Zion (Hebrew:צִיּוֹן,romanized: Ṣiyyôn;[a]Biblical Greek:Σιών) is a placename in theTanakh, often used as a synonym forJerusalem[3][4] as well as for theLand of Israel as a whole.[5]
The name is found in2 Samuel (2 Sam 5:7), one of the books of theTanakh dated to approximately the mid-6th century BCE. It originally referred to a specific hill in Jerusalem,Mount Zion, located to the south ofMount Moriah (the Temple Mount). According to the narrative of 2 Samuel 5, Mount Zion held theJebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered byDavid and was renamed theCity of David. That specific hill ("mount") is one of the many squat hills that form Jerusalem.
The termTzion came to designate the area of Davidic Jerusalem where the Jebusite fortress stood, and was used as well assynecdoche for the entire city of Jerusalem; and later, whenSolomon's Temple was built on the adjacent Mount Moriah (which, as a result, came to be known as theTemple Mount), the meanings of the termTzion were further extended by synecdoche to the additional meanings of the Temple itself, the hill upon which the Temple stood, the entire city of Jerusalem, the entire biblical Land of Israel, and "the World to Come", the Jewish understanding of theafterlife.
Over many centuries, until as recently as the 16th century (Ottoman period), the citywalls of Jerusalem were rebuilt many times in new locations, so that the particular hill known in biblical times as Mount Zion is no longer within the city walls, but its location is now just outside the Old City and southeast of it. Most of the original City of David itself is thus also outside the current "Old City" wall. Adding to the confusion, another ridge, the Western Hill rather than the original Southeastern Hill (City of David) or the Southern Hill (Temple Mount), has been called 'Mount Zion' for the last two millennia.
The etymology of the wordZion (ṣiyyôn) is uncertain.[3][4][6]
Mentioned in the Old Testament in theBooks of Samuel (2 Samuel 5:7) as the name of aJebusite fortress conquered byDavid, its origin seems to predate theIsraelites.[3][4] IfSemitic, it may be derived from the Hebrew rootṣiyyôn ("castle") or the Hebrew צִיָּהṣiyya ("dry land" or "desert", Jeremiah 51:43). A non-Semitic relationship to theHurrian wordšeya ("river" or "brook") has also been suggested[6] as also one ofHittite[7] origin.
The formציון (Tzion,Tiberian transliteration:Ṣiyyôn) appears 108 times in theTanakh, and once with article, asHaTzion.[8][9]
Tsade is usually rendered asz inEnglish translations, hence the spellingZion (rather thanTzion).This convention originates inGerman orthography,[10] wherez stands for the consonant [t͡s].
Zion is mentioned 152 times in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), most often in theProphetic books, theBook of Psalms, and theBook of Lamentations, besides six mentions in theHistorical books (Kings, Samuel, Chronicles)and a single mention of the "daughters of Zion" in theSong of Songs (3:11)
Out of the 152 mentions, 26 instances are within the phrase of "Daughter of Zion" (Hebrew "bat Tzion").This is a personification of the city of Jerusalem, or of its population.[11]
InPsalm 137, Zion (Jerusalem) is remembered from the perspective of theBabylonian Captivity. "By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows[a] there we hung up our lyres. For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
Psalm 147 uses "Jerusalem" and "Zion" interchangeably to address the faithful: "The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!"
The location of the Temple, and in particular itsHoly of Holies (innermost sanctum), is the most holy place in the world for the Jewish people, seen as the connection betweenGod and humanity. Observant Jews recite theAmidah three times a day facing the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, praying for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, the restoration of the Temple service, the redemption of the world, and for the coming of theMessiah.[citation needed]
InKabbalah,[dubious –discuss] the more esoteric reference is made to Tzion being the spiritual point from which reality emerges, located in theHoly of Holies of theFirst,Second and futureThird Temple.[12][dubious –discuss] According to RabbiAbraham Joshua Heschel, "Zion is not a symbol, but a home, and the land is not an allegory but a possession."[13]
The name "Zion" appears in the coins minted by the revolutionary government in Jerusalem during theGreat Jewish Revolt againstRome (66–73 CE). Bronze coins from the revolt bear inscriptions such as 'freedom of Zion' (from years two and three) and 'for the redemption of Zion' (from year four).[14] David Goodblatt argues that these slogans were used to communicate the rebels' goals to the masses, serving as a unifying rallying cry for the fight for Zion.[14] James S. McLaren suggests that its appearance on the coins may specifically refer to the Temple Mount, as part of a set of terms conveying varying layers of identity: 'Jerusalem,' representing its location and the city's as the national capital, and 'Israel,' reflecting the new independent state.[15] According toYa'akov Meshorer, the name "Zion" was used on the coins as a 'poetic term' with nationalistic connotations, symbolizing not only Jerusalem but also "its history, religion, culture and desire for freedom".[16]
The term "Zionism", coined by AustrianNathan Birnbaum, was derived from the German rendering of Tzion in his journalSelbstemanzipation ("self emancipation") in 1890.[17] Zionism as amodern political movementstarted in 1897 and supported a "national home", andlater a state, for theJewish people in theLand of Israel. The Zionist movement declared the establishment of theState of Israel in 1948, following theUnited Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. Since then, and with varyingideologies, Zionists have focused on developing and protecting this state.
