Greek word · G4605

Σιδών

sidōn

Sidon

Sidon (Hebrew Tsidon), the older Phoenician port north of Tyre. Genesis 10:15 calls Sidon the firstborn of Canaan.

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Σιδών, -ῶnος, ἡ (Heb. צִידוֹן),

Sidon, a maritime city of Phœnicia: Matthew 11:21-22 15:21, Mark 3:8 7:24, 31, Luke 6:17 10:13-14, Acts 27:3.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 15:21

Range of meaning

Sidon (Hebrew Tsidon), the older Phoenician port north of Tyre. Genesis 10:15 calls Sidon the firstborn of Canaan.

Against the English

No translation issue.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paired with Tyre throughout the prophets (Jer 47:4; Joel 3:4; Zech 9:2). It was the home city of Jezebel (1 Kgs 16:31). The prophet Elijah was sent to a widow of Zarephath "of Sidon" (1 Kgs 17:9; recalled in Luke 4:26).

Where it appears

Matthew · 3

  1. Matthew 11:21 Σιδῶνι Sidon

    “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

    Here: Tyre's sister city further up the coast, Jezebel's home city (1 Kings 16:31). Together the pair means 'the pagan Phoenicians'.

  2. Matthew 11:22 Σιδῶνι Sidon

    But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

    Here: Dative, 'for Sidon'. Tyre's sister city further up the coast. It was the home of Jezebel's father (1 Kings 16:31) and a byword for Baal worship.

  3. Matthew 15:21 Σιδῶνος. Sidon.

    Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.

    Here: Sidon was the other great Phoenician port, about 40 km north of Tyre. "Tyre and Sidon" together was a standard way of naming the whole Phoenician (Gentile) coastal world.

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 3:8 Σιδῶνα, Sidon,

    Jerusalem, Idumea, the region beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon. The large crowd came to Him when they heard what great things He was doing.

  2. Mark 7:31 Σιδῶνος Sidon

    Then Jesus left the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 6:17 Σιδῶνος Sidon

    Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon.

  2. Luke 10:13 Σιδῶνι Sidon

    Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

  3. Luke 10:14 Σιδῶνι for Sidon

    But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 27:3 Σιδῶνα, Sidon,

    The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing him to visit his friends and receive their care.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.