the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
Click here to join the effort!
Bible Encyclopedias
Zion
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Heb. Tsiyon', צַיּוֹן , sunny [Gesen.] or fort [Fü rst]; Sept. [usually] and New. Test. Σιών, Vulg. Sion; A. V. "Sion" in New. Test.), a prominent hill (הִי ) of Jerusalem, being generally regarded as the south-westernmost and the highest of those on which the city was built. It included the most ancient part of the city with the citadel, and, as first occupied for a palace, was called the city of David (2 Chronicles 5:2). Being the original site of the tabernacle pitched by David for the reception of the ark, it was also called the holy hill, or hill of the sanctuary (Psalms 2:6). By the Hebrew prophets the name is often put for Jerusalem itself (Isaiah 8:18; Isaiah 10:24; Isaiah 30:19; Isaiah 33:14; Psalms 48:2; Psalms 48:11-12; comp. Romans 9:33; Romans 11:26; 1 Peter 2:6; Revelation 14:1); also for its inhabitants, sometimes called sons or daughters of Zion (Isaiah 1:27; Isaiah 12:6; Isaiah 40:9; Isaiah 49:14; Isaiah 52:1; Psalms 9:14; Psalms 97:8; Zechariah 2:7; Zechariah 2:10; Zechariah 9:9; Zechariah 9:13; Zephaniah 3:14; Zephaniah 3:16; Joel 2:23; Matthew 21:5; John 12:15); and for the spiritual Sion, the church or city of the living. God (Hebrews 12:22; Hebrews 12:28; Galatians 4:26; Revelation 3:12; Revelation 21:2; Revelation 21:10).
There never has been any considerable doubt as to the identity of this hill. Josephus, indeed, singularly enough appears to ignore the name Zion; but he evidently calls the same hill the site of the Upper City. In modern times Fergusson has attempted to identify it with Mount Moriah (Jerusalem Revisited; the Temple, etc.), and Capt. Warren, with equal futility, has contended for its identity with Akra (The Temple or the Tomb [Lond. 1880]). The mistake of the latter has originated from not observing that Josephus uses ἄκρα, the summit in two senses: (a) the citadel on Mount Zion (Ant. 7:3,1, where it is clearly distinguished from "the lower city"), and (b) the hill Akria (ibid. 2, where it, is clearly distinguished from "the upper city"). (See ACRA).
Copyright Statement
These files are public domain.
