This article explores the different names of Jerusalem and their linguistic natures, etc. For a discussion of the politics and history of Jerusalem itself, the Jerusalem article is probably a better place to start.

Over the millennia, there have been many names of Jerusalem in many different languages.

Names

Salem

In the Book of Genesis, Salem or Shalem (Hebrew שלם Šālēm, Shalem) is the supposed name of the area during the time of Abraham. It is ruled by Melchizedek, a righteous king.

Moriah

In the Book of Genesis, Moriah (Hebrew מוריה Môriyyāh, Moriya, Moria, Morya) is the name of the Temple Mount supposedly at a time when it is uninhabited. It is the place where, in Judeo-Christian tradition, Abraham attempts to sacrifice his son Isaac, though in Islam it's his son Ishmael whom he attempts to sacrifice.

Jebus

In the Old Testament, Jebus (Hebrew יבוס Yəbhûs, Yevus, Y'vus) is the name of the Canaanite culture living on the Temple Mount during the time of King David. David conquers Jebus and establishes Jerusalem on its place as the new Israelite capital.

Jerusalem

Jerusalem (Hebrew ירושלם Yərûšāláim, Yərûšālāim (ancient), ירושלים Yerushalayim, Y'rushalayim, Yerushalaim, Y'rushalaim (modern); Aramaic ירושלם Yərûšəlém; Greek Ιερουσαλημ Ierousalēm) is the name most commonly used in the Tanakh and in the Bible, and is the preferred name in Jewry and the Western World. Its Arabic counterpart, Ûrushalîm (after the Syriac), is the term used by the Israeli government in Arabic, and by Arabs in certain historic or Biblical contexts.

In ancient Greek, it also had the variant Hierosolyma, combining the word hieros "holy".

Zion

Zion or Sion (Hebrew ציון Şiyyôn, Tziyon, Tzion, Tzyon "height"; Greek Σιων Siōn; Arabic صهيون Şuhyūn) is a traditional name for the Temple Mount and the city surrounding its slopes.

Ælia Capitolina

Ælia Capitolina was the Roman name given to Jerusalem after all Jews were expelled from the area. Its Arabic counterpart, Îlyâ' (إيلياء), was sometimes used in early medieval times.

Al-Quds

Al-Quds (Arabic القدس "holy place") is the usual Arabic name for Jerusalem, used also by many cultures influenced by Islam.

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