Answer 1: "Zion" was the Jebusite stronghold at Jerusalem captured by King David of Israel about 1000B.C.( 2 Samuel|5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.) The name "Zion" is also applied to all of Jerusalem, and has been since the city fell to Nebuchadnezzar II in 586 B.C. "Zion" is Jerusalem. Zion is a place.

Answer 2: "Zion" was, and is used to refer to the house of God in the Bible ("Psalms|9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion:"). Solomon’s temple was God’s house in ancient Jerusalem. ("1 Kings|8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 1 Kings|8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD…1 Kings|8:13 I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.") God had promised King David that He would allow David‘s son, Solomon to build a house for Him in Jerusalem. It was located in "Zion". So, "Zion" was, and is, God’s dwelling place.

Answer 3: In the psalms and the prophetic writings just prior to and after the destruction of Solomon’s Temple at Jerusalem, and the destruction of Jerusalem, "Zion" is used to refer to a people. ("Psalms|125:1 They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.") ("Psalms|147:12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion…Isaiah|51:16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.") So, Zion is God’s people.

Answer 4:. Zion also refers to the ideal worldwide society headed by Messiah from Jerusalem envisioned by Judaism (Compton’s Interactive Encyclopedia, 1999, The Learning Company). ("Psalms|2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." "Isaiah|24:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

Isaiah|24:22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. Isaiah|24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously." ) "Zion" is the future seat of Government, Christ’s throne.

Answer 5: "Hebrews|12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable

company of angels, Hebrews|12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Hebrews|12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, …". Zion is the heavenly Jerusalem, the home of the spirits of just men made perfect. That includes modern day people who walk in relationship with Jesus Christ.

Answer 6: Our New Testament (New Covenant) understanding is that through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and through repentance, and relationship with Him, God can and does live in people’s hearts, and our body is God’s house, His dwelling place (Zion). "Romans|11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Romans|11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

Romans|11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion (Jerusalem, God’s people, God’s house) the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob (all of Israel and Judah):

Romans|11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." Zion is the sum total of all people who trust Jesus for salvation, Jew and Gentile.