Zion

[ zahy-uhn ]

noun

1. a hill in Jerusalem, on which the Temple was built (used to symbolize the city itself, especially as a religious or spiritual center).
2. the Jewish people.
3. Palestine as the Jewish homeland and symbol of Judaism.
4. heaven as the final gathering place of true believers.
5. a city in NE Illinois.

Zion

/ ˈzaɪən /

noun

1. the hill on which the city of Jerusalem stands
2. Judaism
   1. the ancient Israelites of the Bible
   2. the modern Jewish nation
   3. Israel as the national home of the Jewish people
3. Christianity heaven regarded as the city of God and the final abode of his elect
4. any form of social organization, way of life, or life after death regarded as an ultimate goal
5. 1. a religious community or its site, regarded as chosen by God and under his special protection
   2. an ideal theocratic community, esp any of the Christian Churches regarded as such a community

Word History and Origins

Origin of Zion¹

before 1000; < Hebrew sīyyōn; replacing Middle English, Old English Sion < Late Latin (Vulgate) Siōn < Greek (Septuagint) Seiṓn < Hebrew, as above

Example Sentences

She met Gay while working together on an event at the Sundance Film Festival but bonded with her on the way home from a cast trip to Zion National Park in Utah.

From Los Angeles Times

On a Sunday morning in September, the air inside the historic Mt Lebanon AME Zion Church was filled with the sounds of gospel music, prayer - and politics.

From BBC

One that came up was a judgment by the Nazi Party’s chief racist ideologue, Alfred Rosenberg, about the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” an antisemitic tract wholly fabricated by officials in Tsarist Russia.

From Los Angeles Times

“A lot has been thrown at him, and he’s responded in the best way a rookie can,” offensive guard Zion Johnson said.

From Los Angeles Times

“If you allow the little things to slide, big things will slide,” offensive lineman Zion Johnson said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• immortality
• nirvana
• paradise
• Promised Land