Devine Scripture

Revelation 12:3

What does Revelation 12:3 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 12:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 12:3 means

A second heavenly sign appears: a great red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven diadems. The red color evokes bloodshed and violent opposition. The many heads, horns, and crowns depict vast, usurping power—authority marshaled against God and His people. Though the full identification comes later, the shape of the symbol already warns us that this is no mere earthly tyrant but the mastermind behind persecution. His crowned heads parody true rule. He stands as the counterfeit sovereign, amassing worldly force to oppose the Lord’s Messiah and the people through whom He comes. The scene announces that the promised birth will be fiercely contested by a deadly, ancient enemy.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And there was seen another sign in heaven; a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And there was seen another sign in the heaven, and, lo, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his head seven diadems,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And there was seen another sign in heaven. And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and on his heads seven diadems.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And another sign was seen in the heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems;

Context

Placed directly after the woman’s labor, the dragon’s arrival introduces the chapter’s antagonist before the child is born. The description stresses his enormity and apparent dominance, setting the stakes for what follows. The next verse will portray him sweeping stars and preparing to devour the child the moment of birth. Understanding this verse equips the reader to interpret the coming conflict as cosmic in scope—more than politics or empire, it is Satanic hostility aimed at derailing God’s redemptive plan.

v.2and she was with child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered.

v.3This passage

v.4And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 9:15

    The elder and the honorable man, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

  • Daniel 7:20

    and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.

  • Revelation 12:4

    And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child.

  • Revelation 17:16

    And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.

  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.

  • Revelation 20:2

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

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