Remphan (also spelled Rephan; Koinē Greek: Ῥαιφάν) is a word mentioned by Stephen at the time of his death in the Book of Acts 7:43 in the New Testament referring to an object of idolatrous worship: 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.
[1][2] Since the words "Kiyyun" ("Chiun") and "Remphan" are each hapax legomena, there is debate whether they are meant as common or proper nouns.
"[6] The context for the admonition is that Amos had been sent to the northern Kingdom of Samaria, where Judaism had become syncretic with foreign idolatry, which he declares unacceptable.
[citation needed] It is likely in reference to "Kiyyun" ("Chiun") mentioned in Amos 5:26,[note 2] which the Septuagint renders as "Raiphan" (Ῥαιφάν) or "Rephan".
[10] In the 18th century, Christian Gottlieb Wolff referenced the belief that the name actually came from Ancient Egypt, by way of the Ammonites, tying his worship into the period that Diodorus Siculus' history references the king "Remphis", possibly Ramses III, beginning a seven-generation decline of Egyptian civilization.