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

Those provisions and other business-friendly changes mean that companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index will receive tax breaks of about $148 billion this year, in the estimation of tax analyst Dave Zion.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The singer welcomed twins Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster in May with musician Zion Foster, who she got engaged to last month.

Read more on BBC

Sean Long, a Zion Church pastor based in the US, said Mr Jin had been prepared for a crackdown of this scale.

Read more on BBC

Ms. Jin told the Journal that other Zion Church pastors and workers were taken into custody or are missing in cities around the country.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Even after his wife relocated to the safety of the U.S. to be with their three children—all American citizens—Jin stayed behind in China to lead Zion Church, aware of the risks he faced.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• Promised Land 
• immortality 
• nirvana 
• paradise