[ZIE un] (fortification)-- The city of David and the city of God. The meaning of the word Zion underwent a distinct progression in its usage throughout the Bible.

The first mention of Zion in the Bible is in <2 Samuel 5:7>: "David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David)." Zion, therefore, was the name of the ancient JEBUSITE fortress situated on the southeast hill of Jerusalem at the junction of the KidronValley and the TyropoeonValley. 

The name came to stand not only for the fortress but also for the hill on which the fortress stood. After David captured "the stronghold of Zion" by defeating the Jebusites, he called Zion "the City of David" <1 Kin. 8:1; 1 Chron. 11:5; 2 Chron. 5:2>.

When Solomon built the Temple on MOUNT MORIAH (a hill distinct and separate from Mount Zion), and moved the ark of the covenant there, the word Zion expanded in meaning to include also the Temple and the Temple area <Ps. 2:6; 48:2, 11-12; 132:13>. It was only a short step until Zion was used as a name for the city of Jerusalem, the land of Judah, and the people of Israel as a whole <Is. 40:9; Jer. 31:12>. The prophet Zechariah spoke of the sons of Zion <Zech. 9:13>. By this time the word Zion had come to mean the entire nation of Israel.

The most important use of the word Zion is in a religious or theological sense. Zion is used figuratively of Israel as the people of God <Is. 60:14>. The spiritual meaning of Zion is continued in the New Testament, where it is given the Christian meaning of God's spiritual kingdom, the church of God, the heavenly Jerusalem <Heb. 12:22; Rev. 14:1>.