Zion

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Biography

Zion () (also Transliteration|transliterated Sion , Tzion or Tsion ) is a place name often used as a synonym for Jerusalem . The word is first found in Books of Samuel|Samuel II, 5:7 dating to c.630-540 BCE according to modern scholarship. It commonly referred to a specific mountain near Jerusalem ( Mount Zion ), on which stood a Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David and was named the City of David .
The term Tzion came to designate the area of Jerusalem where the fortress stood, and later became a metonymy|metonym for Solomon 's Temple in Jerusalem , the city of Jerusalem and generally, Olam Haba#.22The_World_to_Come.22|the World to Come .

In Kabbalah the more esoteric reference is made to Tzion http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/parsha/dimension/archives/devarim.htm being the spiritual point from which reality emerges, located in the Holy of Holies of the Solomon's Temple|First , Second Temple|Second and Third Temple .

Etymology

The etymology of the word Zion ( ?iyôn ) is uncertain.
Mentioned in the Bible in the Book of Samuel (2 Samuel 5:7) as the name of the Jebusite fortress conquered by King David , its origin likely predates the Israelite s. If Semitic languages|Semitic , it may be derived from the Hebrew root ?iyyôn ("castle") or the Hebrew ?iyya ("dry land," Jeremiah 51:43) or the Arabic šana ("protect" or "citadel"). It might also be related to the Arabic root ?ahî ("ascend to the top") or ?uhhay ("tower" or "the top of the mountain"). A non-Semitic relationship to the Hurrian language|Hurrian word šeya ("river" or "brook") has also been suggested.

Orthography

The form Tzion (; Tiberian vocalization : ?iyyôn ) appears 108 times in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), and once as HaTzion . The Responsa Project: Version 13 , Bar Ilan University, 2005 It is spelled with a Tzadi and not Zayin .Kline, D.E., A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language for readers of English , Carta Jerusalem, The University of Haifa, 1987, pp.XII-XIII
The commonly used form is an adopted mis-transliteration in English based on German orthography ,Joseph Dixon, A general introduction to the Sacred Scriptures: in a series of dissertations, critical hermeneutical and historical , J. Murphy, 1853, p.132 where z is always pronounced (e.g. "zog" ), hence " Tsion " in German literature. A tz would only be used if the preceding vowel is short, and hence use of Zion in 19th century German Biblical criticism . This orthography was adopted because in German the correct transliteration can only be rendered from the one instance of HaTzion in Kings II 23:17, where the a vowel is followed by a double consonant tz .

Biblical usage

Some examples from the book of Psalms , which have been frequently recited and memorized by Jews for centuries, state:

" Rivers of Babylon (disambiguation)|By the rivers of Babylon , there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Tzion." (Psalms 137:1)

"For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying , Sing us one of the songs of Tzion. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning . If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it , raze it , even to the foundation thereof; O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that repayeth thee as thou hast served us." (Psalms 137:3-8, italics for words not in the original Hebrew)

"The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcast of Israel. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Tzion." (Psalms 147:2,12)

The Daughter of Tzion

Mentioned 26 times in the Tanakh , the Biblical phrase "Daughter of Tzion" (Hebrew "bat Tzion") is considered by some to be referencing a small hill in Jerusalem (whether Mount Moriah , the Temple Mount , or another hill), with the location of the actual tall mountain (as described in the Psalms) remaining mysterious. Another cryptic verse, , seems to refer to this hill, but is also ambiguous, depending on the punctuation. In Hebrew it reads ''"Mi attah Har-haGadol lifnei Zerubbabel l'mishor..." ; the plain text has no punctuation, but the Masoretic Text puts a pause following Har-haGadol , to mean "Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, a plain..." However, if the pause is placed following Zerubbabel , it would mean instead "What are you, "great mountain" before Zerubbabel? a plain..." Since this hill is where Zerubbabel built the Second Temple, it appears to be a reference to the "Daughter of Zion" (the hill), as distinct from Tzion (the mountain).

