Biblical Studies

The Origin of the Name Zion in the Hebrew Bible To truly understand Zion, we must begin with its most tangible, earliest definition. The first mentions of Zion in the Tanakh refer to a specific, strategic location. The Second Book of Samuel (5:7) provides the foundational context: ‘Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, which is the City of David.’ This verse is crucial because it grounds the later, more abstract meanings of Zion in a real, historical place. It was originally a fortified hill in Jerusalem, a stronghold of the Jebusites that became the political and military nucleus of...

The Geographical Origins: Zion as a Fortress The first biblical mention of Zion identifies it as a tangible, physical place. In the Second Book of Samuel, the narrative details King David’s conquest of Jerusalem from the Jebusites, an ancient Canaanite tribe. The text specifies, ‘David captured the fortress of Zion, which is the City of David’ (2 Samuel 5:7). Therefore, the original definition of Zion was purely geographical, referring to a specific fortified hill in the southeastern part of what is now Jerusalem. This location was a strategic military stronghold, chosen for its defensible position, surrounded by deep valleys. Its...