7866. Shion

Lexical Summary

Shion: Shion

Original Word: שִׁיאוֹן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Shi'yown
Pronunciation: shee-ohn'
Phonetic Spelling: (shee-ohn')
KJV: Shihon
NASB: Shion
Word Origin: [from the same as H7722 (שׁוֹא שׁוֹאָה שׁוֹאָה - ravages)]

1. ruin
2. Shijon, a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Shihon

From the same as show'; ruin; Shijon, a place in Palestine --Shihon.

see HEBREW show'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a place in Issachar
NASB Translation
Shion (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

שִׁיאוֺן proper name, of a location in Issachar, Joshua 19:19, Σιωνα, Σηω.

שִׁיבָה see ישׁב II. שִׁיבָה see שׁוב

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Occurrence

Joshua 19:19 records the sole mention: “Hapharaim, Shion, and Anaharath,” (Berean Standard Bible). Shion is listed among the border towns granted to the tribe of Issachar during the division of the land under Joshua.

Geographical Location

While its precise site remains uncertain, most scholars place Shion somewhere in lower Galilee within Issachar’s western edge, possibly near the Jezreel Valley. Suggestions include Khirbet Sa‘in or nearby ruins overlooking fertile agricultural land. The setting fits Issachar’s reputation for rich plains suited to farming (Genesis 49:14-15).

Role in the Tribal Inheritance of Issachar

The appearance of Shion in the allotment list underscores three themes frequently seen in Joshua:

1. Fulfillment of covenant promises first spoken to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21).
2. The unity and diversity of Israel’s inheritance; every tribe, even Issachar—often overshadowed by larger clans—received towns by name, affirming individual worth within God’s people.
3. The call to settle and cultivate the land as stewards of God’s gift. Shion would have stood alongside neighboring villages as part of Issachar’s agricultural backbone, sustaining both local families and the wider nation.

Historical Significance

Though no later narrative centers on Shion, its inclusion in the land-grant list functions historically as a legal title deed. Such meticulous records guarded tribal boundaries against later disputes (compare 1 Chronicles 4:33; 1 Chronicles 6:64). They also provided spiritual testimony that every promise of God “stands firm forever” (Psalm 111:8).

Archaeological Insights

No conclusive excavations have been tied to Shion, yet surveys of lower Galilee reveal numerous Iron Age tells with fortifications, wine-presses, and grain silos. These finds align with a town life devoted to mixed farming and viticulture, echoing Moses’ blessing over Issachar: “They feast on the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand” (Deuteronomy 33:19).

Theological Reflections and Ministry Application

• God’s attention to detail—naming even lesser-known towns—assures believers that He knows and values each community and individual (Isaiah 49:16; Luke 12:7).
• The allotment of Shion within Issachar illustrates orderly stewardship. Just as land was apportioned, so spiritual gifts are distributed “as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11). Contentment and faithful labor in one’s assigned sphere honor God.
• The record of Shion encourages modern readers to remember local congregations that may never gain prominence yet play vital roles in the health of Christ’s body (Ephesians 4:16).

Summary

Shion, though mentioned only once, stands as a witness to the exhaustive faithfulness of God in granting Israel its inheritance. Hidden in a single verse, the town calls today’s believers to trust God’s promises, value every part of His kingdom, and labor faithfully in the place He assigns.

Forms and Transliterations

וְשִׁיאֹ֖ן ושיאן veshiOn wə·šî·’ōn wəšî’ōn

Englishman's Concordance

Joshua 19:19
HEB: וַחֲפָרַ֥יִם וְשִׁיאֹ֖ן וַאֲנָחֲרַֽת׃
NAS: and Hapharaim and Shion and Anaharath,
KJV: And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,
INT: and Hapharaim and Shion and Anaharath

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 7866
1 Occurrence

wə·šî·’ōn — 1 Occ.