Ῥεφάν, Ῥαιφάν, Ῥομφά, Ῥεμφάν (Rhemphan, Rhaiphan)
Rhemphan, Rhaiphan
Rephan
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Rhemphan appears only once in the New Testament, recorded in Stephen’s speech in Acts 7:43. It refers to an idol worshipped by Israelites during their wilderness wanderings, a detail quoted from the Greek translation of Amos 5:26. The term likely represents a transliteration of the Hebrew word Chiun, which is associated with the planet Saturn or the Egyptian god Seb in later traditions.
Lexical sources suggest the name may mean "the shrunken" or "lifeless," emphasizing the dead nature of the idol compared to the living God. This single occurrence highlights a moment of spiritual failure, where the people turned away from divine guidance to worship celestial bodies. The variation in spelling across manuscripts—such as Rhaiphan or Rompha—reflects the challenges of transmitting foreign proper names in ancient texts.
Understanding Rhemphan provides insight into the historical context of Stephen’s accusation. It underscores the seriousness of idolatry in Israel’s history and serves as a warning against substituting true worship with created things. The word stands as a brief but potent reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Rhemphan appears only once in the New Testament, within Stephen’s bold speech in Acts 7:43. He quotes the prophet Amos to remind his listeners that Israel’s ancestors did not always worship God faithfully. Instead, they turned to idols like Rephan, a star god associated with Saturn or other celestial bodies. This historical detail shows how easily people can shift their focus from the living Creator to created things.
For you today, this word serves as a sobering reminder of the danger of idolatry. It is not just about statues; it is about what takes God’s place in your heart. When we prioritize wealth, status, or comfort above our relationship with Him, we are repeating that ancient mistake. Stephen uses this example to call people back to true worship.
Recognizing these temptations helps you guard your faith. By staying rooted in Scripture and prayer, you can avoid the trap of substituting God with lesser things. This single word warns us to keep our eyes fixed on Christ, who alone is worthy of our devotion and trust.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Rephan,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ῥαιφάν,1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 7:43
You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, the star of your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship, so I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’
This verse records Stephen quoting Amos to highlight Israel's historical idolatry by worshipping the star god Rephan, illustrating the serious consequence of turning away from God.