The movement is controversial, withcritics often characterizing it as asupremacist,[18][19][20]colonialist,[21] orracist ideology,[22] and/or as asettler colonialist movement.[23][24]
Ṣahyūn (Arabic:صهيون,Ṣihyawn) is the word for Zion in Arabic andSyriac.[25][26] Drawing on biblical tradition, it is one of the names accorded to Jerusalem in Arabic and Islamic tradition.[26][27] A valley calledWādī Sahyũn seemingly preserves the name and is located approximately one and three-quarter miles from theOld City'sJaffa Gate.[25]
For example, the reference to the "precious cornerstone" of the new Jerusalem in theBook of Isaiah28:16 is identified in Islamic scholarship as theBlack Stone of theKaaba.[28] This interpretation is said byibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (1292–1350) to have come from thePeople of the Book, though earlier Christian scholarship identifies the cornerstone withJesus.[28]
Within theLatter Day Saint movement, Zion is often used to connote a peaceful ideal society. In the Latter Day Saints belief system the termZion is often used to denote a place of gathering for the saints. It is also often used to denote an area or city of refuge for the saints.
I say fly away home to Zion, fly away home...One bright morning when my work is over, man will fly away home...
— Rastaman Chant,Bob Marley and the Wailers
InRastafari, "Zion" stands for autopian place of unity, peace and freedom, as opposed to "Babylon", the oppressing and exploiting system of the materialistic modern world and a place of evil.[29]
It proclaims Zion, as reference toEthiopia, the original birthplace of humankind, and from the beginning of the movement calls torepatriation to Zion, thePromised Land and Heaven on Earth.[30] Some Rastafari believe themselves to represent the realChildren of Israel in modern times, and their goal is to repatriate to Ethiopia, or to Zion. TheGe'ez-languageKebra Nagast serves as inspiration for the idea that the "Glory of Zion" transferred from Jerusalem to Ethiopia in the time of Solomon and Sheba, c. 950 BCE.
Rastafarireggae contains many references to Zion; among the best-known examples are theBob Marley songs "Zion Train", "Iron Lion Zion", theBunny Wailer song "Rastaman" ("The Rasta come from Zion, Rastaman a Lion!"), The Melodians song "Rivers of Babylon" (based on Psalm 137, where the captivity ofBabylon is contrasted with the freedom inZion), theBad Brains song "Leaving Babylon", theDamian Marley song featuringNas "Road to Zion",The Abyssinians' "Forward Unto Zion" andKiddus I's "Graduation in Zion", which is featured in the 1977 cult roots rock reggae filmRockers, and "Let's Go to Zion" byWinston Francis. Reggae groups such asSteel Pulse andCocoa Tea also have many references to Zion in their various songs.
The Jewish longing for Zion, starting with the deportation and enslavement of Jews during theBabylonian captivity, was adopted as a metaphor by Christian blackslaves in theUnited States.[citation needed][year needed]Thus, Zion symbolizes a longing by wandering peoples for a safe homeland. This could be an actual place such asEthiopia forRastafari orIsrael for the Jews.Rastafari, while not identifying as "Jews", identify themselves and Africa as Zion. Specifically, Ethiopia is acknowledged as the mountains of Zion. Further, Rastafari ontology views all Africans as God's Chosen People. This differs from Judaic narratives.[31]
References to Zion occur in the writings of theBahá’í Faith.Bahá’u’lláh, the prophet-founder of the Bahá’í Faith wrote, concerning the Bahá’í Revelation,
The time foreordained unto the peoples and kindreds of the earth is now come. The promises of God, as recorded in the holy Scriptures, have all been fulfilled. Out of Zion hath gone forth the Law of God, and Jerusalem, and the hills and land thereof, are filled with the glory of His Revelation.
— Bahá’u’lláh,Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh[32]
Call out to Zion, O Carmel, and announce the joyful tidings: He that was hidden from mortal eyes is come! His all-conquering sovereignty is manifest; His all-encompassing splendor is revealed.
— Bahá’u’lláh, Tablet of Carmel,Tablets of Baháʼu'lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas[33]
Today,Mount Zion refers to a hill south of the Old City'sArmenian Quarter, not to the Temple Mount. This apparent misidentification dates at least from the 1st century AD, whenJosephus calls Jerusalem's Western Hill "Mount Zion".[34] TheAbbey of the Dormition andKing David's Tomb are located upon the hill currently called Mount Zion.
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