TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
KJV (with Strong's)
Complete Jewish Bible
The dragon was infuriated over the woman and went off to fight the rest of her children, those who obey God’s commands and bear witness to Yeshua.
Berean Standard Bible
And the dragon was enraged at the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.
American Standard Version
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:
World English Bible Messianic
The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep God’s commandments and hold Yeshua’s testimony.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Then the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went and made warre with the remnant of her seede, which keepe the comaundements of God, and haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ.
Young's Literal Translation
and the dragon was angry against the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, those keeping the commands of God, and having the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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In the KJVVerse 30,909 of 31,102
Study This Verse
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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BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
And the dragon was angry with the woman, etc. Seeing that the persecutions could not continue because they were averted by the mouth of the holy earth, he armed himself even more to persist in the mystery of iniquity, so that he could continually lie in wait.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
And he stood on the sand of the sea. That is, over the multitude of the people, whom the wind drives away from the face of the earth. Without a doubt, it is the same enemy who is accustomed to devouring the enemy's schemes, now intending to stir up snares and wars.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
Who keep the commandments of God, etc. To keep the commandments of God in the faith of Jesus Christ is to fight with the dragon and provoke him to battle. And thanks be to God, who has nullified the attempts of the savage dragon. For behold, having tried to destroy the Lord born in the flesh, he is frustrated by His resurrection. Then, laboring to break the confidence of the apostles in teaching, he strove to remove the woman, that is, the whole Church, from human affairs. But having failed in this, he now attacks individual ages of the faithful everywhere. Hence it follows:
OecumeniusAD 990
Commentary on Revelation
For he says that they were persecuted because they were the offspring of the woman; for the faithful are sons and brothers of the Lord according to the Scripture: "I will proclaim your name to my brothers," (Ps. 22:22; Heb. 2:12) and again, "Here I am, and the children God has given me." (Isa. 8:18; Heb. 2:13)
So then, did he also make war against the offspring of their own mother, pursuing and plotting against them, killing through the tyrants and rulers of the land, since they testified that the One born of the Virgin was God?
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 12:17 powerfully depicts the intensified spiritual conflict following Satan's (the dragon's) expulsion from heaven and his failed attempts to destroy the Messiah and the collective body of God's people. Frustrated and enraged, the dragon redirects his unyielding wrath and warfare against the faithful remnant of believers on earth, identifying them by their steadfast obedience to God's commandments and their unwavering witness to Jesus Christ. This verse serves as a pivotal point, shifting the prophetic narrative to the ongoing persecution faced by those who genuinely follow Christ in the present age.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Revelation 12:17 is rich in Symbolism, a hallmark of apocalyptic literature. The "dragon" is a clear symbol for Satan, embodying cosmic evil and opposition to God. The "woman" symbolizes God's people, encompassing both Old Testament Israel and the New Testament church, from whom the Messiah came. Her "seed" represents individual believers who continue her spiritual lineage. The "war" is not merely physical but represents the multifaceted spiritual conflict, including persecution, deception, and spiritual attacks, waged by Satan against the faithful. The phrase "keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" employs Parallelism, presenting two defining characteristics of the remnant side-by-side, emphasizing both their ethical conduct and their prophetic witness. This verse also utilizes Personification, attributing human emotions like "wrath" and actions like "making war" to the dragon, making the spiritual adversary feel tangible and menacing. The dramatic shift in the dragon's target from the "woman" to her "remnant seed" serves as a form of Foreshadowing, setting the stage for the intense persecution and spiritual battles described in subsequent chapters of Revelation.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Revelation 12:17 profoundly articulates the ongoing reality of spiritual warfare for believers, highlighting that Satan's hatred for God is directly extended to those who bear God's image and Christ's testimony. It asserts that genuine faith is active, marked by both obedience to divine commands and a courageous witness to Jesus. This verse connects the cosmic struggle to the lived experience of believers, affirming that persecution is not an anomaly but an expected consequence of living faithfully in a fallen world. It also underscores the enduring nature of God's covenant people, represented by the "remnant," who persevere through tribulation by clinging to God's truth and proclaiming Christ.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Revelation 12:17 serves as a stark yet encouraging reminder for believers today. It clarifies that spiritual opposition is not a sign of God's disfavor, but often a direct consequence of our faithfulness. When we strive to obey God's commands and boldly share the truth of Jesus Christ, we inevitably become targets of the enemy's wrath. This understanding should not lead to fear, but to vigilance and a deeper reliance on God's strength. It calls us to examine our lives: are we truly "keeping the commandments of God" by living in practical righteousness and love? Are we "having the testimony of Jesus Christ" by proclaiming His gospel and living as His witnesses in our words and deeds? This verse challenges us to embrace our identity as the faithful remnant, recognizing that our perseverance in faith and witness is a powerful act of defiance against the defeated, yet still raging, adversary. It encourages us to stand firm, knowing that the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world, and that our ultimate victory is assured in Christ.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the "woman" in Revelation 12, and who is her "seed"?
