Revelation 12:4
What does Revelation 12:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 12:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 12:4 means
The dragon’s tail sweeping a third of the stars and casting them to earth portrays his destructive reach and the scope of his rebellion. He stations himself before the woman, ready to devour her child at birth, revealing a targeted, malicious intent to extinguish God’s promised ruler at the outset. This reflects the age-long pattern of satanic opposition to the Messiah and to the line from which He would come. The image shows the adversary’s strategy: to strike at God’s purpose at its most vulnerable point. Yet the posture of waiting implies that even his fury must operate within God’s timing; he cannot act until the birth occurs.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And his tail was pulling a third part of the stars of heaven down to the earth, and the dragon took his place before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when the birth had taken place he might put an end to her child.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and his tail doth draw the third of the stars of the heaven, and he did cast them to the earth; and the dragon did stand before the woman who is about to bring forth, that when she may bring forth, her child he may devour;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered: that, when she should be delivered, he might devour her son.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and his tail draws the third part of the stars of the heaven; and he cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bring forth, in order that when she brought forth he might devour her child.
Context
After the dragon is introduced, verse 4 intensifies the threat by describing his sweeping influence and his predatory stance toward the imminent birth. The reader is drawn to the brink: if the child is devoured, the plan collapses. This sets up a dramatic contrast in the next verse, where God’s purpose prevails in the child’s birth and exaltation. Knowing this context underscores that the conflict is not balanced—divine sovereignty will overturn the dragon’s calculated ambush.
v.3And 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.
v.4This passage
v.5And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 12:2
and she was with child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered.
- Revelation 9:19
For the power of the horses is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails are like unto serpents, and have heads; and with them they hurt.
- Exodus 1:16
and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birth-stool; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
- 1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
- Daniel 8:9
And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land.
- Revelation 8:7
And the first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
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