Modern Sidon. Photographer: Peripitus. Licensed (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0)
Modern Sidon. Photo by Peripitus. License: CC BY-SA 3.0 (image cropped).

Who and what is…
Sidon

This was the name of a biblical man and a city on the Mediterranean.

Sidon, the man

Sidon (aka Zidon), the son of Canaan (Genesis 10:15, 19; 1 Chronicles 1:13), grandson of Ham and great-grandson of Noah

Sidon was the father of the Sidonians (Zidonians) and Phoenicians.

Canaan was the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth and the Jebusite and the Amorite and the Girgashite and the Hivite and the Arkite and the Sinite and the Arvadite [aka Arwad] and the Zemarite and the Hamathite… —Genesis 10:15-16 excerpt

Sidon, the city

also known as: Zidon, Tzidon (King James Version marginal note), and Saida

Located on the Mediterranean coast, the very ancient seaport city of Sidon in modern Lebanon has long been associated with fishing. Today it is called Saida, which is Arabic for “fishing”. The city was originally named after the firstborn son of Canaan (Genesis 10:15). Sidon is a great-grandson of Noah, and the city was probably settled by Sidon’s descendants. Even today, fishing is an active trade here, with a fish-market selling fresh fish every morning by bids. The ancient basin was transformed into a fishing port.

Sidon is closely associated with the coastal city of Tyre, 20 miles south of Sidon.

Sidon (aka Zidon) is mentioned many times in the Bible, including Genesis 10:19; 49:13; Joshua 11:8; 19:28; Judges 1:31; 10:6; 18:28; 2 Samuel 24:6; 1 Kings 17:9; Isaiah 23:2, 4, 12; Jeremiah 25:22; 27:3; 47:4; Jeremiah 47:4; Ezekiel 27:8; 28:21-22; Joel 3:4; Zechariah 9:2; Matthew 11:21-22; 15:21; Mark 3:8; 7:31; Luke 4:26; 6:17; 10:13-14; Acts 12:20; 27:3.

People of this place are called Sidonians or Zidonians.

Sidon was famous for producing glass and purple dye, which was prized by royalty. These two trades propelled Sidon to its peak power in the years of King Nebuchadnezzar. Sidon was also well known for its valuable cedar wood. King Solomon said, “There is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians” (1 Kings 5:6). Sidon was also a center of shipbuilding and shipping.

The ancient Sidonians were idolators. Their false deities were worshipped in temples, at festivals, and by offerings. Their main gods worshipped were:

Baal (or Bel): Their storm god and chief male deity, associated with fertility, weather, and kingship. He was the most important god throughout Sidon's history, from the Bronze Age onward, and equated with Mesopotamian Adad.

Astarte (or Ashtart): Their goddess of love, war, fertility, and sexuality. She was a central figure in Sidonian worship, often depicted on coins and linked to seafaring protection; her cult influenced neighboring regions and was condemned by God in the Bible.

Eshmun (or Echmoun): Their god of healing, especially for children and the afflicted. His sanctuary at Bustan ash-Sheikh was a major site, with inscriptions seeking his protection, and he formed part of the city's supposed triad of protectors alongside Baal and Astarte.

The prophet Ezekiel foretold of God’s judgment to come against Sidon (Ezekiel 28:20-24).

And the word of Yahweh came to me saying,
“Son of man, set your face toward Sidon, prophesy against her and say, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh,
“Behold, I am against you, O Sidon,
And I will be glorified in your midst.
Then they will know that I am Yahweh when I execute judgments in her,
And I will manifest My holiness in her.
For I will send pestilence to her
And blood to her streets,
And the wounded will fall in her midst
By the sword upon her on every side;
Then they will know that I am Yahweh.
And there will be no more for the house of Israel a prickling brier or a painful thorn from any round about them who scorned them; then they will know that I am Lord Yahweh.” —Ezekiel 28:20-24 LSB

Jesus Christ specifically mentioned Sidon as a place of infamous evil.

““Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. —Luke 10:13-14

Jesus, His disciples and Paul, all traveled to Sidon at one time or another (Mark 7:31; Matthew 15:21; Acts 12:20; 27:3). Sidonians were among the great multitude of people that heard of Jesus and came to hear Him and to be healed (Luke 6:17-18).

The widow of Zarephath

God sent the prophet Elijah to a widow of Zarephath (aka Sarepta and Ṣarfanda) who lived in the land of Sidon (Luke 4:26).

Hebrew: צרפת —transliteration: Zarephath

Jezebel, infamous woman of Sidon

The heathen Phoenician princess named Jezebel became the wicked Queen of the Kingdom of Israel when she married King Ahab. Their idolatrous history is recorded in 1 Kings 16-22.

She is the first great instigator of persecution against the saints of God. She was a sworn enemy of the YHWH’s prophet Elijah.

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Article Version: October 3, 2025