Answer: In Revelation 12, the "woman" is a highly symbolic figure. Most commonly, she is understood to represent God's people throughout salvation history, encompassing Old Testament Israel (from whom the Messiah, the "male child," came) and, by extension, the New Testament church. She is depicted as giving birth to the Messiah and being protected by God. Her "seed" or "offspring" in Revelation 12:17 refers to individual believers who are spiritually descended from her, those who follow Christ and embody the characteristics of faithfulness: keeping God's commandments and having the testimony of Jesus Christ. They are the continuation of God's faithful lineage on earth.
What does "keeping the commandments of God" mean in this context?
Answer: "Keeping the commandments of God" (G1785, entolḗ) in Revelation 12:17 refers to active obedience to God's revealed will and moral law. It signifies a life lived in alignment with divine principles, demonstrating practical righteousness, devotion, and love for God and neighbor. In the New Testament, Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of obedience, stating, "If you love me, keep my commandments" John 14:15. This characteristic distinguishes genuine believers from those who merely profess faith but do not live it out.
What is the "testimony of Jesus Christ"?
Answer: The "testimony of Jesus Christ" (G3141, martyría) is a crucial identifying mark of the faithful remnant. It can be understood in two primary ways, both of which are likely intended: (1) The testimony about Jesus Christ: proclaiming the truth of who He is, what He has done, and His saving work. This is the content of the gospel message. (2) The testimony from Jesus Christ: the prophetic revelation and truth that Jesus Himself gives and inspires through the Holy Spirit. Revelation 19:10 states, "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy," indicating that a Spirit-inspired declaration of Christ's person and work is at the heart of this testimony. It is the core message and mission of the church, and it is precisely this witness that provokes the dragon's wrath.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Revelation 12:17, while depicting the dragon's wrath against the faithful, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "male child" born to the woman, who was "caught up to God and to His throne" Revelation 12:5, is Jesus Himself. His ascension signifies His ultimate victory over Satan, who is then cast down from heaven Revelation 12:9. The dragon's subsequent war against the "remnant of her seed" is a direct consequence of his defeat by Christ. This means that the persecution faced by believers is not a sign of Christ's weakness, but rather a testament to His triumph and the enemy's impotent rage. The "remnant" is defined by "having the testimony of Jesus Christ," highlighting that their very identity and mission are centered on Him. Their perseverance in "keeping the commandments of God" is empowered by Christ's indwelling Spirit, enabling them to live out the righteousness that He perfectly fulfilled. Ultimately, the "war" waged by the dragon against the saints is a futile attempt to undermine the kingdom established by Christ's death and resurrection. Believers overcome "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" Revelation 12:11, demonstrating that Christ's finished work is the source of their strength and the guarantee of their ultimate victory, even amidst tribulation. The conflict in Revelation 12:17 thus points forward to the Lamb's ultimate triumph, when He will finally crush the dragon underfoot Romans 16:20.