Lexical Summary
Tsiyyon: Zion
Original Word:צִיּוֹן
Part of Speech:Proper Name Location
Transliteration:Tsiyown
Pronunciation:tsee-YONE
Phonetic Spelling:(tsee-yone')
KJV: Zion
NASB:Zion, Zion's
Word Origin:[the same (regularly) asH6725 (צִּיוּן - marker)]
1. Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Zion
The same (regularly) astsiyuwn; Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem -- Zion.
see HEBREWtsiyuwn
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
tsiyyahDefinitiona mountain in Jer., also a name for Jer.
NASB TranslationZion (153), Zion's (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
154 ();
‚îyyôn, (Syriac
, older form, according to Lag
Bn 84, compare 198); —
2 Samuel 5:7 +;
Jeremiah 4:6; — stronghold (of Jebusiteas), captured by David, and made his residence
2 Samuel 5:7 =
1 Chronicles 11:5 (both + ), on southern part of east hill of Jerusalem, distinct from site of temple
1 Kings 8:1 2Chronicles 5:2 (both ), not elsewhere in narrative, but often in poets and prophets: as name of Jerusalem, from political point of view (sometimes = inhabitants),
Amos 6:7 ("" ), ""
Micah 3:10,12 =
Jeremiah 26:18;
Isaiah 4:3;
Isaiah 30:19;
Isaiah 40:9;
Isaiah 41:27;
Isaiah 52:1;
Isaiah 62:1;
Isaiah 64:9;
Zephaniah 3:16;
Zechariah 1:14,17;
Psalm 51:20 and ()
Isaiah 52:2;
Micah 4:8 ("" ),
Lamentations 2:13 (""
id.), also ()
Jeremiah 51:35; = Jerusalem also
Isaiah 14:32;
Isaiah 33:5+, so especially in phrase
Isaiah 3:16,17;
Isaiah 4:4;
Songs 3:11,
Lamentations 4:2;
Joel 2:23;
Psalm 149:2 ("" ), cf .
Zechariah 9:13,
Isaiah 66:8, and even
2 Kings 19:31 =
Isaiah 37:32 (both "" ),
Isaiah 29:8 (""
Isaiah 29:7), Obadiah 17,21;
Psalm 48:12 (""
Psalm 125:1; so also
Isaiah 16:1; and
Isaiah 10:32 Qr (Kt "" ); compare
Jeremiah 31:12; in following might refer to temple-hill
Isaiah 10:12 (+),
Isaiah 31:4 (+ =
Isaiah 31:5),
Lamentations 5:18;
Joel 3:5 (+ ); specifically of Jerusalem as abode of and place of his worship
Amos 1:2;
Isaiah 31:9;
Zechariah 8:3;
Micah 4:2 =
Isaiah 2:3, Joel 4:16;
Psalm 102:22;
Psalm 135:21;
Psalm 147:12 (all "" ),
Psalm 76:8 ("" ); particular of sanctuary
Psalm 20:3 ("" ),
Psalm 14:7 =
Psalm 53:7+; of Jerusalem
Psalm 48:3 ("" ),
Psalm 78:68 ("" ),
Isaiah 24:23 ("" ), etc.; in same sence
Psalm 133:3; particularly of sanctuary
Isaiah 4:5 and ("" )
Joel 2:1; Joel 4:17;
Psalm 2:6 is seat of king. — See also , , , below ,, .
see . see above.
Topical Lexicon
Geographical and Historical Overviewצִיּוֹן (Zion) first appears as a Jebusite stronghold on the southeastern ridge of Jerusalem. David captured it and “named it the City of David” (2 Samuel 5:7). In time the name expanded to include the temple mount (Mount Moriah), then the whole city of Jerusalem, and finally the covenant people and their eschatological hope.
Davidic Royal Capital
• Zion became the seat of the Davidic monarchy. “I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain” (Psalm 2:6).
• The royal palace, administrative center, and later Solomon’s temple anchored Israel’s national identity to this hill.
• The inviolability of Zion is repeatedly tied to the LORD’s covenant with David (Psalm 132:11-18;2 Samuel 7).
Zion as the Temple Mount and Center of Worship
• After Solomon built the temple, Zion was synonymous with the divine dwelling: “For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home” (Psalm 132:13).
• Annual pilgrimage feasts drew Israel to “appear before God in Zion” (Psalm 84:7).
• Priestly service, sacrificial atonement, and Levitical song positioned Zion as the nation’s liturgical heart (2 Chronicles 5:2;Psalm 76:2).
Zion as a Metaphor for the Covenant Community
• Prophets personify Zion as “daughter Zion” (Isaiah 1:8), picturing the city as mother of the faithful remnant.
• The term thus comes to signify the people rather than the place: “Sing, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel” (Zephaniah 3:14).
• Zion’s fortunes rise or fall with the spiritual condition of her inhabitants (Micah 3:10-12).
Prophetic Zion: Judgment and Restoration
Judgment
• Because of idolatry and injustice, Zion would be plowed like a field (Micah 3:12); Jeremiah weeps that she sits desolate (Lamentations 1:4, 4:1-2).
