Zion

Related Topics:
Zionism :: Zion :: Zionhill :: Zionsville :: Zion_Grove :: Zionville :: Zion_Bible_College :: Zion_National_Park

Zion, or Sion (צִיּוֹן "Height", Standard Hebrew Tziyyon, Tiberian Hebrew Tsiyyôn) is an archaic term that originally referred to a specific mountain near Jerusalem (Mount Zion), on which stood a Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David.

"Zion" came to be applied to the section of Jerusalem where the fortress stood, and later became synonymous with Jerusalem. "Zion" is also a metonym for Solomon's Temple. Today, "Zion" is often used metaphorically, to symbolize Jerusalem and the Promised Land to come, in which God dwells among his chosen people.

Mount Zion is also the modern name of a hill south of the Old City's Armenian Quarter — the result of a misnomer dating from the Middle Ages when pilgrims mistook the relatively large, flat summit for the original site of the City of David. The Church of the Dormition (right) is located upon that hill.

An alternative etymology: zion (tzion) is from the Aramaic (precursor to Hebrew) word meaning "pure". Because a man had to be pure to enter the tent where the ark of the conventant was kept, this tent became known as zion. When the ark was brought by the Israelites into the Promised Land, the land itself was known as zion--pure and holy, because it contained the ark. When the Israelites were captives in Babylon and cried for Zion, it wasn't only for their homeland, but for the ark itself, for the state of being pure, holy, chosen, which all meant to them what "independent" means to us today.

Modern use

Zionism

Zionism is a political movement and ideology that supports a homeland for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, where the Jewish nation have originated over 3,200 years ago and where Jewish kingdoms and self-governing states have existed up to the 2nd century. While Zionism is based in part upon religious tradition linking the Jewish people to the Land of Israel, the modern movement was originally secular, beginning largely as a response to rampant antisemitism in Europe during the 19th century. After a number of advances and setbacks, and after the Holocaust had destroyed Jewish society in Europe, the Zionist movement culminated in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

Anti-slavery

The Jewish longing for Zion, starting with the deportation and enslavement of Jews during the Babylonian captivity, was adopted as a metaphor by Christianized Black slaves. Thus, Zion symbolizes a longing by wandering peoples for a safe homeland. This could be a literal place such as in Ethiopia for Rastafarians for example. For others, it has taken on a more spiritual meaning—a safe spiritual homeland, like in heaven, or a kind of peace of mind in one's present life.

Latter-day Saint usage of the term Zion

Zion is a term with broad significance in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In addition to its Biblical meaning referring to Jerusalem, Mormons see Zion more broadly as any city in which the people are unified and are "pure in heart," with no contention and no poor among them based on living the Law of Consecration. In specific scriptural references, the term refers to the central physical location or city to which Latter-day Saints have historically gathered, which has included Kirtland, Ohio; Independence, Missouri; and Nauvoo, Illinois. In a more metaphorical sense, Zion represents a unified society of Latter-day Saints, unified as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or with others willing to live the law of consecration. Under this interpretation one can strive to make even one's own home "Zion". Zion also refers to what Latter-day Saints generally believe will be the New Jerusalem, a physical, Millennial city expected to be headquartered in Jackson County, Missouri.

Rastafari Movement

For Rastafarians, Zion is to be found in Africa, and more specifically in Ethiopia, where the term is also in use. Some Rastas believe themselves to represent the Children of Israel in modern times, and their goal is to repatriate to Africa, or to Zion. Rasta reggae music is peppered with references to Zion; among the best-known examples are the Bob Marley songs '"Zion Train" and "Iron Lion Zion." In recent years, such references have also "crossed over" into pop music thanks to artists like Matisyahu, Lauryn Hill, Boney M (Rivers of Babylon), Dreadzone with the reggae-tinged track "Zion Youth" and Damian Marley, who released his track "Road to Zion" featuring Nas in 2005.

Ugaritic Texts and the Bible

In texts uncovered at Ugarit, references to "Zephon" (Tsephon) have been identified with the Syrian mountain Jebel Aqra. In these texts, the mountain is the holy place of the gods, where the god known as the "Lord" reigns over the divine assembly. The word "Zephon" is a common Semitic word for "North", and some have considered it to be possibly cognate with the Hebrew name Zion (Tsiyyon). Psalm 48:2 mentions both terms together: "...Har-Tsiyyon yarktey Tsafon..." ("Mount Zion on the Northern side"), usually taken to refer to the north side of Mount Zion, not necessarily indicating that Zion is found to the North.

The Daughter of Zion

The location of the Temple was neither a mountain nor a city, nor even the highest elevation near the city, but rather a smallish hill, and this hill is sometimes considered to be what is meant by the phrase "Daughter of Zion" - as though the Temple Mount is the "daughter" of Mount Zion. Another cryptic verse, Zechariah 4:7, seems to refer to this hill, but is also ambiguous, depending on the punctuation. In Hebrew it reads "Mi attah Har-haGadol lifnei Zerubbabel l'mishor..."; the plain text has no punctuation, but the Masoretic text puts a pause following Har-haGadol, to mean "What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, will become just a plain..." However, if the pause is placed following Zerubbabel, it would mean instead "What are you, "great mountain" before Zerubbabel? are just a plain..." Since this hill is where Zerubbabel built the Second Temple, it appears to be a reference to the "Daughter of Zion" (the hill), as distinct from Zion (the mountain).

External links

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