Who was Ziphion in the bible?

Ziphion (Tsiphjon) is named in Scripture as an Israelite listed among “the sons of Gad.” His Hebrew name is derived from a term glossed as “watch-tower,” connected with a verb meaning to lean forward or peer.

Ziphion in Scripture

Ziphion appears once, in a genealogical listing that sets his place among the households connected with Jacob. The immediate context frames multiple family lines and totals, moving from one group of sons to another.

“The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.” (Genesis 46:14, WEB)

“These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty-three.” (Genesis 46:15, WEB)

Within this flow of names and family summaries, Ziphion is introduced as one of Gad’s sons in the same style of enumeration used for the other groups.

“The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.” (Genesis 46:16, WEB)

The chapter continues by listing other family lines and then giving a second total tied to another mother in Jacob’s household.

“The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.” (Genesis 46:17, WEB)

“These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah, his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob, even sixteen souls.” (Genesis 46:18, WEB)

“The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin.” (Genesis 46:19, WEB)

In this chapter’s presentation, Ziphion’s role is not narrated through actions or speech; he is identified by placement in a family list: he is included among the sons attributed to Gad, and his name stands alongside his brothers’ names as part of a structured accounting of Jacob’s household.

Name and Meaning

The name appears in Hebrew as צִפְיוֹן, transliterated Tsiphyown and pronounced “tsif-yone’.” Its derivation is given as coming from a word glossed “watch-tower,” tied to the verb tsaphah (צָפָה), glossed as properly “to lean forward, i.e. to peer.”

Observation

Ziphion is known in Scripture through the concise identification, “The sons of Gad: Ziphion,” which places him within the ordered family record of Genesis 46. (Genesis 46:16)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Ziphion in the Bible?

Ziphion (Tsiphjon) is identified as an Israelite. In Genesis 46:16, he is listed among the sons of Gad.

What does the name Ziphion mean?

The name Ziphion means “watch-tower.”

How many times does Ziphion appear in the Bible?

Ziphion appears 1 time.

Where is Ziphion mentioned?

He is mentioned in Genesis 46:16: “The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.”

Explore Further

If you found this page about Ziphion 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).