Bible Strands
Revelation 12:2
She was pregnant and crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The author addresses a visionary audience describing a celestial sign immediately following the appearance of the sun-clothed woman in heaven. The narrative shifts from her glorious appearance to her immediate physical distress before introducing the opposing dragon.
The words — The Greek verb ὠδίνουσα (ōdinousa) literally means "being in travail," paired with κρᾴζει (krazei), which denotes a loud, desperate cry. Together they describe an active, unrelenting state of labor pain.
The thread — The imagery of labor pain recurs in John 16:21, Galatians 4:19, and Isaiah 66:7 to describe either physical childbirth or spiritual anguish. These passages link the physical act of birth with moments of profound transition or divine intervention.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that the woman's glorious status does not shield her from violent physical distress. It requires the reader to observe the immediate contrast between heavenly vision and earthly suffering before the narrative introduces the opposing sign.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
Cross-references
- John 16:21 A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.
- Galatians 4:19 My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
- Isaiah 66:7 “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in pain, she delivered a boy.
- Micah 5:3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers will return to the children of Israel.
- Revelation 12:4 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.
- Isaiah 53:11 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.
- Galatians 4:27 For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
- Isaiah 54:1 “Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.