13.

A mosque near its southern brow now covers the "tomb of David" so called, most jealously guarded by the Mohammedans, 1 Kings 2:10 11:43 22:50. This mount, together with Moriah and Ophel, was enclosed by the first wall, and fortified by citadels, 1 Chronicles 11:5. Upon it were erected the magnificent palaces of Solomon and long afterwards of Herod. It was finely adapted for the purposes of military defense, and so strongly was it fortified at the time of its capture by the Romans, that the emperor exclaimed, "Surely we have had God for our aid in the war; for what could human hands or machines do against these towers'"

Great changes have occurred on this surface, and a considerable portion of it lies outside of the modern wall on the south, and is occupied by cemeteries, or "ploughed as a field," according to Jeremiah 26:18 Micah 3:12. Two rabbis, we are told, approaching Jerusalem, observed a fox running upon the hill of Zion, and Rabbi Joshua wept, but Rabbi Eliezer laughed. "Wherefore dost thou laugh-" said he who wept. "Nay, wherefore dost weep-" demanded Eliezer. "I weep," replied the Rabbi Joshua, "because I see what is written in the Lamentations fulfilled; because of the mount of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it." "And therefore," said Rabbi Eliezer, "do I laugh; for when I see with my own eyes that god has fulfilled his threatenings to the very letter, I have thereby a pledge that not one of his promises shall fail; for he is ever more ready to show mercy than judgment."

"And the Redeemer Shall Come unto Zion, and unto them that Turn,"
... and this is meant by this promise, "the Redeemer shall come to Sion;" which is ... them;
and therefore it is subjoined, "the Redeemer shall come to Zion;" he shall ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xiv and the redeemer.htm

Praises and Vows Accepted in Zion
... O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. O thou that hearest prayer,
unto thee shall all flesh more.""Psalm 65:1-2. UPON Zion there was ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/praises and vows accepted in.htm

Aron, Brother of Moses, 486, 487.
... world, [1052]474. Zechariah the prophet, [1053]546, [1054]547, [1055]676.
Zion. See Sion. Ziphites, [1056]206, [1057]207, [1058]208. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/aron brother of moses 486.htm

Psalm XLVIII.
... Be our foundation in Sion: there ought we to be stablished, not to be "carried about
with every wind of doctrine." [1580] Whoso ... "Let mount Zion rejoice, and ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlviii.htm

Explanatory Notes to the American Edition
... "Sion Door Recht Verlost." (Zion Saved through Judgment.) 1887. "De
Vleeschwording des Woords." (The Incarnation of the Word.) 1887. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/explanatory notes to the american.htm

Where, Then, Ye Friends of Christ, Shall I Begin? and with what ...
... For it is not of the Jews that he spake this word of old, nor of the city of Zion,
but of the Church. For all the prophets have declared Sion to be the bride ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/piece iii where then ye.htm

Hymns of Hope and Consolation.
... Urbs Sion aurea, patria lactea, cive decora, Omne cor obruis, omnibus obstruis,
et cor ... They stand, those halls of Zion, All jubilant with song,[47] And bright ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter xiv hymns of hope.htm

John Chapter iv. 43-54
... For that city in which He was made, that Zion, that nation of the Jews ... man Christ
Jesus." [353] The Psalms also foretold, saying, "My mother is Sion, shall a ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xvi john chapter iv.htm

Resources

What is the significance of the city of Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.org

What are the different names for the Israelites, and what do they mean? | GotQuestions.org

What is Zionism / Christian Zionism? | GotQuestions.org

Zion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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FAQs

Is it Sion or Zion in the Bible? ›

Zion (Hebrew: צִיּוֹן Ṣīyyōn, LXX Σιών, also variously transliterated Sion, Tzion, Tsion, Tsiyyon) is a placename in the Tanakh, often used as a synonym for Jerusalem as well as for the Land of Israel as a whole.