However, "Daughter of Zion", and a variety of other names like "Daughter of Jerusalem", might also be interpreted as referring to Jerusalem and the Jewish people personified, instead of a geographical feature.Jaap Dekker, ''Zion's rock-solid foundations: an exegetical study of the Zion text in Isaiah 28:16 , BRILL, 2007, pp.269-270

In the New Testament the Daughter of Zion is the bride of Christ , also known as the Church, according to the writer of the book of Hebrews (see Heb 12:22). In this sense the lower hill with the temple mount is of course the Daughter of Zion as a geographical or 'earthly' manifestation of spiritual reality, as well as the lively and alive place of the human congregation.

Naming the holy city "daughter Zion" was a common practice in the Hebrew language. Not only Jerusalem was called this way, but also Babylon, Tyre and Tarshish were referred to as "daughter".Elaine R. Follis, Anchor Bible Dictionary

Arab and Islamic tradition

Sahyun (, ?ahyun or ?ihyun ) is the word for Zion in Arabic and Syriac language|Syriac . Drawing on biblical tradition, it is one of the names accorded to Jerusalem in Arabic and Islamic tradition. A valley called Wâdi Sahyûn ( wadi being the Arabic for "valley") seemingly preserves the name and is located approximately one and three-quarter miles from the Old City of Jerusalem 's Jaffa Gate .

The Kaaba in Mecca was also called Sahyun or Zion by Muhammed , the prophet of Islam . Islamic scholarship sees many passages of the Bible that refer to the desert or Eschatology|eschatological Zion as references to the holy site of Mecca. For example, the reference to the "precious cornerstone" of the new Jerusalem in the Book of Isaiah 28:16 is identified in Islamic scholarship as the Black Stone|cornerstone of the Kaaba . This interpretation is said by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyah (1292–1350) to have come from the People of the Book , though earlier Christian scholarship identifies the cornerstone with Jesus .

Zionism

The term "Zionism" coined by Austrian Nathan Birnbaum , was derived from the German rendering of Tzion in his journal Selbstemanzipation (Self Emancipation) in 1890.De Lange, Nicholas, An Introduction to Judaism , Cambridge University Press (2000), p. 30. ISBN 0-521-46624-5. Zionism as a Jewish political movements|political movement First Zionist Congress|started in 1897 and supported a homeland|'national home' , and Biltmore Conference|later a state , for the Jew ish people in Palestine . The Zionist movement declared the re-establishment of its Israel|State of Israel in 1948, following the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine . Since then and with varying ideologies , Zionists have focused on developing and protecting this state.

While Zionism is based in part upon Judaism|Torah mitzvot linking the Jewish people to the Biblical land of Israel, the modern movement is largely Secularism|secular . Indeed, until 1967 the Tzion of the Tanakh (the Old City of Jerusalem ) was not even within the boundaries of Israel (although Mount Zion itself, was).

In 2005, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra|Ralph Uwazuruike from Nigeria pushed for the creation of the already disputed state of Biafra for the Igbo people . He approached the Israeli government to support this movement on the basis that Israel is the Igbo Jews|long lost home of the Igbos.

Anti-slavery symbolism

The Jewish longing for Zion, starting with the deportation and enslavement of Jews during the Babylonian captivity , was adopted as a metaphor by Christian Black slavery|slaves in the United States , and after the Civil War by blacks who were still oppressed. Thus, Zion symbolizes a longing by wandering peoples for a safe homeland. This could be an actual place such as Ethiopia for Rastafari movement|Rastafarians or Israel for some of the Igbos in Nigeria for example. For others, it has taken on a more spirituality|spiritual meaning—a safe spiritual homeland, like in heaven , or a kind of inner peace|peace of mind in one's present life.

Usage by the Rastafari movement

In the Rastafari movement , "Zion" stands for a utopia n place of unity, peace and freedom, as opposed to " Rastafari movement#Zion_vs._Babylon|Babylon ", the oppressing and exploiting system of the western world and a place of evil.

