Go
Articles on

Revelation 12

Rev. 12:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

+
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 Jehovah hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when rejected, saith thy God. (Isa. 54:6)
i
Psa. 84:11• 11For a sun and a shield [is] Jehovah God;{HR}Grace and glory will Jehovah give,{HR}No good thing will he withhold from those that walk uprightly. (Psa. 84:11)
;
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:

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

Cross References

+

Ministry on This Verse

+
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 was seen another sign in the heaven; and, behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems. (Rev. 12:3)
;
Rev. 11:19• 19And there was opened the temple of God [that is] in the heaven, and there was seen the ark of his covenant in his temple; and there were lightnings and voices and thunders [and an earthquake] and great hail. (Rev. 11:19)
;
Rev. 15:1• 1And I saw another sign in the heaven, great and wonderful: seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them was finished the indignation of God. (Rev. 15:1)
;
2 Chron. 32:31• 31{i}However in the matter of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to 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.{/i} (2 Chron. 32:31)
;
Mark 13:25• 25and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken. (Mark 13:25)
;
Acts 2:19• 19And I will give wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and vapour of smoke. (Acts 2:19)
wonder.
or, sign.
Matt. 12:38• 38{i}Then answered him some of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, Teacher, we desire to see a sign from thee.{/i} (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 land mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matt. 24:30)
;
Luke 21:11,25• 11there shall be both great earthquakes in different places and pestilences and famines, and there shall be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
 25And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity, for at the roar of the sea and rolling waves, (Luke 21:11,25)
a woman.
Isa. 49:14‑23• 14But Zion said, Jehovah hath forsaken me, and the 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 from thee.
 18Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, [and] come to thee. [As] I live, saith Jehovah, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them [on thee], as a bride [doeth].
 19For [in] thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, thou shalt even now be too straitened by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
 20The children of thy bereavement shall yet say in thine ears, The place [is] too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.
 21And thou shalt say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these (seeing I had lost my children, and was desolate, a captive, and driven to and fro)? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where [were] they?
 22Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my ensign to the peoples; and they shall bring thy sons in [their] bosom, 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] faces to the earth, and lick the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I [am] Jehovah, and they that wait for me shall not be ashamed. (Isa. 49:14‑23)
;
Isa. 54:5‑7• 5For thy Maker [is] thy husband: Jehovah of hosts [is] His name, and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.
 6For Jehovah hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when rejected, saith thy God.
 7For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. (Isa. 54:5‑7)
;
Isa. 60:1‑4• 1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee.
 2For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples: but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
 3And nations shall walk in thy light, and kings in the brightness of thy rising.
 4Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons come from far, and thy daughters are nursed upon the side. (Isa. 60:1‑4)
;
Hos. 2:19‑20• 19Yea, I will betroth thee to Myself in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness; and in mercies,
 20{i}and{/i} I will betroth thee to Myself in faithfulness; and thou shalt know Jehovah. (Hos. 2:19‑20)
;
John 3:29• 29He that hath the bride is [the] bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom that standeth and heareth him rejoiceth with joy because of the voice of the bridegroom: this my joy then is fulfilled. (John 3:29)
;
2 Cor. 11:2• 2For I am jealous as to you with a jealousy of God; for I betrothed you to one husband to present a chaste virgin to Christ. (2 Cor. 11:2)
;
Eph. 5:25‑27,32• 25Husbands, love your own wives, even as the Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for it,
 26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed [it] by the washing of water in [the] word,
 27that he might himself present to himself the assembly glorious, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things; but that it should be holy and blameless.
 32This mystery is great; but I speak as to Christ and as to the assembly. (Eph. 5:25‑27,32)
clothed.
Rev. 21:23• 23And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon, that they should shine on it: for the glory of God illumined it, and the Lamb {i}is{/i} the lamp of it. (Rev. 21:23)
;
Psa. 84:11• 11For a sun and a shield [is] Jehovah God;{HR}Grace and glory will Jehovah give,{HR}No good thing will he withhold from those that walk uprightly. (Psa. 84:11)
;
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 Jehovah 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 Jehovah shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. (Isa. 60:19‑20)
;
Isa. 61:10• 10I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, 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 the turban, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels. (Isa. 61:10)
;
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)
;
Rom. 3:22• 22even God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all that believe. For there is no difference; (Rom. 3:22)
;
Rom. 13:14• 14but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and take no forethought of the flesh with a view to lusts. (Rom. 13:14)
;
Gal. 3:27• 27For as many of you as were baptized unto Christ, put on Christ. (Gal. 3:27)
and the.
Gal. 6:14• 14But be it not for me to boast, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world. (Gal. 6:14)
;
Titus 2:11‑12• 11For the grace of God appeared bringing salvation to all men,
 12instructing us that, having denied ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godlily in this present age, (Titus 2:11‑12)
crown.
Rev. 1:20• 20the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest on my right hand, and the seven golden lamp-stands; the seven stars are angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp-stands are seven churches. (Rev. 1:20)
;
Rev. 21:14• 14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Rev. 21:14)
;
Isa. 62:3• 3Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of Jehovah, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. (Isa. 62:3)
;
Zech. 9:16• 16And Jehovah their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people; {i}for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up upon his land.{/i} (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

+
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

+
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

+
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.