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Who was Sion in the Bible? ›

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Sion

(1) A name given to Mt. Hermon in Deuteronomy 4:48. The name may mean "protuberance" or "peak," and may have denoted the lofty snow-covered horn of the mountain as seen from the South.

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Why does God love Zion? ›

Because, according to God's Word, God put his name in Zion (the city of God, Jerusalem); it's his own dwelling place! God, of course, is omnipresent. But it's in Zion, in his temple, that he specially reveals his presence to human beings. In Zion, God is present in a special way that's true nowhere else.

What does Zion symbolize in the Bible? ›

The name Zion is often used to describe a place appointed by the Lord where his followers can live and serve God. Scripture refers to Zion as the “City of Holiness” and a “city of refuge” where the Lord protects his people from the evils in the world.

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What is the Hebrew meaning of Sion? ›

Meaning:Gracious. Sion is a masculine name of Hebrew origin, meaning “gracious.” A sibilant spin on its sister name Zion—seen by believers of the Christian Bible as a holy city—Sion is a moniker that speaks mightily of baby's spiritual calling.

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Can the church be called Zion? ›

In the New Testament ZION refers to the church of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We are UNITED with all true Christian believers, in the one and only apostolic faith, once and for all entrusted to the saints. This faith was neatly summarized and guarded by the Ecumenical Creeds of the early church.

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What happened to Zion in the Bible? ›

According to the Book of Samuel, Mount Zion was the site of the Jebusite fortress called the "stronghold of Zion" that was conquered by King David, then renamed and partially rebuilt by him as the "City of David", where he erected his palace.

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What is God's promise to Zion? ›

Moreover, before many years have passed away, the Lord will command the building of the City Zion, and Jerusalem in Palestine will in due time be cleansed and become a holy city and the habitation of the Jews after they are cleansed and are willing to accept Jesus Christ as their Redeemer.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 3: ...

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Why is Zion called Zion? ›

The first European American settlers, Mormon pioneers, arrived in the area in the late 1800s. They named the area Zion, which is ancient Hebrew for “sanctuary” or “refuge.” The deep and spectacular canyons of this protected portion of the Virgin River Valley truly offer a safe haven to wildlife and humans alike.

What does Zion symbolize in Hebrews? ›

Rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures, Zion originally referred to a specific geographical location but evolved to symbolize the presence of God and the spiritual heart of Israel.

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Why did the Lord choose Zion? ›

Zion's story begins with the Lord's choice of it: “The Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place” (Ps. 132:13). But in order to dwell there and establish His reign, the Lord first needed to defeat the enemies who opposed Him and occupied His mountain.

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What is sion in the Bible? ›

Definitions of Sion. noun. originally a stronghold captured by David (the 2nd king of the Israelites); above it was built a temple and later the name extended to the whole hill; finally it became a synonym for the city of Jerusalem. synonyms: Zion. hill.

Does Zion represent heaven? ›

Zion is a specific, historically important location — the name refers to both a hill in the city of Jerusalem and to the city itself — but it's also used in a general way to mean "holy place" or "kingdom of heaven." The root of Zion is the Hebrew Tsiyon, and while the word holds a special importance in the Jewish faith ...

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Where is Zion today? ›

Located south of the Old City's Armenian Quarter Mount Zion, was the highest point in ancient Jerusalem. Mount Zion was part of the walled upper city in ancient times, but today is just outside of the Old City walls, close to the Zion Gate.

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Is Sion the same as Jerusalem? ›

In biblical usage, however, “Mount Zion” often means the city rather than the hill itself. Zion appears in the Old Testament 152 times as a title of Jerusalem; over half of these occurrences appear in two books, the Book of Isaiah (46 times) and that of Psalms (38 times).

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What is the word Zion in Hebrew? ›

Zion's roots are varied, finding nourishing foundations in both the Hebrew ṣiyyôn, meaning "castle," as well as ṣiyya, meaning "desert." However, its most enduring meaning is the "highest point," in reference to Jerusalem's ancient citadel conquered by David.