Revelation 20:2

He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — John reports a vision to the seven churches: an angel descends from heaven and seizes the dragon. The moment is the transition from the tribulation (chs. 6–19) into the millennium.

The words — ἐκράτησεν (ekratēsen), aorist active, means "he seized" or "he overpowered" — a single decisive act of restraint, not a gradual subduing.

The thread — The identification of dragon = ancient serpent = devil = Satan appears in Revelation 12:9; the judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent in Isaiah 27:1; the chaining of fallen angels in 2 Peter 2:4.

Why it lands — The binding is explicit and temporary (v. 3: "until the thousand years were complete… released for a brief period"). The reader is asked to hold that Satan is contained, not destroyed, and that his release remains a future event.

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 he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Cross-references

2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
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.
Isaiah 27:1 In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.
John 12:31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Job 2:1 On another day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before Him.
John 16:11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned.
Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Hebrews 2:14 Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,