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Sion or Zion?


The Misunderstanding of Zion


"Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David."
(2 Samuel 5:7)


The Bible says the Israelite king David took the stronghold of Zion and that same place became the city of David.

Whatever Zion was, the people of the stronghold had it. King David didn't have it until he took it.

We learn that the people of the stronghold were called Jebusites, and the stronghold was called Jebus. We also learn that Araunah, also called Ornan, was king of the Jebusites.

Easton's Bible Dictionary says Zion was one of the eminences on which Jerusalem was built.

An eminance is, according to the dictionary, a piece of rising ground.

So there you have it: it was a piece of rising ground with a stronghold upon it belonging to the Jebusites. And David took it. So that's why the city of David got known as Zion.

Zion is therefore, a description for rising ground and so is Sion.

Sion is the Greek form of Zion. Sion means elevated - same thing.

Where else is elevated? Quite a bit of Jerusalem. At least three elevated places have gone by the name Zion - because they're elevated:

1. the city of David

2. the upper city

3. the temple mount



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