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Zion

Zion originally referred to the fortified hill in Jerusalem where David established his capital and where God's temple was built, becoming a symbol of God's dwelling place and the center of His kingdom. In Scripture, Zion represents both the physical location of God's presence and a spiritual reality of His people dwelling in His favor.

Overview

Zion was the southeastern hill of Jerusalem that David captured and made his royal residence (2 Samuel 5:7). When David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Zion (2 Samuel 6:12), it became the spiritual center of Israel's worship. Solomon later built the temple on Mount Moriah, adjacent to Zion (2 Chronicles 3:1), further cementing Zion's significance as God's chosen dwelling place among His people.

Key Scriptures

"Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth—Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King" (Psalm 48:1-2, ESV).

"The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob" (Psalm 87:2, ESV).

"The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 60:14, ESV).

Application

Recognize that believers today are part of spiritual Zion—the church as God's dwelling place—called to reflect His holiness and kingdom values in daily life.

Scripture References 40
2 Samuel 6:12 2 Samuel 6:16 1 Kings 8:1 1 Chronicles 15:1 1 Chronicles 15:29 2 Chronicles 5:2 1 Kings 8:1 2 Chronicles 3:1 2 Chronicles 5:2 Psalms 87:2 Psalms 87:3 Isaiah 60:14 2 Samuel 5:7 2 Samuel 5:9 2 Samuel 6:12 2 Samuel 6:16 1 Kings 8:1 1 Chronicles 11:5 1 Chronicles 11:7 1 Chronicles 15:1 1 Chronicles 15:29 2 Chronicles 5:2 Psalms 48:11 Psalms 48:12 Isaiah 52:1 Isaiah 52:2 Isaiah 52:7 Isaiah 52:8 2 Kings 19:21 2 Kings 19:31 Psalms 9:11 Psalms 48:2 Psalms 74:2 Psalms 132:13 Psalms 137:1 Isaiah 35:10 Isaiah 40:9 Isaiah 49:14 Isaiah 51:16 Isaiah 60:14
Full Topical Reference List 91 total — Nave's Topical Bible

Ark of the covenant placed in

1 Chronicles 15:1 1 Chronicles 15:29 1 Kings 8:1 2 Chronicles 5:2 2 Samuel 6:12 2 Samuel 6:16

Ark of the Covenant removed from, to Solomon's temple on Mount Moriah

1 Kings 8:1 2 Chronicles 3:1 2 Chronicles 5:2

Called The City of God

Isaiah 60:14 Psalms 87:2 Psalms 87:3

Called thereafter »the city of David«

1 Chronicles 11:5 1 Chronicles 11:7 1 Chronicles 15:1 1 Chronicles 15:29 1 Kings 8:1 2 Chronicles 5:2 2 Samuel 5:7 2 Samuel 5:9 2 Samuel 6:12 2 Samuel 6:16

Collectively, the place, the forms, and the assemblies of Israelitish worship

1 Peter 2:6 2 Kings 19:21 2 Kings 19:31 Isaiah 35:10 Isaiah 40:9 Isaiah 49:14 Isaiah 51:16 Isaiah 52:1 Isaiah 52:2 Isaiah 52:7 Isaiah 52:8 Isaiah 60:14 Isaiah 62:1 Isaiah 62:11 Jeremiah 31:6 Jeremiah 50:5 Joel 2:1 Joel 2:15 John 12:15 Lamentations 1:4 Matthew 21:5 Psalms 9:11 Psalms 48:2 Psalms 48:11 Psalms 48:12 Psalms 74:2 Psalms 132:13 Psalms 137:1 Romans 9:33 Romans 11:26

Name of Zion applied to Jerusalem

Isaiah 33:14 Isaiah 33:20 Jeremiah 9:19 Jeremiah 30:17 Psalms 87:2 Psalms 87:5 Psalms 149:2 Song of Solomon 3:11 Zechariah 9:13

Name of, applied to the city of the redeemed

Hebrews 12:22 Revelation 14:1

Restoration of, promised

Isaiah 51:3 Isaiah 51:11 Isaiah 51:16 Isaiah 52:1 Isaiah 52:2 Isaiah 52:7 Isaiah 52:8 Isaiah 59:20 Isaiah 60:14 Obadiah 1:17 Obadiah 1:21 Zechariah 1:14 Zechariah 1:17 Zechariah 2:7 Zechariah 2:10 Zechariah 8:2 Zechariah 8:3 Zechariah 9:9 Zechariah 9:13 Zephaniah 3:14 Zephaniah 3:16

Taken from the Jebusites by David

1 Chronicles 11:5 1 Chronicles 11:6 1 Chronicles 11:7 2 Samuel 5:6 2 Samuel 5:7 2 Samuel 5:8 2 Samuel 5:9
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