You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet highlights that the Israelites carried their idols not just as symbols, but literally in portable shrines, indicating how deeply their worship had become a personal, physical possession and a point of pride. This wasn't just a private sin; it was an active, public display of their devotion to "king" gods and celestial powers they crafted for themselves.
You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Amos is rebuking Israel for their hypocrisy, pointing out that their outward acts of worship are meaningless because their hearts are far from God. He reminds them that their ancestors, despite experiencing God's deliverance from Egypt, still carried around portable shrines and images of their foreign gods. This verse directly challenges their claim to worship the Lord while simultaneously engaging in the worship of deities like Sikkuth and Kiyyun, revealing their deep-seated spiritual infidelity.
The people of Israel weren't just worshipping statues; they were carrying their gods around. What does this say about their commitment?
Amos confronts Israel with their deep-seated idolatry. The phrase 'tabernacle of your Moloch' suggests a portable shrine, a sort of personal temple they carried with them.
This wasn't just occasional worship; it was a constant, portable reminder of their chosen gods. The term 'Moloch' itself is linked to the word for 'king,' indicating they had appointed a king other than Yahweh. This highlights a fundamental rebellion: they chose their own ruler, their own god, and built their worship around that choice.
This act of 'bearing' these shrines shows a willful devotion to these false gods, incompatible with true worship of the LORD.
Beyond a king, they worshipped a 'star god.' What cosmic appeal did this have, and why was it 'made for yourselves'?
The verse continues by mentioning 'Kiyyun your star-god.' This points to celestial worship, likely connected to ancient Near Eastern practices of astrology and star-gazing as a means of divine communication or power.
Scholars suggest 'Kiyyun' might be related to the Assyrian name for the planet Saturn. This form of worship often involved looking to the heavens for guidance and destiny, a stark contrast to trusting in the LORD who revealed Himself through His prophets.
The crucial phrase is 'which you made for yourselves.' This emphasizes that these idols and their worship were human inventions, not divine revelations. They were crafting deities and practices that suited their own desires and understanding, rather than submitting to the God who had called them.
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Understand the original words
nasa · Hebrew Verb
A term referring to the act of lifting, carrying, or bearing; in this context, it implies the active participation in the idolatrous worship of false deities.
Sikkuth · Hebrew Noun
A name for a deity, likely derived from the Akkadian 'Sakkud', associated with the planet Saturn; representing an idol that the Israelites had adopted and enthroned as their own sovereign in place of the true God.
Kiyyun · Hebrew Noun
A term derived from the Akkadian 'Kaiwanu', referring to the planet Saturn; it describes a celestial body worshipped as a divine entity, illustrating the Israelites' shift toward astral idolatry.
tselem · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting a physical representation or likeness, often used in Scripture to describe objects used in false worship; strictly forbidden by the Decalogue.
This verse speaks of the Israelites' deep-seated tendency towards idolatry, not just in the past wilderness but also in Amos's present. The reference to 'Sikkuth your king' and 'Kiyyun your star-god' points to a blend of Canaanite and likely Mesopotamian or Egyptian astral deities that had infiltrated Israelite worship, often carried in portable shrines.
c. 1500 BC
Israelite Exodus and Wilderness Wanderings
Following their liberation from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites embarked on a 40-year journey through the Sinai wilderness. During this period, they faced numerous challenges and demonstrated a recurring tendency towards idolatry, including the worship of the golden calf.
c. 931 BC
Division of the United Monarchy
After the death of King Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel split into two separate kingdoms: the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. This division weakened both states and often led to internal strife and foreign entanglements.
c. 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's Rise and Influence
The powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire began its aggressive expansion, posing a significant threat to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Assyrian religious practices and deities, including star cults, influenced the region.
c. 760 BC— this verse
Amos's Prophetic Ministry in Israel
Amos, a prophet from the southern Kingdom of Judah, was sent to prophesy against the northern Kingdom of Israel during a period of outward prosperity but deep spiritual and social corruption. He condemned their idolatry and injustice.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The northern Kingdom of Israel, weakened by internal division and Assyrian pressure, was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Its capital, Samaria, fell, and a significant portion of its population was exiled.
This passage directly quotes and expands on Amos 5:26, identifying the idolatry with the worship of the 'host of heaven,' highlighting the historical continuity of this sin.
Isaiah 46:1This verse parallels Amos by describing the futility of idols like Bel and Nebo being carried into exile, underscoring the theme of judgment on self-made gods.
Jeremiah 7:18This verse speaks of making cakes for the 'Queen of Heaven,' showing a similar pattern of forbidden worship and the creation of gods for personal devotion, echoing Amos's theme of self-made deities.
Deuteronomy 4:19This passage warns against worshipping the sun, moon, and stars, directly connecting to the 'star-god' mentioned in Amos and illustrating the broader context of heavenly body worship God forbade.
barnesAmos 5:26: "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 - Literally, "And ye bare the tabernacle of your Moloch" (literally, "your king," from where the idol Moloch had its name.) He assigns the reason, why he had denied that they sacririced to God in the wilderness. "Did ye offer sacrifices unto Me, and ye bare?" that is, seeing that ye bare. The two were incompatible. Since they did "carry about t…
clarkeAmos 5:26: "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 - The preceding verse spoke of their fathers; the present verse speaks of the Israelites then existing, who were so grievously addicted to idolatry, that they not only worshipped at stated public places the idols set up by public authority, but they carried their gods about with them everywhere. The tabernacle of your Moloch - Probably a small…
The prophet highlights that the Israelites carried their idols not just as symbols, but literally in portable shrines, indicating how deeply their worship had become a personal, physical possession and a point of pride. This wasn't just a private sin; it was an active, public display of their devotion to "king" gods and celestial powers they crafted for themselves.
Amos is rebuking Israel for their hypocrisy, pointing out that their outward acts of worship are meaningless because their hearts are far from God. He reminds them that their ancestors, despite experiencing God's deliverance from Egypt, still carried around portable shrines and images of their foreign gods. This verse directly challenges their claim to worship the Lord while simultaneously engaging in the worship of deities like Sikkuth and Kiyyun, revealing their deep-seated spiritual infidelity.
Amos is rebuking Israel for their hypocrisy, pointing out that their outward acts of worship are meaningless because their hearts are far from God. He reminds them that their ancestors, despite experiencing God's deliverance from Egypt, still carried around portable shrines and images of their foreign gods. This verse directly challenges their claim to worship the Lord while simultaneously engaging in the worship of deities like Sikkuth and Kiyyun, revealing their deep-seated spiritual infidelity.
"You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you made for yourselves," — The prophet highlights that the Israelites carried their idols not just as symbols, but literally in portable shrines, indicating how deeply their worship had become a personal, physical possession a…
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Last reviewed October 2026