Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The vision unfolds in heaven, where a dragon positions himself before a woman about to give birth. The words — The Greek οὐρὰ (oura) means "tail," and σύρει (surei) translates literally as "drags" or "sweeps," describing the dragon's action against the stars. The thread — This imagery connects to Daniel 8:9's horn expanding toward the south and east, Revelation 12:9's identification of the dragon as Satan, and John 8:44's declaration of the devil as a murderer from the beginning. Why it lands — The text records the dragon's failed attempt to devour the newborn male child before it can be taken to God's throne. It demands recognition of active spiritual opposition to God's redemptive plan without offering comfort beyond the narrative fact.
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The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Daniel 8:9 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 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.”
- Matthew 2:3 When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
- 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 9:10 They had tails with stingers like scorpions, which had the power to injure people for five months.
- 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.