SIDON

Lehite GN	1.	River, ca. 87 BC (Alma 2:15,17,27,34,35; 3:3; 4:4; 6:7; 8:3; 16:6,7; 22:27,29; 43:27,32,35,39,40,41,50,51,53; 50:11; 56:25; Mormon 1:10)

Etymology

Since this river passed through ZARAHEMLA, and ZARAHEMLA was first settled by Mulekites, it is likely that this GN is Mulekite. If it does derive from the biblical name for the Phoenician city SIDON (ṣidon, Phoenician ṣdn, EGYPTIAN ddwn3, ASSYRIAN ṣiduna), as most commentaries suggest, this may denote the presence of Phoenician influence among the Mulekites.

HALOT states that the “etymology [of the Phoenician GN is] not absolutely certain.” DNWSI says “unknown meaning” for ṣdn, and “uncert[ain] meaning” for ṣd, and has no entry for ṣwd. It is possible that it may come from HEBREW ṣwd, to catch, hunt, and if it does, -ôn may be the fairly common nominalizing ending.

Unlikely is the comparison with Greek σουδαριον, “cloth to wipe off sweat” (Liddell and Scott) as in Luke 19:20 (KJV “napkin”) (RFS).

Cf. Book of Mormon SIDOM.