Acts 7:43, . . . Remphan . . . .

[37818]

Acts 7:43, Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.

Remphan. 25% of mss
Rephphan. 50% of mss.
Rephan
Raiphan

 

[Van]

Acts 7:43 NASB
‘YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF YOUR GOD [fn]ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL DEPORT YOU BEYOND BABYLON.’
___________________________
NASB footnote: Other mss spell it: Romphan, Rempham, Raiphan; or Rephan

A few thoughts on this verse:

​

1) The reference to "you" refers to those who wandered in the wilderness after rejecting God's leading.​

2) As they traveled, they took along a tabernacle or tent.​

3) Moloch was a Canaanite god, thought to rule the sky and the sun. ​

4) in the phrase rendered "star of your God" some texts omit "your." The NA27 has "your" in brackets, questioning its authenticity. See Amos 5:26​

5) Also in the phrase "star of your god," another reading is the "god of the stars..."​

6) Rompha no matter the spelling was a pagan deity, a name for Satan, with the characteristic of unfaithfulness. ​

The bulk of these observations are based on the NET bible footnotes.

 

[37818]

Amos 5:26, But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

LXX Amos 5:26, Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Raephan, the images of them which ye made for yourselves.

Raiphan