How many times is Zion mentioned in the Bible?
The word Zion appears 152 times in the King James Version, in 152 verses. Counting every form (Zion, Zion's), it appears 153 times in 153 verses across 16 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses Zion 160 times (161 with every form).
Zion in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of Zion counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| Zion | 152 | 160 |
| Zion's | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 153 | 161 |
Which books mention Zion most
Zion appears in 16 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Isaiah has the most (47), then Psalms (37) and Jeremiah (17).
Also in: Song of Solomon (1).
First and last mention of Zion
Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
Where the two translations differ
0 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 8 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Psalm 65:1: counted in the World English Bible only
Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
Praise waits for you, God, in Zion. To you shall vows be performed.
Matthew 21:5: counted in the World English Bible only
Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
“Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
Verses with Zion on our topic pages
9 verses that use Zion in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
On: Peace, Evangelism
to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.
On: Comfort, Depression
Those who trust in Yahweh are as Mount Zion, which can’t be moved, but remains forever.
On: Trust
May Yahweh bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
On: Blessings
It will be like when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he eats; but he awakes, and his hunger isn’t satisfied; or like when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he drinks; but he awakes, and behold, he is faint, and he is still thirsty. The multitude of all the nations that fight against Mount Zion will be like that.
On: Dreams
“A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from disobedience in Jacob,” says Yahweh.
On: Christmas
For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds,” says Yahweh; “because they have called you an outcast, saying, ‘It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.’”
On: Healing
It will happen that whoever will call on Yahweh’s name shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh has said, and among the remnant, those whom Yahweh calls.
On: End Times
Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
On: Christmas
Common questions
How many times is Zion in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 153 of the 153 uses are in the Old Testament and 0 in the New Testament. Zion appears in 16 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Isaiah has the most (47), then Psalms (37) and Jeremiah (17).
Where is Zion first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is 2 Samuel 5:7: "Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David." The last is Zechariah 9:13.
More word counts: Canaan, Damascus, Jericho, Samaria, Nineveh, serpent, bread, honey, or all 253 words.
Counted by Bible Says About from the full public-domain text of the King James Version (1769 edition) and the World English Bible. Verse text only: headings and psalm titles are left out. A word is a run of letters: a hyphenated name like Beer-sheba counts as two, and an apostrophe stays inside its word (LORD'S is one). Matching ignores capital letters. Data compiled 2026-10-05.