Restoration
• Yet the same prophets promise renewal: “The LORD will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her ruins” (Isaiah 51:3).
• Nations stream to a restored Zion to learn Torah and seek peace (Isaiah 2:2-4;Micah 4:1-3).
• Post-exilic returns fulfill this pledge in part (Psalm 126;Zechariah 8:3-8), while ultimate fulfillment awaits the Messianic age.
Messianic Zion
• Zion is the stage for Messiah’s advent (Zechariah 9:9;Matthew 21:5 cites this).
• The suffering Servant is rejected in Zion yet later vindicated (Isaiah 53;Psalm 118:22-26).
• Messianic reign is depicted as universal: “The LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever” (Micah 4:7).
Zion in the Psalms and Songs of Ascent
• Psalms 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 122, and 132 celebrate Zion’s security, beauty, and divine presence.
• The Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) climax with pilgrims blessing the LORD in Zion (Psalm 134:3).
Zion and the Nations
• Zion is both refuge and rally point: “From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth” (Psalm 50:2).
• Gentiles recognize Israel’s God in Zion (Isaiah 60:14-16;Zechariah 2:10-11).
• Zion carries missionary overtones as salvation radiates from Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:11).
Theological Themes
Presence of God: Zion epitomizes Immanuel—“God with us.”
Kingship and Kingdom: Heavenly authority intersects earthly governance on Zion’s hill.
Holiness and Salvation: From Zion the LORD decrees forgiveness and deliverance (Psalm 14:7;Joel 2:32).
Joy and Praise: Zion is the birthplace of songs, thanksgiving, and eschatological joy (Isaiah 35:10).
Ministry Application
• Worship: Christian gatherings echo Zion’s liturgy by centering on God’s enthronement and covenant promises.
• Intercession: Believers “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6), seeking the city’s welfare as part of God’s redemptive plan.
• Hope: Zion’s restoration under Messiah fortifies faith amid suffering, modeling perseverance (Psalm 125:1-2).
• Mission: As grace flows from Zion to the ends of the earth, the church proclaims “salvation comes from Zion” (Psalm 14:7).
Select References by Category
Foundational:2 Samuel 5:7;1 Kings 8:1;Psalm 2:6;Psalm 48:1-2
Judgment:Isaiah 3:16-26;Lamentations 2:15;Micah 3:12
Restoration:Isaiah 40:9;Isaiah 52:7-9;Joel 3:17;Zechariah 8:3
Messianic:Psalm 2;Psalm 110;Isaiah 9:6-7;Zechariah 9:9-10
Worship:Psalm 84;Psalm 122;Psalm 134
Mission to Nations:Isaiah 2:2-4;Isaiah 60:1-3;Zechariah 2:10-11
Forms and Transliterations
בְּ֭צִיּוֹן בְּצִיּ֑וֹן בְּצִיּ֔וֹן בְּצִיּ֖וֹן בְּצִיּ֗וֹן בְּצִיּ֣וֹן בְּצִיּ֥וֹן בְּצִיּֽוֹן׃ בְּצִיּוֹן֙ בְצִיּ֔וֹן בְצִיּ֖וֹן בְצִיּֽוֹן׃ בְצִיּוֹן֙ בציון בציון׃ וּ֝מִצִּיּ֗וֹן וּֽלֲצִיּ֨וֹן ׀ וּלְצִיּ֖וֹן ולציון ומציון לְצִיּ֖וֹן לְצִיּוֹן֙ לציון מִצִּ֫יּ֥וֹן מִצִּיּ֑וֹן מִצִּיּ֖וֹן מִצִּיּ֗וֹן מִצִּיּ֣וֹן מִצִּיּ֥וֹן מִצִּיּוֹן֙ מִצִּיּוֹן֮ מציון צִ֝יּ֗וֹן צִ֠יּוֹן צִ֫יּ֥וֹן צִ֭יּוֹן צִיּ֑וֹן צִיּ֔וֹן צִיּ֔וֹנָה צִיּ֖וֹן צִיּ֗וֹן צִיּ֛וֹן צִיּ֜וֹן צִיּ֞וֹן צִיּ֣וֹן צִיּ֥וֹן צִיּ֨וֹן צִיּֽוֹן׃ צִיּוֹן֒ צִיּוֹן֙ ציון ציון׃ ציונה bə·ṣî·yō·wn ḇə·ṣî·yō·wn bəṣîyōwn ḇəṣîyōwn betziYon lə·ṣî·yō·wn ləṣîyōwn letziYon miṣ·ṣî·yō·wn miṣṣîyōwn mitztziyOn ṣî·yō·w·nāh ṣî·yō·wn ṣîyōwn ṣîyōwnāh tziYon tziYonah ū·lă·ṣî·yō·wn ū·lə·ṣî·yō·wn ū·miṣ·ṣî·yō·wn ūlăṣîyōwn ulatziYon ūləṣîyōwn uletziYon ūmiṣṣîyōwn umitztziYon vetziYon
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