(mount, sunny). Zion or Sion in its literal and restricted sense was the celebrated mount in Jerusalem, the highest and southernmost or southwesternmost of the city. It was the original hill of the Jebusites (Josh. 15:63). After David became king, he captured it, “the stronghold of Zion,” from the Jebusites, dwelt in the fort there, and greatly enlarged and strengthened its fortifications, calling it “the city of David” (2 Sam. 5:6-9; 1 Chron. 11:5-8). Despite David’s prestige the name of Zion still clung to it (1 Kings 8:1; 2 Kings 19:21,31; 2 Chron. 5:2). The O. T. poets and prophets exalted the word Zion by frequent use and gave it a sacred turn, so that in time it came to type a sacred capital (Psa. 2:6); holy place (Psa. 87:2; 149:2; Isa. 30:19); God’s chosen people (Psa. 51:18; 87:5); the Christian church (Heb. 12:22); the heavenly city (Rev. 14:1).