Mary, the Daughter of Zion: The Biblical Title and Its Meaning
Mary, the Daughter of Zion, is one of the richest biblical titles in Mariology. In Sacred Scripture, “Daughter of Zion” (in Hebrew, Bat-Sion) designates Jerusalem and, by extension, the people of Israel beloved of God. The Christian tradition recognizes in Mary the perfect personification of that Daughter of Zion: in her, all the hope of Israel finds its fulfillment. This guide explains the biblical and theological meaning of the title.
The Daughter of Zion in Scripture
The prophets invite the Daughter of Zion to rejoice at the coming of the Savior: “Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion… your king comes to you” (Zech 9:9); “Rejoice, daughter of Zion… the Lord is in your midst” (Zeph 3:14-17). These texts prepare the greeting of the angel to Mary.
Mary, the fulfillment of the Daughter of Zion
At the Annunciation, the “Rejoice” (chaire) with which the angel addresses Mary echoes precisely those prophetic oracles: Mary is greeted as the Daughter of Zion who welcomes the King. “The Lord is with you” literally fulfills Zephaniah’s “the Lord is in your midst.” In the Magnificat, Mary gathers up the whole voice of the poor of Israel (the anawim) and proclaims the fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham.
The new Jerusalem
As Daughter of Zion, Mary is also an image of the new Jerusalem and of the Church: the holy community in which God dwells. She is, at the same time, the summit of the old people of God and the beginning of the new. This title is intimately linked to that of Mother of God and to her motherhood over the Church.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Daughter of Zion” mean?
It is a biblical expression for Jerusalem and the people of Israel. Applied to Mary, it indicates that in her the hope of the whole people of God is fulfilled.
Where is it in the Bible?
In Zephaniah 3:14-17, Zechariah 9:9, and Joel 2 – texts that the greeting of the angel to Mary (Lk 1:28) takes up.
See also
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This article grows out of the works in the Locus Mariologicus library. The Postgraduate Program in Mariology takes you to the same source, with academic guidance: Scripture, the Fathers of the Church, and the Magisterium, from the first dogma to contemporary questions.
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