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Revelation 12

Rev. 12:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
And
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
there appeared
optanomai (Greek #3700)
which is used for it in certain tenses; and both as alternate of 3708 to gaze (i.e. with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from 991, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from 1492, which expresses merely mechanical, passive or casual vision; while 2300, and still more emphatically its intensive 2334, signifies an earnest but more continued inspection; and 4648 a watching from a distance)
KJV usage: appear, look, see, shew self.
Pronounce: op-tan'-om-ahee
Origin: of the primary (middle voice) ὄπτομαι (op'-tom-ahee)
a great
megas (Greek #3173)
big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
KJV usage: (+ fear) exceedingly, great(-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years.
Pronounce: meg'-as
Origin: (including the prolonged forms, feminine μεγάλη, plural μεγάλοι, etc.; compare also 3176, 3187)
γwonder
semeion (Greek #4592)
an indication, especially ceremonially or supernaturally
KJV usage: miracle, sign, token, wonder.
Pronounce: say-mi'-on
Origin: neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of 4591
in
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
heaven
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
ouranos (Greek #3772)
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity)
KJV usage: air, heaven(-ly), sky.
Pronounce: oo-ran-os'
Origin: perhaps from the same as 3735 (through the idea of elevation)
; a woman
gune (Greek #1135)
a woman; specially, a wife
KJV usage: wife, woman.
Pronounce: goo-nay'
Origin: probably from the base of 1096
g clothed with
periballo (Greek #4016)
to throw all around, i.e. invest (with a palisade or with clothing)
KJV usage: array, cast about, clothe(-d me), put on.
Pronounce: per-ee-bal'-lo
Origin: from 4012 and 906
the sun
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
helios (Greek #2246)
the sun; by implication, light
KJV usage: + east, sun.
Pronounce: hay'-lee-os
Origin: from ἕλη (a ray; perhaps akin to the alternate of 138)
i, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
the moon
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
selene (Greek #4582)
the moon
KJV usage: moon.
Pronounce: sel-ay'-nay
Origin: from σέλας (brilliancy; probably akin to the alternate of 138, through the idea of attractiveness)
under
hupokato (Greek #5270)
down under, i.e. beneath
KJV usage: under.
Pronounce: hoop-ok-at'-o
Origin: from 5259 and 2736
her
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
feet
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
pous (Greek #4228)
a "foot" (figuratively or literally)
KJV usage: foot(-stool).
Pronounce: pooce
Origin: a primary word
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
upon
epi (Greek #1909)
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
KJV usage: about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Pronounce: ep-ee'
Origin: a primary preposition
her
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
head
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
kephale (Greek #2776)
the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively
KJV usage: head.
Pronounce: kef-al-ay'
Origin: from the primary κάπτω (in the sense of seizing)
a crown
stephanos (Greek #4735)
a chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor generally; but more conspicuous and elaborate than the simple fillet, 1238), literally or figuratively
KJV usage: crown.
Pronounce: stef'-an-os
Origin: from an apparently primary στέφω (to twine or wreathe)
of twelve
dodeka (Greek #1427)
two and ten, i.e. a dozen
KJV usage: twelve.
Pronounce: do'-dek-ah
Origin: from 1417 and 1176
stars
aster (Greek #792)
a star (as strown over the sky), literally or figuratively
KJV usage: star.
Pronounce: as-tare'
Origin: probably from the base of 4766
:
γ
or, sign.
g
Isa. 54:6• 6For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. (Isa. 54:6)
i
Psa. 84:11• 11For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psa. 84:11)
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Mal. 4:2• 2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Mal. 4:2)

More on:

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Crown,
Head,
Heaven,
Moon,
Star,
Sun,
Twelve,
Woman

