King James Version

What Does Acts 7:43 Mean?

Acts 7:43 in the King James Version says “Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I...” — study this verse from Acts chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“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.”

Acts 7:43 · KJV

Context

41

And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.

42

Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?

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.

44

Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. speaking: or, who spake

45

Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; that: or, having received

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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. Stephen continues quoting Amos, detailing specific idolatries that brought judgment—worship of Moloch and Remphan, leading to Babylonian exile.

Moloch worship involved child sacrifice—the most abhorrent idolatry imaginable (Leviticus 18:21, 2 Kings 23:10). The tabernacle of Moloch refers to portable shrines carried in idolatrous processions. Remphan (Saturn in some traditions) represents astral worship. These weren't ancient historical curiosities but serious covenant violations that provoked God's judgment.

Figures which ye made emphasizes idols as human creations—powerless yet enslaving. The irony: people create idols, then become enslaved to their creations. This reverses the proper order where Creator receives worship from His creation.

I will carry you away beyond Babylon prophesies exile—the covenant curse of Deuteronomy 28. Amos said 'beyond Damascus' (Amos 5:27); Stephen updates to beyond Babylon, referencing the actual historical fulfillment. Covenant unfaithfulness doesn't go unpunished; God's judgment, though patient, remains certain. This warns Stephen's audience: rejecting Messiah invites similar judgment.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Moloch worship plagued Israel intermittently, particularly during Ahaz and Manasseh's reigns (2 Kings 16:3, 21:6). The Babylonian exile (597-538 BCE) occurred after centuries of prophetic warnings. God's patience endured generations of apostasy before judgment fell.

Stephen speaks around 34-35 CE, roughly 600 years after the exile. Yet he warns of impending judgment—Jesus predicted Jerusalem's destruction (Luke 21:20-24), fulfilled in 70 CE when Romans destroyed the temple. Stephen becomes first martyr in this approaching crisis.

The parallel is deliberate: just as ancestral Israel's idolatry brought exile, so contemporary Israel's rejection of Messiah will bring Jerusalem's destruction. God's covenant includes both blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience—both are certain.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the progression from golden calf to child sacrifice illustrate sin's escalating destructive power?
  2. What does Israel's exile teach about God's patience with sin having eventual limits?
  3. In what ways do modern believers create 'figures' or systems that become objects of trust instead of God?
  4. How should the certainty of divine judgment for covenant unfaithfulness shape Christian living?
  5. What parallels exist between ancient Israel's exile and potential judgment facing apostate churches?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 24 words
καὶ1 of 24

“Yea”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἀνελάβετε2 of 24

“ye took up”

G353

to take up

τὴν3 of 24
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

σκηνὴν4 of 24

“the tabernacle”

G4633

a tent or cloth hut (literally or figuratively)

τοῦ5 of 24
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Μολὸχ6 of 24

“of Moloch”

G3434

moloch (i.e., molek), an idol

καὶ7 of 24

“Yea”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τὸ8 of 24
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἄστρον9 of 24

“the star”

G798

properly, a constellation; put for a single star (natural or artificial)

τοῦ10 of 24
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

θεοῦ11 of 24

“god”

G2316

a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)

ὑμῶν12 of 24

“of your”

G5216

of (from or concerning) you

Ῥεμφὰν,13 of 24

“Remphan”

G4481

remphan (i.e., kijun), an egyptian idol

τοὺς14 of 24
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

τύπους15 of 24

“figures”

G5179

a die (as struck), i.e., (by implication) a stamp or scar; by analogy, a shape, i.e., a statue, (figuratively) style or resemblance; specially, a samp

οὓς16 of 24

“which”

G3739

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

ἐποιήσατε17 of 24

“ye made”

G4160

to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)

προσκυνεῖν18 of 24

“to worship”

G4352

to fawn or crouch to, i.e., (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore)

αὐτοῖς19 of 24

“them”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

καὶ20 of 24

“Yea”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

μετοικιῶ21 of 24

“I will carry”

G3351

to transfer as a settler or captive, i.e colonize or exile

ὑμᾶς22 of 24

“you”

G5209

you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)

ἐπέκεινα23 of 24

“beyond”

G1900

upon those parts of, i.e., on the further side of

Βαβυλῶνος24 of 24

“Babylon”

G897

babylon, the capitol of chaldaea (literally or figuratively (as a type of tyranny))

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Acts. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Acts 7:43 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Acts 7:43 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Amos 5:26-27Exodus 20:4-5Deuteronomy 5:8-9Leviticus 20:2-52 Kings 17:16-18Deuteronomy 4:16-18

Places in This Verse

Babylon 1Settlement · Modern: Babylon · 32.54°N, 44.42°E296 verses across 15 books
View all places in Acts 7 →

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