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Amos 5:26

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

But ye have borne {H5375} the tabernacle {H5522} of your Moloch {H4428} and Chiun {H3594} your images {H6754}, the star {H3556} of your god {H430}, which ye made {H6213} to yourselves.

No, but now you will bear Sikkut as your king and Kiyun, your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves;

You have taken along Sakkuth your king and Kaiwan your star god, the idols you made for yourselves.

Yea, ye have borne the tabernacle of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.

Commentary

Amos 5:26 delivers a sharp divine indictment against Israel, revealing that despite their outward religious activity, they were secretly or overtly worshipping foreign idols alongside the Lord.

Context

This verse comes within a section of Amos where the prophet is condemning Israel for their religious hypocrisy and social injustice. God expresses His rejection of their elaborate festivals and offerings because their hearts and actions were not right (Amos 5:21-24). Instead of truly seeking the Lord (Amos 5:4, 6), they had turned to idols, which is exposed in this verse as the underlying reason for God's rejection and impending judgment (Amos 5:27).

Key Themes

  • Idolatry and Syncretism: The core issue is the worship of foreign deities, specifically Moloch and Chiun, alongside or instead of Yahweh. This was forbidden and represented a breach of the covenant.
  • Hidden Sin: The phrase "borne the tabernacle" suggests these were portable shrines or symbols, perhaps worshipped in private or during specific pagan rituals, hidden from public view or official religious practices.
  • Man-Made Religion: "Which ye made to yourselves" emphasizes that this worship was not commanded by God but was a choice made by the people, following pagan customs.
  • Divine Exposure: God sees and reveals the hidden sins of His people, demonstrating that outward religious performance cannot mask inward unfaithfulness.

Linguistic Insights

Moloch was a Canaanite god notoriously associated with child sacrifice (see Leviticus 18:21). Chiun is less certain but is often identified with a star god, possibly representing the planet Saturn, aligning with "the star of your god." The Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) renders Chiun as Rephan, which is the name used when this verse is quoted in the New Testament by Stephen in Acts 7:43, confirming the historical reality of this idolatry among the Israelites.

Reflection

Amos 5:26 serves as a powerful reminder that God sees beyond outward religious observance into the true objects of our worship. While we may not carry physical idols today, we can still fall into forms of idolatry by prioritizing possessions, power, comfort, or approval above God. The call is to examine our hearts and ensure that our loyalty and devotion are solely to the Lord who redeemed us, avoiding any form of syncretism or worship "which ye made to yourselves."

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 23:12 (5 votes)

    And the altars that [were] on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and brake [them] down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.

  • 2 Kings 23:13 (5 votes)

    And the high places that [were] before Jerusalem, which [were] on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.

  • 1 Kings 11:33 (4 votes)

    Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do [that which is] right in mine eyes, and [to keep] my statutes and my judgments, as [did] David his father.

  • Leviticus 20:2 (4 votes)

    Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever [he be] of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth [any] of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.

  • Leviticus 20:5 (4 votes)

    Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.

  • Leviticus 18:21 (3 votes)

    And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through [the fire] to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I [am] the LORD.