כִּיּוּן (kiy.yun)
kiy.yun
Kiyyun
N:N-M-TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-T
Word Overview
The noun kiyyun appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Amos 5:26. It likely refers to an image or pillar representing the Assyrian-Babylonian deity associated with the planet Saturn. In this context, it serves as a stark symbol of Israel’s apostasy, highlighting how the people turned from Yahweh to worship foreign gods.
Lexicographers generally identify kiyyun with the Akkadian word kaimanu or kaiânu, which denotes the planet Saturn. Some scholars suggest the Hebrew spelling hints at the root kun, meaning "to be established," perhaps implying a statue meant to represent something firm and enduring. This connection underscores the contrast between the unchanging nature of God and the man-made idols Israel pursued.
Amos uses this term to condemn the religious practices of his time. By mentioning kiyyun alongside other foreign deities, the prophet emphasizes the severity of Israel’s spiritual infidelity. The word stands as a historical marker of the dangers of abandoning covenant faithfulness for pagan worship.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kiyyun appears only once in Scripture, serving as a solemn reminder of what happens when we trade the living God for something we can control. In Amos 5:26, it represents an idol linked to the planet Saturn, a symbol of Israel’s turn away from their covenant with Yahweh. This single term captures the danger of replacing divine trust with manufactured security.
For your faith today, this word invites honest self-examination. We all face moments where we seek stability in things that cannot save us—career success, relationships, or personal achievements. Kiyyun reminds us that these are temporary shadows compared to the eternal presence of God. It calls us back to reliance on Him alone, who remains faithful when everything else fades.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Kiyyun1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כִּיּ֣וּן1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 5:26
You also carried the tent of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves.
This verse explicitly names kiyyun as the star of a foreign god that Israel carried in their tent, highlighting the physical act of idolatry during their wilderness wanderings.