7865. Sion
Lexical Summary
Sion: Sion

Original Word: שִׂיאֹן
Part of Speech: Proper Name
Transliteration: Siy'on
Pronunciation: see-ohn
Phonetic Spelling: (see-ohn')
KJV: Sion
NASB: Sion
Word Origin: [from H7863 (שִׂיא - loftiness)]

1. peak
2. Sion, the summit of Mt. Hermon

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Sion

From siy'; peak; Sion, the summit of Mt. Hermon -- Sion.

see HEBREW siy'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from 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.
2. Tribal Allocation: After the campaign, portions of Hermon’s slopes fell to the half-tribe of Manasseh (1 Chronicles 5:23) and formed part of Bashan’s pastureland renowned for its fertility (Amos 4:1).
3. International Border: Hermon soon became a border marker between Israel, Phoenicia, and later Syria, its summit never fully incorporated into Israelite civic life yet ever present in the biblical landscape.

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.
• Symbol of Majesty: In Psalm 133:3, Hermon’s dew becomes a metaphor for life-giving blessing descending on Zion. Though Sion/Hermon lies far north, its moisture nourishes the entire land—an image of grace flowing from heaven to God’s people.
• Foreshadowing Revelation: High mountains often provide venues for divine disclosure (Exodus 19; Matthew 5). Early Christian writers linked the “high mountain” of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–2) with Hermon, underscoring continuity between Old Testament geography and New Testament revelation.

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 siOn
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 7865
1 Occurrence


śî·’ōn — 1 Occ.

7864
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