Lexical Summary Sion: Sion Original Word: שִׂיאֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Sion From siy'; peak; Sion, the summit of Mt. Hermon -- Sion. see HEBREW siy' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nasa Definition another name for Mount Hermon NASB Translation Sion (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שִׂיאֹן proper name, of a mountain, i.e. Hermon, ׳הַר שׂ הוּא חֶרְמוֺן Deuteronomy 4:48 (compare Di Dr). Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Sion is another name for Mount Hermon, the snow-clad apex of the Anti-Lebanon range rising more than 2,800 m (over 9,200 ft) above sea level. Dominating Israel’s northern horizon, the massif looms above the sources of the Jordan River and marks the northern limit of the land conquered by Israel east of the Jordan. Biblical Context Its sole appearance under the spelling “Sion” occurs in Deuteronomy 4:48, where Moses recounts the territory taken from Sihon and Og: “from Aroer on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon even as far as Mount Sion (that is, Hermon)”. The verse serves a boundary statement, fixing the newly secured eastern frontier before Israel crosses the Jordan. Hermon is elsewhere called “Sirion” (Psalm 29:6) and “Senir” (Ezekiel 27:5), designations used by the Sidonians and Amorites respectively. Historical Background 1. Military Objective: By the time of Deuteronomy 4, Israel had already defeated Og of Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:8), whose realm stretched “from the Valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon.” Possessing Hermon meant control of the northern highlands and the headwaters of the Jordan—strategic for settlement and defense. Theological and Ministry Insights • Covenant Boundaries: Mention of Sion in Moses’ rehearsal of the Law highlights the faithfulness of God in granting the patriarchal promise “from Lebanon even to the Euphrates” (Joshua 1:4). The mountain stands as a fixed witness that the Lord’s word about territory was literally fulfilled. Distinction from Zion Sion (שִׂיאֹן) must not be confused with Zion (צִיּוֹן), the hill of Jerusalem. Though spelled alike in some older English versions (“Sion”), the Hebrew roots, locations, and theological emphases differ. Zion points to the covenant throne in Jerusalem; Sion/Hermon marks the northern boundary of the Land. Later Jewish and Christian Tradition Jewish writings celebrated Hermon’s height and snow as emblematic of divine purity, while rabbinic lore viewed the mountain’s enduring whiteness as a sign of perpetual covenant. In Christian pilgrimage literature, Hermon became a symbol of spiritual ascent—where nearness to God’s glory transforms the believer, just as Moses’ face shone on Sinai and Jesus’ countenance on the mount of Transfiguration. Summary Though referenced only once under this exact spelling, Sion encapsulates a nexus of geography, conquest, covenant, and worship. Towering over Israel’s northern approaches, it silently testifies that the God who sets boundaries also sends blessing, turning a remote summit into a perpetual marker of His faithfulness and grandeur. Forms and Transliterations שִׂיאֹ֖ן שיאן śî’ōn śî·’ōn siOnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 4:48 HEB: וְעַד־ הַ֥ר שִׂיאֹ֖ן ה֥וּא חֶרְמֽוֹן׃ NAS: as Mount Sion (that is, Hermon), KJV: even unto mount Sion, which [is] Hermon, INT: far Mount Sion he which Hermon |