For Rastafarians, Zion is to be found in Africa , and more specifically in Ethiopia , where the term is also in use. Some Rastas believe themselves to represent the real Children of Israel in modern times, and their goal is to repatriate to Africa, or to Zion. Rasta reggae is peppered with references to Zion; among the best-known examples are the Bob Marley songs "Zion Train", " Iron Lion Zion ", the Bunny Wailer song "Rastaman" ("The Rasta come from Zion, Rastaman a Lion!"), The Melodians song "Rivers of Babylon" (based on Psalm 137:1,3,4), the Bad Brains song "Leaving Babylon", the Damian Marley song featuring Nas "Road to Zion," The Abyssinians ' "Forward Unto Zion" and Kiddus I 's "Graduation In Zion," which is featured in the 1977 cult roots rock reggae film Rockers (1978 film)|Rockers . Reggae groups such as Steel Pulse and Cocoa Tea also have many references to Zion in their various songs. In recent years, such references have also crossed over into pop and rock music thanks to artists like MindZion , O.A.R. "To Zion Goes I", Sublime (band)|Sublime , Lauryn Hill , Boney M. (" Rivers of Babylon "), Black Uhuru "Leaving to Zion", Fluid Minds "Zion", Dreadzone with the reggae-tinged track "Zion Youth.", P.O.D. with song "Set Your Eyes to Zion" (but P.O.D. with a Christian viewpoint: Zion referring to the spiritual kingdom of God), Trevor Hall (singer)|Trevor Hall with song "To Zion", and Australian roots reggae outfit Vindan and The Zion Band, also Alcyon Massive (a reggae/psychedelic band in Southern Oregon) wrote a song titled "Zion" which is currently very popular. The rock band Rush (band)|Rush also reference Zion/Babylon duality in the song "Digital Man" with the following lyrics: "He'd love to spend the night in Zion. He's been a long while in Babylon".

Latter Day Saint movement

A similar metaphor ic transformation of the term "Zion" occurs in the modern Latter Day Saint movement , originating in the United States in the 1830s. In this interpretation, Zion refers to a specific location to which members of the millennial church are to be gathered together to live. During that time the ancient city of Enoch, also named Zion, that was taken to Heaven will return to the Earth. A Temple is to be built unto the Lord for a sacred work to be performed and for the Lord Jesus Christ to reign when he Second Coming (LDS Church)|returns at the Second Coming. Until the gathering of Israel (Gentile and Jew who have accepted Jesus as their savior), when the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Latter Day Saints also believe Zion to be their Stake (Latter Day Saints)|location congregations where they gather weekly to renew vows and Covenant (Latter Day Saints)|covenants made to God the Father#Mormonism|God the Father and to the Son of God.

In popular culture

Zion is referenced in several media and entertainment groups. For example in music the band with the name Mind Zion also there are song titles such as " To Zion ", a song by Lauryn Hill , " Road to Zion ", by Damian Marley , " Iron Lion Zion " by Bob Marley , or the " Zion (David Bowie song) ". In film, Zion (The Matrix)|Zion is a fictional human-controlled underground city in The Matrix (franchise) . In literature, Zion is a space station in the 1984 cyberpunk novel Neuromancer .

In February 2011 the Iranian government issued a formal complaint, saying that Britain's 2012 Summer Olympics#Logo|2012 Olympics logo spelled the word "Zion". They initially threatened to boycott the event if the "offensive" logo was not replaced.

Mount Zion today

Today, Mount Zion refers to a hill south of the Old City (Jerusalem)|Old City 's Armenian Quarter , not to the Temple Mount . This apparent misidentification dates from the Middle Ages , when Christian pilgrimage|Christian pilgrims mistook the relatively large, flat summit (the highest point in ancient Jerusalem) for the original site of the Jewish Temple. The Hagia Maria Sion Abbey|Dormition Church (right) is located upon the hill currently called Mount Zion.

Copyright Citations

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