1A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. [12:2] She was pregnant and cried out in the pain of labor, in the agony of giving birth. [12:3] Then another sign appeared in heaven: a great fiery-red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven royal diadems. [12:4] His tail swept a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. [12:5] She gave birth to a son, a male, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne. [12:6] The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that they might nourish her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days.
REV 12:1-6
The Woman and the Dragon
In the world it was spoken into
In the first century, celestial imagery like the sun, moon, and stars carried deep symbolic weight, often tied to Jewish apocalyptic traditions and Greco-Roman astrological beliefs. The woman clothed with the sun and crowned with twelve stars would evoke associations with Israel, the twelve tribes, or even cosmic maternity figures like Isis in Roman thought. The dragon, a common symbol of chaos and evil in Jewish apocalyptic literature (e.g., Leviathan), here takes on a hybrid form with seven heads and ten horns, likely echoing imperial power structures or mythological beasts like Typhon. The dragon’s act of dragging a third of the stars to earth reflects cosmic upheaval, a theme familiar in Jewish eschatology. The woman’s labor pains align with prophetic imagery of Israel’s suffering and the birth of a new age. The wilderness as a place of refuge resonates with Exodus narratives and Jewish expectations of divine protection during tribulation.
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How other translations render this
REV 12:1
- KJV
- And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
- BSB
- And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed in the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.
- Koinōnos
- A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
REV 12:2
- KJV
- And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
- BSB
- She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth.
- Koinōnos
- She was pregnant and cried out in the pain of labor, in the agony of giving birth.
REV 12:3
- KJV
- And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
- BSB
- Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.
- Koinōnos
- Then another sign appeared in heaven: a great fiery-red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven royal diadems.
REV 12:4
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- 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.
- Koinōnos
- His tail swept a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.
REV 12:5
- KJV
- And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
- BSB
- And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
- Koinōnos
- She gave birth to a son, a male, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne.
REV 12:6
- KJV
- And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
- BSB
- And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place for her to be nourished for 1,260 days.
- Koinōnos
- The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that they might nourish her there a thousand two hundred and sixty days.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
REV 12:1
- a sign:The word translated 'a sign' here refers to something more than just an indication; it points to a miraculous or supernatural event that reveals divine purpose or meaning.
REV 12:2
- being in pain:The word translated 'being in pain' suggests intense suffering, like being tested on a touchstone or even tortured, indicating extreme distress rather than just discomfort.
REV 12:3
- royal crowns,:The word translated 'royal crowns' specifically refers to the diadem, a band worn by kings, particularly Persian monarchs, symbolizing imperial authority and sovereignty, not just any crown.
REV 12:5
- to rule:The word translated 'to rule' carries the sense of a shepherd tending and guiding a flock, implying care, protection, and leadership, not just exercising authority.