The name of an idol worshipped by the Israelites in the desert, Am 5:26; Ac 7:43. It was most probably the planet Saturn, worshipped by eastern nations as an evil spirit to be propitiated by sacrifices. See REMPHAN.

occurs only in Am 5:26 (R.V. marg., "shrine"). The LXX. translated the word by Rhephan, which became corrupted into Remphan, as used by Stephen (Ac 7:43; but R.V., "Rephan"). Probably the planet Saturn is intended by the name. Astrologers represented this planet as baleful in its influences, and hence the Phoenicians offered to it human sacrifices, especially children.

(See REMPHAN.)

Am 5:26 (see Rephan, Siccuth). As shown by the appositional phrase 'your god-star,' this name refers to the Assyrian Kaiwanu, the planet Saturn (= Ninib, war-god), whose temple, Bit Ninib, in the province of Jerusalem is mentioned by the Egyptian governors of this city as early as b.c. 1450. The translation of the word as an appellative ('pedestal') by some is due to the vocalization of the Massoretes, who are supposed to have considered it a common noun. However, it is far more probable that they, conscious of its reference, substituted for the original vowels those of the word shiqq

Chi'un

A heathen god. Am 5:26. Supposed by some to be the same as REMPHAN in Ac 7:43.

Chi'un

(a statue, perhaps of Saturn), an idol made by the Israelites in the wilderness. [REMPHAN]

See Remphan