Revelation 12:17
What does Revelation 12:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 12:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 12:17 means
Enraged at his failure against the woman, the dragon goes to make war on the rest of her seed—those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus. Here the identity of the woman’s offspring broadens to include all faithful believers who belong to the Messiah. Their distinguishing marks are obedience and witness. The conflict becomes the ongoing experience of the church in the world. The verse clarifies that persecution is not random; it is the dragon’s deliberate campaign against those aligned with Christ. Yet even in war, the earlier assurances stand: Christ is enthroned, the accuser is cast down, and God nourishes His people.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus:
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the dragon was angry with the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her seed, who keep the orders of God, and the witness of Jesus:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the dragon was angry against the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, those keeping the commands of God, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments ofGod, and have the testimony of Jesus.
Context
The chapter closes by shifting the dragon’s hostility from the woman to her other offspring, setting the stage for the intensified earthly conflict that follows. This summary verse ties together the chapter’s themes—Messiah’s enthronement, Satan’s expulsion, the woman’s protection, and the saints’ perseverance. It prepares the reader for the next vision of beasts and blasphemy, explaining why the saints must overcome by steadfast faith in the face of organized, dragon-driven opposition.
v.16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
v.17This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 11:36
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done.
- Revelation 1:9
I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patiencewhich arein Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
- Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
- Revelation 22:14
Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
- 1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
- Revelation 13:7
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
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