Devine Scripture

Revelation 12:5

What does Revelation 12:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 12:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 12:5 means

The child is born: a son destined to rule all nations with a rod of iron—a clear messianic portrait fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Instead of being devoured, the child is caught up to God and to His throne, compressing Christ’s triumph from resurrection to exaltation. The dragon’s plot fails because God’s decree stands. The phrase about ruling with a rod of iron echoes the royal promise given to the Messiah, signaling His universal authority. The swift catching up to the throne highlights that the heart of the victory is not escape but enthronement. Heaven’s perspective centers on Christ’s kingship rather than on the earthly details of His life and suffering.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And 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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And 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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who was to have rule over all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was taken up to God and to his high seat.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and she brought forth a male child, who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, and caught away was her child unto God and His throne,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to his throne.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And she brought forth a male son, who shall shepherd all the nations with an iron rod; and her child was caught up toGod and to his throne.

Context

Following the dragon’s poised threat, verse 5 reverses expectations: the child lives, ascends, and is enthroned. This decisive movement resolves the immediate danger to the Messiah and anchors the rest of the chapter in Christ’s secure reign. With the child safe and exalted, the narrative turns in verse 6 to the woman’s protection and then, in verses 7–9, to a heavenly battle that explains why the dragon, thwarted above, turns his rage against God’s people on earth.

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.

v.5This passage

v.6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Cross references

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

  • 2 Corinthians 12:2

    I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven.

  • Isaiah 7:14

    Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

  • Revelation 12:2

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

  • Mark 16:19

    So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

  • Psalms 2:9

    Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

  • Revelation 19:15

    And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.

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