Where does “Zion” come from?
Zion derives from Biblical Hebrew צִיּוֹן, transmitted through Koine Greek Σιών, and ultimately from Hebrew ציון, a term of uncertain origin referring to a mountain in Jerusalem.
Zion (English): Jerusalem city proper; or more strictly speaking, the Temple Mount
Definitions
- Jerusalem city proper; or more strictly speaking, the Temple Mount
Ancestry of “Zion”, step by step
Zion traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English sion
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | sion | — |
| 2 | Old French | cion | child, usually a newborn |
| 3 | Frankish | kīþō | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | kīþô | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | geye- | to split open, to sprout |
via Hebrew ז
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hebrew | ז | m.: masculine gender |