The Friends Of Israel Gospel Ministry
My wife and I welcomed our first child in April. It was love at first sight when we saw her, and we were determined to choose a name that would capture her beauty and our love for her. After lots of deliberation , we settled on a name with biblical implications: Zion!
This name is special to us, but its been special to God for thousands of years.
The City of the Lord
The name Zion is both versatile and valuable in Scripture. Most often in context, it simply means city of God, and its a place God loves. Its used throughout the Old Testament to mean both the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem, depending on the context. It also refers to Mount Moriah, otherwise known as Mount Zion, the name for the physical location of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
The first place we see Zion mentioned in Scripture is in 2 Samuel 5:7. Immediately following in Scripture his anointing as king, David took this Jebusite fortress in Jerusalem, along with the city of Jerusalem itself, for the nation of Israel.1 This was a major moment in Israels history approximately 3,000 years ago that first gave the nation the claim to the city. The Lord approved this action, as David knew God had established him as Israels king and that Zion would be a key contribution to the exaltation of the Lords Kingdom .
A Mark of Ownership
The Lord will come from Zion to save His people forevera great reason for all people to be joyful at the mention of the name Zion.
New Jerusalem: Gods Dwelling Place
A Vision For Spiritual Mt Zion
As we study the Scriptures, we are increasingly attracted to the importance of the term Zion. This name gains a growing prophetic significance as we go through the story of the Bible. From its original meaning as a fortress hill in Jerusalem, Zion goes onward in the Old Testament to signify the high calling of God for His people. By the end of the New Testament, it reveals the center of heavens purposes and placement. What does all this mean for us? To gain an understanding of the vision of Zion, let us start at the beginning.
ZION, THE CITY OF KING DAVID
The first time the name Zion is found in the Bible is in 2 Samuel. There we read, And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spoke to David, saying, You shall not come in here but the blind and the lame will repel you, thinking, David cannot come in here.Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion . Then David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the City of David So David went on and became great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him, 2 Samuel 5:6-7 & 9-10.
Once David captured this fortress, it became his royal capital that he also named The City of David. As he ruled from Zion, the Lord expanded Davids kingdom until he ruled over a great empire from the Euphrates River to the borders of Egypt.
ZION, THE PLACE OF WORSHIP AND GLORY
Christian Quotes About Zion
Look upon those who mourn in Zionput their tears into your bottlelisten to their sighs and groans. William Tiptaft
The church used to be a lightning bolt, now its a cruise ship. We are not marching to Zion we are sailing there with ease. In the apostolic church it says they were all amazed and now in our churches everybody wants to be amused. The church began in the upper room with a bunch of men agonizing, and its ending in the supper room with a bunch of people organizing. We mistake rattle for revival, and commotion for creation, and action for unction. Leonard Ravenhill
In spite of sorrow, loss, and pain, our course be onward still we sow on Burmahs barren plain, we reap on Zions hill. Adoniram Judson
Could a mariner sit idle if he heard the drowning cry? Could a doctor sit in comfort and just let his patients die? Could a fireman sit idle, let men burn and give no hand? Can you sit at ease in Zion with the world around you damned? Leonard Ravenhill
Look upon those who mourn in Zionput their tears into your bottlelisten to their sighs and groans. William Tiptaft
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Zion’s History From The Very Beginning
Before King David conquered Jerusalem, Zion was possessed by Jebusites, a Canaanite tribe which lived there before the Jews took the land.
It was the Jebusites who built the fortress on the hilltop. After King David conquered the land, Zion received another name, “David’s City”. The rocks under Sion bore tombs of David and other kings.
Later, the name Zion spread over Ophel hill, too, sometimes embracing even the Temple Mount. Jerusalem’s upper town was also called Zion during the Hasmonean dynasty’s rule. Among the three walls surrounding Jerusalem, the one around Zion is the oldest. This area was circled with a wall during the 1st century A.D.
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Etymology Of The Name Zion
Because Zion was originally not Israeli, the name Zion comes to us possibly from a language other than Hebrew. HAW Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament mentions an Arabic root s-w-n, meaning to protect or defend, which may give Zion the meaning of fortress. Others suggest derivation from a root saha, be bald.
However, the ancient scribes allowed themselves considerable creative freedom in transliterating foreign names and they chose to spell the name Zion identical to the Hebrew word either meaning place of dryness or sign post:
Across several separate roots, the Bible sports an obvious connection between dry land to stand on and an established wisdom tradition to stand on. Adversely, new applications of wisdom or even new insights require new rain, which is why the word for teacher is the same as that for rain: .
Verb either means to command or be dry. Noun either means signpost or dry place. Noun means commandment but also applies to the full code of the law. Noun means dryness or parched land, and also points toward an time-honored wisdom tradition that has stopped growing because of an extended drought.
