Σιών G4622
Zion; the holy mountain and city of Jerusalem, used literally of the geographic site and symbolically of God's dwelling, his people, and the heavenly city.
Zion (Siōn) is the Greek transliteration of Hebrew 'tsiyyōn,' originally the Jebusite fortress captured by David, which became synonymous with Jerusalem, the temple mount, and ultimately God's chosen dwelling place. In the New Testament, it appears exclusively in Old Testament quotations and theological declarations. Matthew 21:5 and John 12:15 cite Zechariah 9:9 about the 'daughter of Zion,' while Romans 9:33 and 1 Peter 2:6 quote Isaiah about the cornerstone laid 'in Zion.' Hebrews 12:22 and Revelation 14:1 elevate Zion to a heavenly reality — 'Mount Zion, the city of the living God.' Every translation preserves it as a proper name: Spanish 'Sion,' French 'Sion,' German 'Zion.'
Senses
1. Zion (proper noun, the holy mountain/city) — The proper noun Zion, designating the sacred mountain and city of Jerusalem, used both as a literal geographic reference and as a rich theological symbol for God's presence among his people. In the Gospels, 'daughter of Zion' (Matt 21:5; John 12:15) echoes prophetic poetry about Jerusalem and her coming king. Paul applies it to the messianic cornerstone prophecy (Rom 9:33) and the eschatological deliverer coming 'from Zion' (Rom 11:26). Hebrews 12:22 and Revelation 14:1 project Zion into the heavenly realm as the destination of the redeemed. The name passes unchanged through every language — Spanish 'Sion,' French 'Sion,' German 'Zion' — testifying to its status as a universal biblical landmark. 7×
AR["صَهْيَونَ", "صِهيَونَ", "صِهْيَوْن", "صِهْيَوْنَ"]·ben["সিয়োন", "সিয়োনে", "সিয়োনের"]·DE["Zion", "Σιών"]·EN["Sion", "Siōn", "Zion", "of-Siōn", "to-Siōn"]·FR["Sion"]·heb["צִיּוֹן"]·HI["सियोन", "सिय्योन", "सीयोन"]·ID["Sion", "Sion,"]·IT["Sion", "siōn"]·jav["Sion", "Sion;"]·KO["시온", "시온-의", "시온에", "시온에서", "시온의"]·PT["Sião", "de-Sião", "de-Sião,"]·RU["-Сиона", "-Сионе", "Сион", "Сион,", "Сиона", "Сиона,", "Сионе"]·ES["Sion", "Siòn", "Siṓn", "a-Siōn", "de-Siṓn"]·SW["Sayuni", "Sayuni,", "Siōn", "Tazama"]·TR["Siyon", "Siyon'da", "Siyon'dan", "Siyon'un"]·urd["صیون", "صیون-کی", "صیّون-کی", "صیہون"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Σιών indecl., in NT anarth., but in LXX when used of the city of Jerusalem, ἡ Σ. (Heb. צִיּוֹן), Zion; __1. the mountain: in typical sense, of the Church, Heb.12:22; of heaven, Rev.14:1. __2. The city, i.e. Jerusalem; in poetical sense; __(a) of the inhabitants: θυγάτηρ Σ, Mat.21:5, Jhn.12:15" (LXX) ; __(b) in wider sense, of Israel: Rom.11:26; __(with) figuratively: τίθήμι ἐν Σ λίθον, Rom.9:33, 1Pe.2:6" (LXX) .† (From Abbott-Smith. LSJ has no entry)