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Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Zion


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Zion Zion

Zion was originally a Jebusite stronghold located in or near Jerusalem or is equal to Jerusalem. King David captures this stronghold and it is renamed City Of David. David sets up the tabernacle there and Solomon retrieves it from there to place the ark and utensils in the temple. Isaiah mentions that YHWH dwells on Mount Zion (8:18) and later writers relate the name Zion to the eternal Jerusalem (Hebr 12:22) and heaven (Rev 14:1).

Because Zion was originally not Israeli, the name Zion comes to us probably from a language other than Hebrew. TWOTOT mentions an Arabic root s-w-n (under 1910), to protect, defend, which may give Zion the meaning of fortress. Others (says TWOTOT ) suggest derivation from a root saha, be bald.

Spelled the way it is, however, the name Zion is identical to the word Zion (sayon 1909b) meaning place of dryness, from the assumed root syh (syh 1909). Derivation syh (siya 1909a), dryness, drought, occurs in Psalm 105:41.
Perhaps the notion of a dry place taps into the creation account, and specifically the third day, or in the Noahic flood account. A dry place is not a place where people die of thirst, but rather a place where the sea is no more, after it has given all her treasures (Rev 21:1).

On the Biblical canvass, the name Zion means Dry Place.

Another name that means Dryness is Horeb.



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