What Is Mount Zion and Why Is It So Important?

• Bible /
• Bible Study /
• Topical Studies

Lucas Hagen | Crosswalk.com Contributing WriterMonday, November 2, 2020 Share Tweet Save

Mount Zion is likely a term that you have heard before or read in Scripture, but you may not have given much thought to what or where it is. Mount Zion is a term used to describe a location in Israel, Jerusalem specifically, but has now come to represent a larger area and meaning than it did thousands of years ago.https://9529926b4182019a62fba94ee30bc607.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html#xpc=sf-gdn-exp-4&p=https%3A//www.biblestudytools.com

Any Jewish person would know exactly what Mount Zion is and why it is important, and Christians should also understand the grand significance of this iconic place. 

What Is Mount Zion?

The physical location of the original Mount Zion is the city of David in Jerusalem, the small hill on the eastern side of the city upon which David built his temple. There are two key passages in Scripture which clarify this context. The first is when David first overtook this location in Jerusalem. It is written, “The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, ‘You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.’ They thought, ‘David cannot get in here.’   Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion — which is the City of David” (2 Sam. 5:6-7). 

It is likely that the Jebusites had built a physical structure that merited the term fortress, but this particular place in Jerusalem can also be referred to as a fortress because of the physical landscape surrounding it. The city of David, or the original Mount Zion, is on the eastern side of Jerusalem, and it rests on a hill that is low compared to the surrounding hills of the city. It is likely from this vantage point that David wrote the famous lines, “I lift my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:1-2). The city of David was a desirable fortress because it was protected on all sides by the geographical landscape. David’s choice of Zion for where to build his temple was intentional. 

The second key passage providing context for Mount Zion is found in 1 Kings. It is written, “Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the people of Israel, before King Solomon in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion” (1 Kings 8:1). When Solomon went on to build his own, larger temple, the area to which the term Zion referred expanded to include the land upon which the new temple stood. 

In modern days, the term Mount Zion refers to the western hill of Jerusalem. The reason for the change is that later settlers assumed that the western hill, which is considerably larger than the original Zion, must have been the city of David where he built his temple. Despite their errant assumption, the name stuck. If you go to Jerusalem today and ask someone where Zion is, they will likely point you towards the western hill, not the original city of David. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Matthew Brosseau

Why Is Mount Zion Important?

Zion is important because it refers to the land upon which God’s temple was built. For centuries, Mount Zion was where God’s physical presence on Earth dwelt. This was the place that faithful Jews would travel to for the different ritual festivals in order to worship and celebrate each year. Of all locations mentioned in Scripture, Zion is one of the most significant, especially for those living before the arrival of Jesus. https://9529926b4182019a62fba94ee30bc607.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html#xpc=sf-gdn-exp-6&p=https%3A//www.biblestudytools.com

In biblical times, Mount Zion was the place where God’s temple stood. Mount Zion was where the entire nation would trek to participate in corporate worship and ritual sacrifices at the different Jewish festivals. It was where the physical presence of Yahweh dwelt on Earth.

Mount Zion was the most holy place on Earth for thousands of years. Looking to the end times, Mount Zion is often viewed as the place where Christ stands in victory and triumph. Regardless of time period, Mount Zion is a quintessentially sacred place for both Jews and Christians. 

Where Do We See This Mentioned in the Bible?

Zion is mentioned throughout Scripture, but there is a higher concentration of references in the Psalms and the Prophets. Unlike many other biblical locations, references to Zion are also found in the New Testament, specifically in Matthew, John, Romans, Hebrews, 1 Peter, and most notably, Revelation. Throughout the Old Testament, the term Zion is used frequently in reference to the physical location in Jerusalem. Some examples of this include:

Psalm 2:6 – “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

2 Kings 19:31 – “For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord will do this.”

Just as frequently though, Zion is used in the Old Testament as a term in reference to Jerusalem and the people of Israel as a whole. This is especially prevalent in the prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah, including many others. Some examples of this include:

Isaiah 46:13 – “I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay;  I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.”

Jeremiah 14:19 – “Have you utterly rejected Judah? Does your soul loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us?  We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror.”

Zechariah 9:13 – “For I have bent Judah as my bow; I have made Ephraim its arrow. I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons O Greece, and wield you like a warrior’s sword.”

While Zion is most frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, arguably the most notable reference to Zion is found in the New Testament. In the book of Revelation, Zion is mentioned one time, and it is a reference that Christians have been trying to decipher for two thousand years.

John wrote, “Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads” (Revelation 14:1). 

There is debate as to what exactly is going on in this verse. There are many who see this referring to the physical Mount Zion on Earth, and that when Christ returns He will set foot on this hill in Jerusalem. At the same time, there are many who view this as referring to Christ in heaven, standing in victory on a symbolic Mount Zion. Either way, the reference to Mount Zion here is intentional, and shows the true significance of this place in the Christian faith. 

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Kristi Linton

What Is Mount Zion Symbolic of, and Why Is This Important Today?

Throughout Scripture, Mount Zion is used as a term to refer to the singular physical hill, the city of Jerusalem, the tribe of Judah, and the entire nation of Israel. It requires a bit of attention to discern what the term refers to in any particular verse in the Old Testament, but you can be sure that it will be to one of the above.

Zion is important for Christians today because it has historically been the most holy place on earth for those who worship Yahweh. For our ancestors in the faith, there was no more important location than Mount Zion, the temple mount. It is important to note the contrast in importance for ancient Jews and for modern Christians. Zion was so important for ancient followers of God because that was the only place where one could be in God’s presence. There was no other place. https://9529926b4182019a62fba94ee30bc607.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html#xpc=sf-gdn-exp-8&p=https%3A//www.biblestudytools.com

However, since Pentecost, Christians do not have to make the journey to Zion in order to be present with the Lord. If you are in Christ, then the Lord’s Spirit dwells within you. You are your own holy and sacred place where you can be present with the Lord.

As Paul asks, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Cor. 16:19). Your body serves as its own Zion, a temple of the Lord’s presence. This is astounding! Christians too often take this for granted. A proper understanding of Zion not only helps the Christian appreciate biblical history, but also helps the Christian appreciate the wonder of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is nothing short of a miracle. Let us treat it as such! 

Experience His Presence

Zion is a term that refers to multiple locations in the city of Jerusalem, the city of Jerusalem as a whole, the tribe of Judah, the entire nation of Israel, as well as a heavenly location (depending on your view of Revelation). The term is often overlooked by both casual readers of Scripture and teachers of the Word.

It is important for Christians to understand the significance of Zion both to aid in our understanding of biblical history, and our appreciation of the miracle of Pentecost. The next time you experience the sweet presence of our Lord, thank Him that you did not need to fly to Jerusalem to do so.