SION (Heb. Šijjôn). — Indigenous name of the Jebusite stronghold located in the southern part of the eastern hill (see OPHEL) of Jerusalem (see), captured by King David and, in his honor, called the "City of David" (2 Sam. 5:7; 11:5).
The Canaanite name was retained, the etymology of which has not yet been established, but it seems to convey the sense of aridity (from šijjah, "dry thing") or protection (from šîn, "to defend"). Initially extended to the entire Ophel hill, which became sacred due to the settlement of the Ark of the Covenant (2 Sam. 6:10-12), it later, as the city expanded, came to denote the most fortified point and the center of religious and civic life. When Solomon had the Ark transferred from its temporary dwelling on Sion to the Temple he built on Mount Moriah (2 Chron. 3:1 and 5:2), this hill was in the poetic language of the Psalms and Prophets called Sion (Ps. 73:2; Isa. 8:18; 10:12; Jer. 31:13; Joel 3:17); indeed, the glorious name was used symbolically for the entire city of Jerusalem (Isa. 29:9; cf. V. JERUSALEM. Donato Baldi).