Revelation 12:4

Translations

Modern

His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, hurling them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth.

Traditional

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

Literal

And his tail drags a third of the stars of heaven, and he cast them to the earth. And the dragon stands before the woman being about to bring forth, so that when she should bring forth, he might devour her child.

Latin

…et cauda ejus trahebat tertiam partem stellarum cæli, et misit eas in terram: et draco stetit ante mulierem, quæ erat paritura, ut cum peperisset, filium ejus devoraret.

Original

Greek

English

His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, hurling them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth.

Notes

Revelation 12:3–4

The large red dragon symbolizes Satan (see Revelation 12:9).
seven heads, ten horns: These numbers symbolize a mix of divine and created powers (see Revelation 17:7–14).
The historic battle between evil and God's people occurs on a cosmic scale (see Genesis 3:1–7, 14–15; Job 1:9–12).
Herod’s wish to kill Jesus showed Satan’s attempt to destroy her baby after birth (see Matthew 2:7–8, 16).

Revelation 12:1–17

Satan is shown as a dragon. He plots to oppose God's plans but fails. After losing a direct battle with God and Christ, he tries to harm God's followers. Three short scenes summarize the story (Revelation 12:1–6), followed by details of the war in heaven (12:7–9) and the war on earth (12:13–17).

Revelation 12:1–14:20

The people of God are pictured as a woman who gives birth to the Messiah. Even though the devil has already been defeated, he continues to attack her and her children (Revelation 12:1–17). With his two followers, the beast and the false prophet, Satan tries to keep controlling the world (Revelation 13:1–18) before the final battle with the Lord (14:1–20).

Theme notes and profiles

Adam and Eve Visions

Related verses

Daniel 8:9–12
From one of these horns a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the Beautiful Land.
Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
John 8:44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
Revelation 12:2–3
She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth.
Exodus 1:16
“When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.”
Revelation 9:10
They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Revelation 8:7
Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass.
Revelation 9:19
For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm.
Matthew 2:3–16
When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
Revelation 17:18
And the woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of Revelation Demon Dragon Lucifer

Topics

Astronomy: Sidereal Phenomena Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena: Symbolical used in the Revelation of John Stars: Falling of The Dragon: Powerful Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Red Dragon

Revelation 12:4

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