Zephaniah 1:5

Zephaniah 1:5

And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

a. NLT: For they go up to their roofs and bow down to the sun, moon, and stars. They claim to follow the LORD, but then they worship Molech, too.

b. NIV: those who bow down on the roofs to worship the starry host, those who bow down and swear by the LORD and who also swear by Molek.

c. YLT: And those bowing themselves On the roofs to the host of the heavens, And those bowing themselves, Swearing to Jehovah, and swearing by Malcham,

d. Amplified Bible: And those who worship the starry host of the heavens upon their housetops and those who [pretend to] worship the Lord and swear by and to Him and yet swear by and to [the heathen god Molech or] Malcam [their idol king],

e. Septuagint: and them that worship the host of heaven upon the house-tops; and them that worship and swear by the Lord, and them that swear by their king;

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: and them who prostrate themselves on the roofs to the heavenly host, and those who bow down and swear to HASHEM and [then] swear by their king.

1. “And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops…”

a. And them that worship [7812 * shachah] [Strong: a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):--bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.]

b. the host [6635 * tsaba’] [Strong: from 6633; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship):--appointed time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).]

c. of heaven [8064 * shamayim] [Strong: dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve):--air, X astrologer, heaven(-s).]

d. upon the housetops [1406 * gag] [Strong: probably by reduplication from 1342; a roof; by analogy, the top of an altar:--roof (of the house), (house) top (of the house).]

2. “…and them that worship and that swear by the LORD…”

a. and them that worship [7812 * shachah] [Strong: a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):--bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.]

b. and them that swear [7650 * shaba’] [Strong: a primitive root; propr. to be complete, but used only as a denominative from 7651; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times):--adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), feed to the full (by mistake for 7646), take an oath, X straitly, (cause to, make to) swear.]

c. by the LORD [3068 * Yhovah] [Strong: from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

3. “…and that swear by Malcham;”

a. and that swear [7650 * shaba’] [Strong: a primitive root; propr. to be complete, but used only as a denominative from 7651; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times):--adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), feed to the full (by mistake for 7646), take an oath, X straitly, (cause to, make to) swear.]

b. by Malcham [4428 * melek] [Strong:  from 4427; a king:--king, royal.]

1). The Hebrew word here is the word for “king”, but four of the translations I have give “Malcham” as the reading, which is a different Hebrew word Strongs #4445.  Add to that the RSV, the ASV, the NASV and more all have “Malcham” as the reading. I am at a loss. The fact that Malcham is a variant spelling or is the same god as Molech is supported by Easton’s Bible Dictionary, American Tract Society Bible Dictionary, Holman Bible Dictionary, and Bible Dictionary from www.christiananswers.net.

a). Malcham (Unger’s Bible Dictionary) The national god of the Ammonites equated sometimes with Molech or Moloch. Malcham (R.S.V. “Milcom”).

b). Malcham (4445 * Malcham or Milkowm) Strongs: the national god of the Ammonites:-Malcham, Milcom.

2). These Jews worshipped the one true God and the false god Malcham or Molech, which involved child sacrifice. It is no different than modern day individuals, churches and denominations that profess Christ but at the same time defend abortion rights. It is clear from this passage what God feels about it.

a). Ezekiel 20:31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be inquired by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.

3). God does not hear the prayers of those who participate in child sacrifice.

a). Ezekiel 23:36-39 The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? Yea, declare unto them their abominations;

23:37 That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire to devour them.

23:38 Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my Sabbaths.

23:39 For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.

4). Those who participate in child sacrifice and enter God’s sanctuary defile it.

a). Isaiah 57:3-5 But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. Against whom do ye sport yourselves?

57:4 Against whom do ye make a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? Are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,

57:5 Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?

5). Those who participate in child sacrifice are the “seed of the adulterer and the whore”. They are linked to the harlot church of Revelation 17. Those in the church who uphold abortion are members of the whore’s church, not the true church. The phrase “children of transgression” is almost identical to the phrase “children of disobedience” in Ephesians 2:2. These individuals live their lives “according to the prince of the power of the air,” a demonic power who works in them. From this study it is clear that a born again believer in Jesus in fellowship with him cannot be pro-choice/pro-abortion. It is impossible.

6) Pro-abortion Churches: Presbyterian Church (USA) 2.3 million members: pro-abortion. United Methodist Church, 11.5 million members: pro-abortion. United Church of Christ, 1.2 million members: pro-abortion. American Baptist Churches, 1.5 million members: pro-abortion. The Episcopal Church, 2.5 million members: pro-abortion. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), 5 million members: pro-abortion. A total of 24 million men and women, boys and girls attend churches that are pro-abortion.

a). I am sure that not every minister or that every believer in the denominations listed above are pro-abortion, but I am fully persuaded that may are. Because of  the official stand of their denomination is to support child sacrifice, many within these churches are nothing more than Molech worshippers, they are seeds of the whore, they are sons and daughters of the sorceress.