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-3:  A woman clothed with the sun travails.
4-5:  The great red dragon stands before her, ready to devour her child;
6:  when she is delivered she flees into the wilderness.
7-12:  Michael and his angels fight with the dragon, and prevail.
13-17:  The dragon, being cast down into the earth, persecutes the woman.
there.
Rev. 12:3• 3And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Rev. 12:3)
;
Rev. 11:19• 19And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. (Rev. 11:19)
;
Rev. 15:1• 1And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. (Rev. 15:1)
;
2 Chron. 32:31• 31Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. (2 Chron. 32:31)
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Mark 13:25• 25And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. (Mark 13:25)
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Acts 2:19• 19And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: (Acts 2:19)
wonder.
or, sign.
Matt. 12:38• 38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. (Matt. 12:38)
;
Matt. 24:30• 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matt. 24:30)
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Luke 21:11,25• 11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
 25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (Luke 21:11,25)
a woman.
Isa. 49:14‑23• 14But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
 15Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
 16Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
 17Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.
 18Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.
 19For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
 20The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.
 21Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?
 22Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
 23And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. (Isa. 49:14‑23)
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Isa. 54:5‑7• 5For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
 6For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
 7For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. (Isa. 54:5‑7)
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Isa. 60:1‑4• 1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
 2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
 3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
 4Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. (Isa. 60:1‑4)
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Hos. 2:19‑20• 19And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
 20I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord. (Hos. 2:19‑20)
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John 3:29• 29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (John 3:29)
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2 Cor. 11:2• 2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2 Cor. 11:2)
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Eph. 5:25‑27,32• 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Eph. 5:25‑27,32)
clothed.
Rev. 21:23• 23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. (Rev. 21:23)
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Psa. 84:11• 11For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psa. 84:11)
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Isa. 60:19‑20• 19The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
 20Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. (Isa. 60:19‑20)
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Isa. 61:10• 10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isa. 61:10)
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Mal. 4:2• 2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Mal. 4:2)
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Rom. 3:22• 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Rom. 3:22)
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Rom. 13:14• 14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Rom. 13:14)
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Gal. 3:27• 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal. 3:27)
and the.
Gal. 6:14• 14But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Gal. 6:14)
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Titus 2:11‑12• 11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:11‑12)
crown.
Rev. 1:20• 20The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (Rev. 1:20)
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Rev. 21:14• 14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Rev. 21:14)
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Isa. 62:3• 3Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. (Isa. 62:3)
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Zech. 9:16• 16And the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. (Zech. 9:16)
• The sun speaks of supreme authority-Israel will be head of the nations, and not the tail; the moon under her feet tells of complete delegated authority, for all authority in this world is delegated; finally she wears a crown of seven stars, speaking of full administrative power, the twelve possibly referring to the twelve apostles, who in the future day will judge the twelve tribes of Israel. (“Brief Exposition of Revelation 12” by A.J. Pollock)
• John is going to enter into the final scenes after this; but before this is done, we have God's counsel shown about Israel. (“Brief Exposition of Revelation 12” by A.J. Pollock)
• Israel was the mother of Christ. It was of them, as concerning the flesh, that the Christ was born. (“Lectures on Revelation 12” by W. Kelly)
• I think it probable there may be an allusion here to the well-known dream that Joseph had of the sun, moon, and stars, explained by himself as alluding to his parents and brethren. Here the symbols are more general, and naturally refer — the sun to supreme glory, the moon to that which is derived, and the stars to inferior or subordinate authority. All this is seen in connection with Israel; for God intends, as far as this world is concerned, all power and glory to circle round Israel. See Micah 5:1-2 (“Lectures on Revelation 12” by W. Kelly)
• Woman: Israel; the Jewish mother of Christ personified in Jerusalem (Isa. 9:6). (“Revelation 12 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)
• Clothed with the Sun: Israel or Jerusalem invested with supreme authority. (“Revelation 12 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)
• The Moon Under Her Feet: The whole reflected light of her previous state under her feet. (“Revelation 12 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)
• Crown of Twelve Stars: Complete human authority (Compare Gen. 37:9; Isa. 60). (“Revelation 12 Symbols” by A.H. Burton)

J. N. Darby Translation

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1
And a great sign was seen in the heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars;

W. Kelly Translation

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1
And a great sign was seena in the heaven: a woman clothedb with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;

WK Translation Notes

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a
In the RV "sign," as previously given in the KJV margin, takes the place of "wonder" as in 3. The KJV should have been consistent with its own rendering in 15:1. The order of the Greek is also better kept in the RV, as will appear from comparing 1 and 3; but there is no great reason for dropping "appeared" here after adopting it almost everywhere else in the New Testament. No doubt the KJV had preceded them in giving "was seen," in 11:19, and so they might have given in 12:1 and 3. Generally both give "appeared."
b
The words "arrayed" and "clothed" are interchanged as in the KJV, though the Revisers use the former.