Noun means command. Noun means either ship or refers to a kind of desert creature.
Zions History From The Very Beginning
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Before King David conquered Jerusalem, Zion was possessed by Jebusites, a Canaanite tribe, which lived there before the land was taken by the Jews. It was the Jebusites who built the fortress on the hilltop. After the land was conquered by King David, Zion received another name meaning Davids City. The rocks under Sion bore tombs of David and other kings.
Later, the name Zion spread over the Ophel hill, too, sometimes embracing even the Temple Mount. During the rule of the Hasmonean dynasty, the upper town of Jerusalem was called Zion as well. Among the three walls that surrounded Jerusalem, the one around Zion is the oldest. This area was circled with a wall during the 1st century A.D.
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Whats Zion Meaning In The Bible
The Bible calls it the city of David, the King, the Holy Mount, the house and dwelling of the Lord, the majestic Lords city, and in a metaphoric sense means Jerusalem, the Judaea kingdom, the entire Judaea, the entire Jewish people. Prophets in the Bible often use the name of Zion to call the Lords kingdom in all its fullness, on the earth and in heaven, which will last until everything is completed in eternity.
Finally, in the widest meaning, Zion is a place where the Lord lives in heaven, where the Lords glory shines at the highest point. From this place, the Lord comes to people, wrapped in glory, and to this place the atoned ones will depart with joy and happiness.
From all this, we can come to the conclusion that there are several Zions. One of them is located on the earth, and its Jerusalem as the place where the Jewish people scattered among the nations should gather. Its not that important what the borders of the place are but its important that all the believers know exactly that it lies in the area of Jerusalem. The other Zion is a heavenly one, which belongs to the Lord and is a source of the eternal bliss.
Context Of Daughter Of Zion
There is a subtle difference between Daughter of Zion and Daughter Zion.
When she comes out of Zion, I hear Gods lament over disobedient Israel as though, the further she wanders spiritually from her mother Jerusalem , the more rebellious Israel becomes. She is safer in the heart of Israel, and close to the heart of the Father.
In Is There Intended Allegory in the Song of Solomon?, Jim Hamilton explains that Yahweh married Israel at Sinai. The covenant between Yahweh and Israel is described elsewhere as though it is a . The Daughter of Zion is the fruit of that union the heart of Israel.
Without the preposition, Jerusalem is Gods daughter. The site of the temple in Jerusalem was of utmost importance to the people of Israel. The ark of the covenant was brought here and the King ruled from here . When he was in exile, David longed to be with her.
In Psalm 9:14 he begged God to save him from his enemies so that in the gates of Daughter Zion he could rejoice in your salvation. Jerusalem was the heart of Israel and where Gods people felt closest to him . Yet, to the Lord, Zion is the Virgin Daughter in Isaiah 37:21-22 who had never been taken by force.
Could there also be irony here?
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What Does Daughter Of Zion Mean
The term Daughter of Zion is used several times in the Old Testament most often in the books of poetry and prophecy. Daughter of Zion is not a specific person, rather, it is a metaphor for the people of Israel showing the similarities between a loving relationship between a father and his daughter.
39) 2 Kings 19:21 A people confident in the deliverance of their God. When Assyria threatened Jerusalem, King Hezekiah went to the Lord. In response, God sent Isaiah to reassure Hezekiah that Jerusalem would not fall to Assyria, and God considered the threatening insult to the virgin daughter of Zion as a personal affront to Himself.
40) Isaiah 1:8 A hut, abandoned after judgment came to an evil family. Here, Isaiah compares the rebellion of Judah to a sick body in a devastated land. The daughter of Zion is left as a lone remnanta shelter hidden in the vineyard or a hut in a cucumber field that barely escaped destruction.
41) Jeremiah 4:31 A woman in labor, helpless before attackers. The steadfastness of Hezekiah was rare in Judahmost kings encouraged rebellion against God instead of loyalty to God. Jeremiah warns that if the nation does not turn away from evil, God will punish them severely. And the people will be helpless against itas helpless as a woman in labor.
45. Lamentations 1:6 All of her splendor Is gone from the daughter of Zion Her leaders have become like deer That have found no pasture, And they have fled without strength From the pursuer.
King James Bible Dictionary
Sunny height, one of the eminences on which Jerusalem was built. It was surrounded on all sides, except the north, by deep valleys, that of the Tyropoeon separating it from Moriah , which it surpasses in height by 105 feet. It was the south-eastern hill of Jerusalem.
When David took it from the Jebusites he built on it a citadel and a palace, and it became “the city of David” . In the later books of the Old Testament this name was sometimes used to denote Jerusalem in general, and sometimes God’s chosen Israel .
In the New Testament it is used sometimes to denote the Church of God , and sometimes the heavenly city .
