The Hebrew word Sîyʼôn, represented by H7865, refers to a peak. It appears just 1 time across 1 unique verse in the Bible, where it is identified specifically as Sion, the summit of Mount Hermon.
The sole appearance of H7865 is in Deuteronomy 4:48, where it is used to define a geographical boundary. The territory described extends from Aroer H6177 by the river Arnon all the way to mount H2022 Sion. The verse explicitly clarifies the location by stating that Sion is another name for Hermon H2768, identifying it as a significant peak.
Several related words help establish the geographical context of Sîyʼôn:
- H2022 har (a mountain or range of hills): This word provides the general classification for Sion. It is frequently used to denote significant elevations, such as the "mountain of the house of the LORD" Micah 4:1.
- H2768 Chermôwn (abrupt; Chermon, a mount of Palestine): The scripture directly equates Sion with this name Deuteronomy 4:48. Hermon is consistently portrayed as a major geographical landmark, defining territorial borders Joshua 12:1.
- H6177 ʻĂrôwʻêr (nudity of situation; Aroer, the name of three places in or near Palestine): This city marks the southern starting point of the boundary that terminates at Mount Sion, located "by the brink of the river of Arnon" Deuteronomy 2:36.
The geographical significance of H7865 is tied directly to its singular mention in the text:
- A Boundary Marker: The primary function of Sion in scripture is to serve as a prominent landmark defining the northern border of the lands described in Deuteronomy Deuteronomy 4:48.
- An Alternate Name for Hermon: The text explicitly identifies Sion as Hermon H2768, indicating that it is either a synonym for the entire mountain or, as its root meaning suggests, a name for its highest peak.
- A Defining Summit: Derived from a word meaning "peak," the name Sîyʼôn itself emphasizes its nature as a high point or summit, making it an unmistakable feature in the landscape used for establishing territory Deuteronomy 4:48.
In summary, Sîyʼôn H7865 is a precise geographical term for a peak. Its single biblical appearance in Deuteronomy 4:48 firmly establishes it as a name for Mount Hermon, used to mark the northern boundary of a region. Though rare, its meaning is unambiguous, serving as a specific and identifiable landmark within the biblical narrative.
TRV