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Chemarims (idolatrous) priests

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(black ones). Sun-worshippers (Zeph. 1:4⁴I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; (Zephaniah 1:4)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

A Hebrew word signifying some class of “priests” (Zeph. 1:4⁴I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; (Zephaniah 1:4) margin; Hos. 10:5⁵The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. (Hosea 10:5)). It is translated “idolatrous priest” in 2 Kings 23:5⁵And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. (2 Kings 23:5). The derivation of the word is much disputed.

Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:

Number:

3649 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Transliteration:

kamar

Phonic:

kaw-mawr’

Meaning:

from 3648; properly, an ascetic (as if shrunk with self-maceration), i.e. an idolatrous priest (only in plural)

KJV Usage:

Chemarims (idolatrous) priests

Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:

as changed ones

Potts’ Bible Proper Names:

Blackness; sadness; mourning; an ascetic:―idolatrous priests, Zeph. 1:4. {Nigror}