Original Word: סִיחוֹן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Ciychown
Pronunciation: see-KHON
Phonetic Spelling: (see-khone')
KJV: Sihon
NASB: Sihon
Word Origin: [from the same as H5477 (סוַּח - Suah)]

1. tempestuous
2. Sichon, an Amoritish king

Sihon

Or Ciychon {see-khone'}; from the same as Cuwach; tempestuous; Sichon, an Amoritish king -- Sihon.

see HEBREW Cuwach

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a king of the Amorites
NASB Translation
Sihon (37).

סִיחוֺן, סִיחֹן proper name, masculine Sihon (on formation compare Lag^{BN 198}); — סִיחוֺן Numbers 21:27 18t., סִיחֹן Numbers 21:21 17t.; — king of Amorites, Numbers 21:21 7t. Numbers 21 (JE), Numbers 32:33 (R) Deuteronomy 1:4 10t. Deuteronomy; Judges 2:10 4t. Judges (D) + Judges 13:21 (twice in verse); Judges 13:27 (P), Judges 11:19,20 (twice in verse); Judges 11:21; Jeremiah 48:45; 1 Kings 4:19; Nehemiah 9:22; Psalm 135:11; Psalm 136:19. ᵐ5 Σηων, ᵐ5^L Σιων.

Name and Identity

Sihon was the Amorite king who ruled from Heshbon over the territory stretching from the Arnon Gorge northward to the Jabbok River (Numbers 21:24). His name is usually understood to convey the idea of a “striker” or “sweeper away,” fitting the warrior reputation of both the Amorites and their king.

Historical Context

During Israel’s final approach to Canaan (circa late fifteenth–early fourteenth century BC), two Amorite kingdoms—Sihon’s in the central Trans-Jordan and Og’s in Bashan—controlled the main east-west trade corridors. Their authority was backed by strongly fortified cities (Deuteronomy 3:5) and a widespread network of vassal towns. Sihon’s capital, Heshbon, lay on the King’s Highway, the international route Israel requested to traverse peacefully (Numbers 21:22).

Biblical Narrative

1. Israel’s Entreaty and Refusal (Numbers 21:21-23).

“Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites: ‘Let us pass through your land …’ But Sihon would not permit Israel to pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and marched out to confront Israel in the wilderness”.

2. Battle at Jahaz and Total Conquest (Numbers 21:24-31; Deuteronomy 2:24-37).

“Then Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land extending from the Arnon to the Jabbok” (Numbers 21:24). Every Amorite city fell, and Israel occupied them, settling temporarily in Heshbon and its villages.

3. Allocation of Territory (Numbers 32; Deuteronomy 3:12-17; Joshua 13:8-28).

The tribes of Reuben and Gad, with half Manasseh, later received Sihon’s former lands, assuring Israel permanent control of Trans-Jordan and providing a staging ground for the western conquest.

4. Lasting Testimony (Deuteronomy 29:7; Joshua 2:10; Judges 11:19-22).

Sihon’s defeat became an apologetic touchstone in Israel’s later appeals—Rahab references it, Jephthah cites it in diplomacy, and the chronicler of Nehemiah’s prayer recounts it as divine favor (Nehemiah 9:22).

Divine Purposes in the Conquest

• A foretaste of Canaan’s downfall: “This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples under heaven” (Deuteronomy 2:25).
• A display of God’s unilateral covenant faithfulness: Israel had no standing army experience; victory underscored divine initiative (Psalm 136:18-22).
• A judgment on Amorite iniquity (cf. Genesis 15:16), showing that divine patience with sin has limits.

Repetition in Israel’s Memory and Worship

The psalmist highlights Sihon alongside Og as evidence of Yahweh’s enduring love:

“He struck down mighty kings—His loving devotion endures forever— Sihon king of the Amorites … and gave their land as an inheritance” (Psalm 136:18-21; cf. Psalm 135:10-12).

Such liturgical recalls nourished national gratitude and fortified confidence in future deliverance.

Prophetic and Typological Dimensions

• Prototype of opposing powers: Prophets allude to Amorite pride (Amos 2:9-10) and to Heshbon’s fall in later oracles (Jeremiah 48:45-46), echoing Sihon’s demise as precedent for judgment on Moab and others.
• Foreshadowing Christ’s victory: Just as Israel inherited what they had not labored for, believers receive salvation accomplished entirely by another (Ephesians 2:8-9). Sihon’s fall anticipates the Messiah disarming rulers and authorities (Colossians 2:15).

Lessons for Ministry and Discipleship

1. Refusal of divine overtures ends in loss. Sihon could have allowed peaceful passage; instead, resistance precipitated ruin (Hebrews 3:7-19).
2. God equips His people for seeming impossibilities. Israel faced fortified cities, yet obedience secured triumph—encouraging believers to advance when ministry doors open (1 Corinthians 16:9).
3. Corporate memory fuels present faith. Rehearsing past victories, as Israel did regarding Sihon, sustains worship, preaching, and counseling ministries today (Psalm 78:4).
4. Territorial stewardship parallels spiritual inheritance. Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh had to guard what God had given; churches must likewise defend sound doctrine and holy living (2 Timothy 1:13-14).

Key References

Numbers 21:21-31; 32:33-38

Deuteronomy 1:4; 2:24-37; 3:1-17; 4:46-49; 29:7

Joshua 2:10; 9:10; 12:2; 13:8-28

Judges 11:19-22

1 Kings 4:19

Nehemiah 9:22

Psalm 135:10-12; 136:18-22

לְ֭סִיחוֹן לְסִיח֤וֹן ׀ לְסִיח֥וֹן לְסִיחֹ֖ן לְסִיחֹ֣ן לְסִיחֹן֙ לְסִיחוֹן֙ לסיחון לסיחן סִיח֔וֹן סִיח֖וֹן סִיח֗וֹן סִיח֣וֹן ׀ סִיח֤וֹן סִיח֥וֹן סִיח֧וֹן סִיחֹ֑ן סִיחֹ֖ן סִיחֹ֛ן סִיחֹ֜ן סִיחֹ֣ן סִיחֹ֥ן סִיחֹ֨ן סִיחֹן֙ סִיחֽוֹן׃ סִיחוֹן֙ סיחון סיחון׃ סיחן lə·sî·ḥō·wn lə·sî·ḥōn lesiChon ləsîḥōn ləsîḥōwn sî·ḥō·wn sî·ḥōn siChon sîḥōn sîḥōwnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts