TRV
Translation
King James Version
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Complete Jewish Bible
The serpent spewed water like a river out of its mouth after the woman, in order to sweep her away in the flood;
Berean Standard Bible
Then from the mouth of the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent.
American Standard Version
And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.
World English Bible Messianic
The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water after the woman, like a flood, that he might cause her to be caried away of the flood.
Young's Literal Translation
and the serpent did cast forth after the woman, out of his mouth, water as a river, that he may cause her to be carried away by the river,
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In the KJVVerse 30,907 of 31,102
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Commentary on Revelation 12 verses 12–17
12 ¶ Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And 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.
We have here an account of this war, so happily finished in heaven, or in the church, as it was again renewed and carried on in the wilderness, the place to which the church had fled, and where she had been for some time secured by the special care of her God and Saviour. Observe,
I. The warning given of the distress and calamity that should fall upon the inhabitants of the world in general, through the wrath and rage of the devil. For, though his malice is chiefly bent against the servants of God, yet he is an enemy and hater of mankind as such; and, being defeated in his designs against the church, he is resolved to give all the disturbance he can to the world in general: Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, and the sea, Rev 12:12. The rage of Satan grows so much the greater as he is limited both in place and time; when he was confined to the wilderness, and had but a short time to reign there, he comes with the greater wrath.
II. His second attempt upon the church now in the wilderness: He persecuted the woman who brought forth the man-child, Rev 12:13. Observe, 1. The care that God had taken of his church. He had conveyed her as on eagles' wings, into a place of safety provided for her, where she was to continue for a certain space of time, couched in prophetic characters, taken from Dan 7:25. 2. The continual malice of the dragon against the church. Her obscurity could not altogether protect her; the old subtle serpent, which at first lurked in paradise, now follows the church into the wilderness, and casts out a flood of water after her, to carry her away. This is thought to be meant of a flood of error and heresy, which was breathed by Arius, Nestorius, Pelagius, and many more, by which the church of God was in danger of being overwhelmed and carried away. The church of God is in more danger from heretics than from persecutors; and heresies are as certainly from the devil as open force and violence. 3. The seasonable help provided for the church in this dangerous juncture: The earth helped the woman, and opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood, Rev 12:16. Some think we are to understand the swarms of Goths and Vandals that invaded the Roman empire, and found work for the Arian rulers, who otherwise would have been as furious persecutors as the pagan had been, and had exercised great cruelties already; but God opened a breach of war, and the flood was in a manner swallowed up thereby, and the church enjoyed some respite. God often sends the sword to avenge the quarrel of his covenant; and, when men choose new gods, then there is danger of war in the gates; intestine broils and contentions often end in the invasions of a common enemy. 4. The devil, being thus defeated in his designs upon the universal church, now turns his rage against particular persons and places; his malice against the woman pushes him on to make war with the remnant of her seed. Some think hereby are meant the Albigenses, who were first by Dioclesian driven up into barren and mountainous places, and afterwards cruelly murdered by popish rage and power, for several generations; and for no other reason than because they kept the commandments of God and held the testimony of Jesus Christ. Their fidelity to God and Christ, in doctrine, worship, and practice, was that which exposed them to the rage of Satan and his instruments; and such fidelity will expose men still, less or more, to the end of the world, when the last enemy shall be destroyed.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 12–17. Public domain.
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Victorinus of PettauAD 304
Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John
"And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a flood, that he might carry her away with the flood." He signifies by the water which the serpent cast out of his mouth, the people who at his command would persecute her.
Primasius of HadrumetumAD 560
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12:16
It is possible to interpret the “earth” here to refer to the church, as in the psalm, “He who set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be shaken.” That is, he [set the earth] on the saints whose prayers and teachings and the working of salvation [which they have received] dispels the uncovered intrigues of the enemy. However, it would be better to interpret the “earth” to be the human nature in Christ, for it is itself the “truth” that “has sprung up from the earth,” and that always appears before the face of God and so, as the apostle says, “intercedes for us.” When it swallowed death, which it took to itself, this earth is said to have opened its mouth when it gulped down the author of death by the abundance of its own life. And no less was he swallowed when Christ taught sitting upon the mountain and opening his mouth gave greater precepts to his disciples, “abolishing the law with its commandments and ordinances.”
Andreas of CaesareaAD 614
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 12:15-16
When the church fled to inaccessible places where the deceiver makes his approach, out of his mouth, that is, clearly by his command, came water like a river after her. That is, he sent out against her a host of godless people and evil demons and all kinds of temptations that he might enslave her. But the earth, it says, came to [the church’s] aid. This may refer to the very great distances of travel in the desert and the aridity and dryness of those places, and in this way the river of temptations were swallowed up. Or [the demons and their temptations were overcome] by the humility of the saints who say with utter sincerity, “I am earth and dust” and so bring to naught all the snares of the devil, even as the angel said to the holy Anthony.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, etc. The flood signifies the onslaught of persecutors. Hence it is said: Perhaps they would have swallowed us up alive, like water (Psalm CXXIII). Therefore, the Church, not only lifted up by the word of God but also driven by the force of persecutions, hastens to fly out of the world.
OecumeniusAD 990
Commentary on Revelation
And the serpent is said to have cast water out of his mouth behind the woman like a river, to make her carry the river-borne burden; the divine Scripture allegorizes the temptation as a river, saying that through Jonah he "cast me into the depths of the heart of the sea, and rivers surrounded me" (Jonah 2:3); and through the Lord it says: "the rain came down; the rivers were present; the winds came; yet they did not overthrow the house founded on the rock." (Matt. 7:25) He therefore calls the trial upon the suffering of the Lord a river. Through this, he says, the Virgin is to be drowned; and indeed, the attack reached him and the extreme of sorrow, so that the Dragon was able to fulfill his intention.
What does Simeon say to her? "And a sword will pierce your own soul also, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." (Luke 2:35)
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Revelation 12:15 vividly portrays the relentless and overwhelming assault of the dragon, identified as Satan, against the woman, symbolizing God's faithful people. Following his expulsion from heaven, the serpent unleashes a torrent of "water as a flood" from his mouth, a desperate attempt to utterly sweep away and destroy the woman, signifying the intense spiritual warfare and persecution directed against those who bear witness to Christ.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Revelation 12:15 is rich in Symbolism and Imagery. The central figure of the "serpent" is a powerful Symbol for Satan, connecting this apocalyptic vision directly to the ancient adversary of God and humanity from Genesis 3. The "woman" Symbolizes God's faithful people, encompassing both believing Israel and the Church, who are the object of Satan's wrath. The most striking Imagery is "water as a flood," which is a vivid and potent Metaphor for the overwhelming forces of persecution, false doctrine, and spiritual attack that Satan unleashes against believers. This Imagery evokes a sense of being deluged, engulfed, and swept away, conveying the magnitude and destructive potential of the enemy's assault. The phrase "cast out of his mouth" uses Personification to attribute human-like action (speaking or expelling) to the serpent, further emphasizing the deliberate and malicious nature of the attack. The entire verse functions as a dramatic Allegory for the ongoing spiritual warfare that believers experience.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 12:15 underscores the reality of spiritual warfare and the relentless animosity of Satan toward God's people. It reveals that the enemy's strategies are not always subtle temptations but can manifest as overwhelming, destructive forces designed to annihilate faith and extinguish the community of believers. This "flood" can be interpreted as intense persecution, a torrent of false teachings, or even societal pressures that threaten to overwhelm and sweep believers away from their commitment to Christ. However, the very intensity of the attack highlights the preciousness of the "woman" in God's eyes, prompting Satan's desperate measures. This cosmic struggle is ultimately under God's sovereign control, even as His people endure the adversary's wrath.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 12:15 serves as a stark reminder that the Christian life is not without its battles. The "flood" unleashed by the serpent symbolizes the myriad ways the enemy seeks to overwhelm us: through societal pressures that contradict biblical values, through a deluge of misinformation and false doctrines that seek to erode truth, through overwhelming personal trials, or through direct persecution. This verse calls us to spiritual vigilance, recognizing that the adversary's intent is nothing less than our complete spiritual destruction. However, understanding the source and purpose of these "floods" empowers us not to despair, but to stand firm. Just as the woman in Revelation is divinely protected, believers today are assured that God provides a way of escape and strength to endure. Our resilience is not in our own might, but in discerning the enemy's schemes and trusting in the sovereign power of God who ultimately limits the "flood" and ensures His people's perseverance. This passage encourages us to be rooted deeply in Christ, so that when the floods come, we are not swept away.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does the "water as a flood" symbolize in Revelation 12:15?
Answer: The "water as a flood" is a powerful symbol representing an overwhelming, destructive force unleashed by Satan against God's people, the "woman." While its precise interpretation can vary, common understandings include:
The common denominator is Satan's malicious intent to utterly overwhelm and destroy the woman, God's faithful remnant.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Revelation 12:15 vividly portrays Satan's wrath against the woman, the ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment lies in the reality that the dragon's fury is a direct consequence of his decisive defeat by Christ. The "male child" whom the dragon sought to devour (Revelation 12:4) is Christ, who ascended to God's throne, securing victory over Satan through His crucifixion and resurrection. The "flood" unleashed by the serpent is a desperate, post-defeat act, confirming that Satan's power is limited and his time is short (Revelation 12:12). Jesus Himself spoke of overcoming the world and its trials, assuring His disciples, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). The victory of Christ on the cross disarmed the principalities and powers (Colossians 2:15), rendering Satan's "flood" ultimately impotent against those who are in Christ. Believers are protected not by their own strength, but by the finished work of the Lamb of God, who ensures that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church (Matthew 16:18). Thus, the "flood" serves to highlight the unwavering power and ultimate triumph of Christ, who shields His people even amidst the most furious of Satanic assaults.