Brief Overview of Σιών (Strong’s G4622: Siōn)

Strong’s G4622: A proper noun from Hebrew צִיּוֹן (Zion), referring to the hill of Jerusalem where David’s city stood. Represents God’s dwelling place, the spiritual center of His kingdom, and the place where His promises find fulfillment in Christ and His church.

U- Unveiling the Word

Σιών transcends its geographical meaning to embody deep theological truths about God’s presence, kingdom, and promises. Originally referring to the southeastern hill of Jerusalem where David established his city, it became associated with the temple mount and ultimately symbolized God’s dwelling place among His people. In the New Testament, it takes on rich messianic significance, representing both the physical Jerusalem and the spiritual reality of God’s presence in the church. Early church fathers saw Σιών as representing the new covenant community and the heavenly Jerusalem. Today, it reminds us that God’s people are His dwelling place and the focal point of His kingdom work.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Σιών, Siōn, see-OHN
• Detailed Pronunciation: Σι (see) ών (ohn) – stress on second syllable
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable

Etymology:

• From Hebrew צִיּוֹן (Tzion)
• Possibly related to Hebrew צִיָּה (tziyah, “dryness”) or צָיָה (tzayah, “fortress”)
• Hellenized form maintaining Hebrew pronunciation

D – Defining Meanings

• Mount Zion in Jerusalem
• The City of David
• God’s dwelling place
• The heavenly Jerusalem

Translation Options:

• Zion – traditional English rendering
• Sion – direct transliteration from Greek
• Mount Zion – when referring specifically to the location

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Ἰερουσαλήμ (Ierousalēm, ee-er-oo-sa-LAME) – See G2419: The city containing Zion
• ὄρος (oros, OR-os) – See G3735: Mountain or hill
• πόλις (polis, PO-lis) – See G4172: City

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• Indeclinable Proper Noun
• Always appears in the same form
• No variation in gender or number
• Functions primarily as a geographical/theological reference

The word maintains its form regardless of its grammatical function in the sentence.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes both geographical and theological significance. Thayer’s notes its evolution from physical location to spiritual symbol. LSJ documents its use in Jewish literature. Vine’s highlights its importance in prophetic and messianic contexts. Moulton and Milligan note its special significance in religious texts.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 21:5: “Say to Daughter [Zion] [Σιών], ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'”

Additional References:
John 12:15, Romans 9:33, Romans 11:26, Hebrews 12:22, 1 Peter 2:6, Revelation 14:1

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Σιών beautifully illustrates God’s faithfulness to His promises and His presence among His people. From David’s city to the heavenly Jerusalem, Zion points to King Jesus, who fulfills all God’s promises and establishes His eternal kingdom. This reminds us that in Christ, we are citizens of the heavenly Zion, where God dwells with His people forever.

D – Did You Know?

• The term appears in both messianic prophecies and their fulfillment
• Originally referred to a specific hill but came to represent all Jerusalem
• In Revelation, represents the ultimate gathering place of God’s people

Strong’s G4622: A proper noun from Hebrew צִיּוֹן (Zion), referring to the hill of Jerusalem where David’s city stood. Represents God’s dwelling place, the spiritual center of His kingdom, and the place where His promises find fulfillment in Christ and His church.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: jerusalem, temple, david, kingdom, promises, dwelling-place, holy-city, messianic-prophecy, new-jerusalem, church, heavenly-jerusalem, gods-presence​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​