"Zion, Mt. Zion, a hill within the city of Jerusalem, indecl., Heb. 12:22; Rev. 14:1; poetic use, Mt. 21:5; Jn. 12:15; people of Israel, Rom. 9:33; 11:26; new Jerusalem of Christianity, 1 Pet. 2:6*"
Definition and meaning
Zion, Mt. Zion, a hill within the city of Jerusalem, indecl., Heb. 12:22; Rev. 14:1; poetic use, Mt. 21:5; Jn. 12:15; people of Israel, Rom. 9:33; 11:26; new Jerusalem of Christianity, 1 Pet. 2:6*
In the original Greek the word is written: Σιών
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of sion (G4622) across the King James Bible.
Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
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Common questions
Strong's G4622 (sion) is a Greek word that means: Zion, Mt. Zion, a hill within the city of Jerusalem, indecl., Heb. 12:22; Rev. 14:1; poetic use, Mt. 21:5; Jn. 12:15; people of Israel, Rom. 9:33; 11:26; new Jerusalem of Christianity, 1 Pet. 2:6* It appears 7 times in the King James Bible.
The word sion (G4622) appears 7 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4622 is sion, a Greek word defined as: Zion, Mt. Zion, a hill within the city of Jerusalem, indecl., Heb. 12:22; Rev. 14:1; poetic use, Mt. 21:5; Jn. 12:15; people of Israel, Rom. 9:33; 11:. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
sion is a Greek word found in the New Testament.