Rephan is a name mentioned in the Bible in the context of idolatry and the worship of false gods. It appears in the New Testament in the book of Acts, where Stephen, the first Christian martyr, addresses the Sanhedrin. In his speech, Stephen recounts the history of Israel and their repeated disobedience to God. He references Rephan as part of his critique of Israel's idolatrous practices during their wilderness wanderings.

Biblical References:

· Acts 7:43 : "You took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon."

In this passage, Stephen quotes from the Old Testament, specifically from the book of Amos, to highlight the Israelites' unfaithfulness. The mention of Rephan is part of a larger narrative where Stephen accuses the Israelites of carrying idols and worshiping celestial bodies, which was strictly forbidden by God.

Old Testament Background:

The reference to Rephan in Acts 7:43 is derived from Amos 5:26, although the name appears as "Kaiwan" or "Chiun" in the Hebrew text. The Berean Standard Bible translates Amos 5:26 as follows:

· Amos 5:26 : "You have lifted up the shrine of your king and the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god— which you made for yourselves."

The discrepancy in names between the Old and New Testament texts is attributed to differences in translation and transmission over time. The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, uses "Rephan" or "Remphan," which is reflected in Stephen's speech in Acts.

Historical and Cultural Context:

Rephan is often associated with the worship of celestial bodies, particularly stars or planets. The name itself is believed to be linked to an ancient deity or astral god, possibly Saturn, which was worshiped by various Near Eastern cultures. The Israelites, during their time in Egypt and later in the wilderness, were influenced by surrounding pagan practices, leading them to adopt such idolatrous worship.

The worship of Rephan, as mentioned by Stephen, serves as a symbol of Israel's recurring infidelity to the covenant with Yahweh. Despite God's deliverance and guidance, the people frequently turned to the worship of foreign gods, which ultimately led to their downfall and exile.

Theological Significance:

The mention of Rephan in Stephen's speech underscores the persistent issue of idolatry that plagued Israel throughout its history. It serves as a warning against the dangers of turning away from the one true God and the consequences of adopting the practices of surrounding nations. Stephen's reference to Rephan is part of his broader argument that the Jewish leaders of his time were repeating the mistakes of their ancestors by rejecting Jesus, the promised Messiah.

In a broader theological context, the account of Rephan and the idolatry it represents is a call for believers to remain faithful to God, avoiding the temptation to conform to worldly practices and ideologies. It highlights the importance of worshiping God in spirit and truth, as emphasized throughout the Scriptures.Rephan

the reading, in the Revised Version, for Remphan, (Acts 7:43)

REPHAN

re'-fan: A name for Chiun, the planet Saturn.

See ASTROLOGY, 7; CHIUN.

4501a. Rhompha -- Rompha, Rephan, the name of an Eg. god
... 4501, 4501a. Rhompha. 4501b . Rompha, Rephan, the name of an Eg. ... Word Origin
of Eg. origin Definition Rompha, Rephan, the name of an Eg. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4501a.htm - 5k

4501. rhomphaia -- Rompha, Rephan, the name of an Eg. god
... 4500, 4501. rhomphaia. 4501a . Rompha, Rephan, the name of an Eg. god.
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: rhomphaia ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4501.htm - 6k

4481. Rhemphan -- Remphan.
... Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Rhemphan Phonetic Spelling:
(hrem-fan') Short Definition: Rephan, Saturn Definition: Rephan, the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4481.htm - 6k

Rephan (1 Occurrence)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia REPHAN. re'-fan: A name for Chiun, the planet Saturn.
See ASTROLOGY, 7; CHIUN. Multi-Version Concordance Rephan (1 Occurrence). ...
/r/rephan.htm - 7k

Remphan (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Acts 7:43; RV, "Rephan"). In ... LXX. "Rephan," and
this name is adopted by Luke in his narrative of the Acts. ...
/r/remphan.htm - 7k

Chiun (1 Occurrence)
... The LXX. translated the word by Rhephan, which became corrupted into Remphan,
as used by Stephen (Acts 7:43; but RV, "Rephan"). ...
/c/chiun.htm - 8k

Rephidim (5 Occurrences)

/r/rephidim.htm - 11k

Rephaites (10 Occurrences)

/r/rephaites.htm - 9k

Astrology
... And ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, And the star of the god Rephan,
The figures which ye made to worship them" (Acts 7:41-43). ...
/a/astrology.htm - 38k

Idols (186 Occurrences)
... Idols (186 Occurrences). Acts 7:43 You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, the
star of your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship. ...
/i/idols.htm - 37k

Figures (11 Occurrences)
... (WEB NIV). Acts 7:43 You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, the star of
your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship. I ...
/f/figures.htm - 9k

Farther (33 Occurrences)
... Acts 7:43 And you took up the tent of Moloch and the star of the god Rephan, images
which you made to give worship to them: and I will take you away, farther ...
/f/farther.htm - 19k

Rompha (1 Occurrence)
... Rompha (1 Occurrence). Acts 7:43 You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, the star
of your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship. ...
/r/rompha.htm - 6k

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