Devine Scripture

Revelation 20:2

What does Revelation 20:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 20:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 20:2 means

The angel seizes the dragon—explicitly named as the old serpent, the Devil, and Satan—making clear that the deceiver from Eden is the same adversary of the end. He is bound for a thousand years. The fourfold naming removes ambiguity: the ancient tempter, accuser, and enemy of God’s people is identified and subdued. The “thousand years” marks a divinely appointed span in which his activity is curtailed. This is not accidental fortune but God’s purposeful restraint. For believers who have felt the serpent’s sting, the vision shows that his cunning meets God’s chain. However long deception has lasted, it has an end when God decides, and the worst foe is no match for divine command.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he took the dragon, the old snake, which is the Evil One and Satan, and put chains on him for a thousand years,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, who is Devil and Adversary, and did bind him a thousand years,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he laid hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent who is [the] devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Context

After the angel appears equipped to imprison, verse 2 narrates the capture itself. The identification of the dragon with the Devil and Satan ties this scene back to earlier conflicts in Revelation where the dragon waged war. It sets up verse 3’s focus on the nature and purpose of the confinement. The flow clarifies who is restrained and for how long before moving on to why the binding matters for the nations and for the saints’ reign in the next verses.

v.1And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.

v.2This passage

v.3and cast him into the abyss, and shutit, and sealeditover him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time.

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 13:2

    And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority.

  • John 12:31

    Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

  • Luke 11:20

    But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you.

  • Mark 5:7

    and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.

  • 2 Peter 2:4

    For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

  • Revelation 12:17

    And 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:

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