Who was Sidon in the bible?

Sidon (Greek Σιδών) is a place-name of Hebrew origin used in the New Testament in connection with Tyre; it appears as a coastal region people came from, a border-area Jesus traveled through, and a port touched on during Paul’s voyage.

Sidon in Scripture

In Matthew 11, Sidon is mentioned as part of Jesus’ comparison when he “began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent” (Matthew 11:20). In that setting, Tyre and Sidon function as a contrast to Chorazin and Bethsaida: Jesus states that if the same works had been done there, they would have responded differently.

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.” (Matthew 11:21)

“But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11:22)

The wider flow of Matthew 11 frames these words within Jesus’ ministry of teaching and preaching, and his response to John’s question about his identity and works. The chapter opens: “When Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities” (Matthew 11:1). When John, in prison, sends disciples to ask, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3), Jesus points to what is being done and heard: “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them” (Matthew 11:5). The mention of Sidon later in the chapter comes after Jesus’ assessment that the cities where “most of his mighty works had been done” did not repent (Matthew 11:20). Against that backdrop, Sidon is invoked as a place that, in Jesus’ statement, would have repented if it had witnessed those same “mighty works” (Matthew 11:21).

Luke includes a parallel denunciation of Chorazin and Bethsaida, again using Tyre and Sidon as the comparison and repeating the same point about repentance and judgment.

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.” (Luke 10:13)

“But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.” (Luke 10:14)

Sidon also appears as a geographical reference connected with Jesus’ movements. Matthew describes Jesus withdrawing “into the region of Tyre and Sidon.”

“Jesus went out from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.” (Matthew 15:21)

Mark similarly speaks of “those from around Tyre and Sidon” coming in a large crowd in response to reports of Jesus’ deeds.

“from Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan, and those from around Tyre and Sidon. A great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him.” (Mark 3:8)

In Mark 7, Sidon is mentioned twice as part of Jesus’ travel route and location. Mark first places Jesus moving to “the borders of Tyre and Sidon,” entering a house, and trying to remain unknown, though his presence becomes known.

“From there he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house, and didn’t want anyone to know it, but he couldn’t escape notice.” (Mark 7:24)

Later in the same chapter, Mark notes Jesus’ departure “from the borders of Tyre and Sidon” and his travel onward toward the Sea of Galilee “through the middle of the region of Decapolis.”

“Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the middle of the region of Decapolis.” (Mark 7:31)

Luke 6 places Sidon among the regions from which people came to Jesus. He “stood on a level place,” surrounded by “a crowd of his disciples,” and also “a great number of the people” from several locations, including “the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon,” and Luke specifies the purpose of their coming: “to hear him and to be healed of their diseases.”

“He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;” (Luke 6:17)

Finally, in Acts 27 Sidon appears as a port of call early in Paul’s sea voyage. The narrative reports, “The next day, we touched at Sidon,” and it highlights the favorable treatment Paul received from Julius, including permission to visit friends.

“The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself.” (Acts 27:3)

Name and Meaning

The New Testament form is Greek Σιδών (transliteration: Sidon; pronunciation: sid-one’). Lexical information indicates the name is of Hebrew origin (linked with H06721), and in these passages it functions as a geographical name used alongside Tyre.

Summary Observation

Across these references, Sidon is consistently paired with Tyre—appearing as a region Jesus entered (Matthew 15:21; Mark 7:24), as a coastal source of hearers seeking healing (Luke 6:17), and as a place used in Jesus’ warnings about repentance and judgment (Matthew 11:21–22; Luke 10:13–14).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Sidon mean?

Sidon means “Sidon.”

How many times does Sidon appear in the Bible?

Sidon appears 10 times.

Who was Sidon?

Sidon is a place name mentioned with Tyre, including as a region Jesus visited (Matthew 15:21).

What happened at Sidon during Paul’s voyage?

Paul’s ship touched at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul kindly and allowed him to go to his friends to refresh himself (Acts 27:3).

Explore Further

If you found this page about Sidon interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).