Bible Dictionary
Remphan
Remphan is the name used in Acts for the idol called Chiun in Amos. It refers to a star-god associated with Saturn and condemned as an object of Israelite idolatry.
Definition
Remphan is the name used in Acts for the idol called Chiun in Amos. The names are associated with a star-god identified with Saturn or Molech and with foreign idolatry among the Israelites.
Biblical Usage
Stephen refers to Israel’s worship of Remphan in the wilderness. The passage corresponds to Amos’s reference to Chiun and condemns the idolatrous worship of the star-god.
Historical Background
The supplied material suggests that Chiun may have been a Hebrew or Semitic name, while Remphan was an Egyptian equivalent adopted in the Septuagint. The idolatry may have been connected with foreigners settled in lower Egypt.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Acts 7:43; R.V., “Rephan”). In Amos 5:26 the Heb. Chiun (q.v.) is rendered by the LXX. “Rephan,” and this name is adopted by Luke in his narrative of the Acts. These names represent the star-god Saturn or Moloch.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(Acts 7:43) and Chi’un, (Amos 5:26) have been supposed to be names of an idol worshipped secretly by the Israelites in the wilderness, difficulty has been occasioned by this corresponding occurrence of two names so wholly different in sound. The most reasonable opinion seems to be that Chiun was a Hebrew or Semitic name, and Remphan an Egyptian equivalent substituted by the LXX. This idol corresponded probably to Saturn or Molech. The mention of Chiun or Remphan as worshipped in the desert shows that this idolatry was, in part at least that of foreigners, and no doubt of those settled in lower Egypt.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>rem'-fan.</p><p>See REPHAN.</p>