Mountains · Judea
Mount Zion
What was Mount Zion?
Zion is the hill of Jerusalem that became the Bible’s name for God’s dwelling place and his people.
TodayThe southeastern and western hills of old Jerusalem
First senseDavid’s captured stronghold
Grew to meanTemple, city, people of God
Originally the Jebusite stronghold David captured, “Zion” grew to mean the temple mount, the whole city, and finally the people of God themselves.
The psalms sing of Zion as the place God loves and defends — “the city of the great King,” the joy of all the earth.
Hebrews lifts the name heavenward: believers “have come to Mount Zion… the heavenly Jerusalem,” and Revelation pictures the Lamb standing on Zion with his redeemed.
Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)
2 Samuel 5:7 “Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).” Psalms 48:2 “Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.” Hebrews 12:22 “Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels”
Related places
Original BibleDawn profile. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy. Scripture quoted from the public-domain Berean Standard Bible.