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What Does Zion Mean
The name Zion is of Hebrew origin meaning “highest point.” Zion has made a steady rise in popularity since 1998 which coincides with Lauryn Hill naming her son Zion in 1997.In the Old Testament, the name Zion is used to refer to the city of Jerusalem and is the source of the term Zionism. But you don’t have to have Hebrew or Jewish roots to choose the name Zion, it’s a versatile and popular name that your baby can make all their own.
- Origin: The name Zion is of Hebrew origins meaning “highest point.”
- Gender: Zion is a popular boy name and a less commonly used girl name.
- Pronunciation: Zih-yan or Zee-yon
Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. Its important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.
What Is The Significance Of Zion In The Bible
z´on :
1. Meaning of the Word
2. The Zion of the Jebusites
3. Zion of the Prophets
4. Zion in Later Poetical Writings and Apocrypha
5. Omission of Name by Some Writers
6. The Name “Zion” in Christian Times
LITERATURE
1. Meaning of the Word:
A name applied to Jerusalem, or to certain parts of it, at least since the time of David. Nothing certain is known of the meaning. Gesenius and others have derived it from a Hebrew root , cahah , “to be dry” Delitzsch from , ciwwah , “to set up” and Wetzstein from , cn , “to protect.” Gesenius finds a more hopeful suggestion in the Arabic equivalent sihw , the Arabic sahwat signifying “ridge of a mountain” or “citadel,” which at any rate suitably applies to what we know to have been the original Zion .
Considerable confusion has been caused in the past by the want of clear understanding regarding the different sites which have respectively been called “Zion” during the centuries. It will make matters clearer if we take the application of the name: in David’s time in the early Prophets, etc. in late poetical writings and in the Apocrypha and in Christian times.
2. The Zion of the Jebusites:
3. Zion of the Prophets:
4. Zion in Later Poetical Writings and Apocrypha:
5. Omission of Name by Some Writers:
6. The Name “Zion” in Christian Times:
Literature.
See especially chapter 6 in Smith’s Jerusalem for a defense of the older view see Kuemmel, Materialien z. Topog. des alt. Jerusalem .
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How Popular Is The Name Zion
The name Zion is traditionally used as a boy name. Itâs been a popular choice since it arrived on the top 1,000 baby boy namesâ chart in 1998, at 695th position. Zion had a real surge in popularity that year, landing it in 274th position in 1999. Since then, Zionâs popularity has remained steady, reaching peak popularity at 144th spot in 2020.
As a girl name, Zion is less commonly used. It arrived in the top 1,000 girl namesâ charts in 2005 at 988th position. Its peak year was 2007 when it reached 575th spot. The name fell off the 1,000 girl namesâ charts in 2017.
What Is The Meaning Of Zion
Zion is baby boy name mainly popular in Christian religion and its main origin is Hebrew. Zion name meanings is A sign. People search this name as Zion name in urdu, How to say zion, Zion in urdu writing, Meaning of zion in the bible, Happy 5 months zion kurt, How do u say zion in diffrent langues. Other similar sounding names can be Zaina, Zina, Zane, Ziana, Zani, Zenia, Zian, Zona, Zan, Zain, Zeena, Zeno, Zena.
Zion Name Combinations.
You probably have google this question: My baby name is Zion and how can I combine the name Zion with other names and create unique & new name? We tried to suggest Zion name combinations. You can see how it looks the name Zion as first name or Zion as last name. You can combine the middle name for Zion and create a unique name.
Zion as First Name
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Imagery And Meaning Of Zion
Scriptural imagery suggests both a temporal and a spiritual structure. Zion is a section of Jerusalem or the center of a wider building project encompassing all of Jerusalem. It is a social center, a church made up of individuals faithful to God through Christ. In both senses, Zion is a defense: fortressliterally means fortified place or stronghold.
While the Kingdom of Heaven is real, a physical entity begun with a literal cornerstone, Jesus is the metaphorical equivalent. He is the point of reference from which Zion is built in ones heart, as important to a Christians spiritual foundation and development as a stone to the foundations of the temple Davids son Solomon built. Relationship with and knowledge of Christ brings peace and direction to a believer and defends a believer against spiritual attack.
Oppressed and lonely people can take comfort from their role as Daughters of Zion, a term evocative of Gods relational tenderness. According to Tim Keller, Christs attitude to the oppressed of Luke 4:18 and His Beatitudes of Luke 6:20-35 show the implication of the gospel that the broken-hearted, unrecognized, and oppressed now have a central place in the economy of the Christian community.
Christ as the Cornerstone of a spiritual Zion gives hope once more to the poor, the weak, and the hungry in preference to the powerful and wealthy of 1st Century Jerusalem and today. God cares deeply, as a Father cares for His children.