Revelation 12:4

And 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.

And {G2532} his {G846} tail {G3769} drew {G4951} the third part {G5154} of the stars {G792} of heaven {G3772}, and {G2532} did cast {G906} them {G846} to {G1519} the earth {G1093}: and {G2532} the dragon {G1404} stood {G2476} before {G1799} the woman {G1135} which {G3588} was ready {G3195} to be delivered {G5088}, for {G2443} to devour {G2719} her {G846} child {G5043} as soon as {G3752} it was born {G5088}.

Its tail swept a third of the stars out of heaven and threw them down to the earth. It stood in front of the woman about to give birth, so that it might devour the child the moment it was born.

His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, tossing them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth.

And 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.

Commentary

Context of Revelation 12:4

Revelation chapter 12 introduces a powerful symbolic vision describing a cosmic conflict between good and evil, specifically focusing on the spiritual warfare surrounding the birth and triumph of Jesus Christ. The "dragon" is revealed later in this chapter to be Satan, the Devil himself. The "woman" is widely interpreted as symbolic of Israel, God's chosen people, through whom the Messiah would come. The "child" is unequivocally Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Satan's Rebellion and Influence: The image of the dragon's tail drawing "the third part of the stars of heaven" is a vivid representation of Satan's original rebellion against God and his success in leading a significant portion of angelic beings (often interpreted as one-third) to join him in his fall. These are the fallen angels, or demons, who were cast out of heaven with him. This event highlights the immense spiritual power and destructive influence of the enemy.
  • Satan's Enmity Against the Messiah: The dragon's posture, "stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born," illustrates Satan's ancient and relentless animosity towards God's redemptive plan. From the very beginning (see Genesis 3:15), Satan sought to prevent the birth of the Messiah and, failing that, to destroy Him immediately. Historical attempts, such as Herod's slaughter of the innocents, reflect this satanic agenda.
  • Divine Protection and Victory: Despite Satan's formidable power and malevolent intentions, the narrative implicitly points to God's sovereign protection. The fact that the child is born and later caught up to God and to His throne (Revelation 12:5) underscores the ultimate futility of Satan's efforts against God's plan.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "stars of heaven" (Greek: asteras tou ouranou) is a common biblical metaphor. While stars can represent people or leaders, in this context, especially when cast down from heaven by a rebellious spiritual being, they are widely understood to symbolize angelic beings. The "dragon" (Greek: drakōn) emphasizes the monstrous, powerful, and destructive nature of this spiritual adversary.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the reality of spiritual warfare and the enduring enmity of Satan against God and His people. It teaches us:

  • The Enemy is Real: We are not fighting against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). Understanding Satan's past rebellion and ongoing malice helps us discern his schemes.
  • God's Plan is Unstoppable: Despite the dragon's power and intent to "devour" Christ, God's plan of salvation was perfectly executed. This gives believers confidence that God's purposes will ultimately prevail, and His victory in Christ is complete.
  • Focus on Christ: The primary target of Satan's rage was Jesus Christ. As followers of Christ, we can expect opposition, but we also share in His ultimate triumph over sin, death, and the devil. Our security is found in the one whom the dragon could not devour.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
The Message of the Book of Revelation The 7 "Woes" of Revelation The Meaning of 666 in Revelation The Great Tribulation The Nature of Satan and Demons

Cross-References

  • 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 pleasant [land].

  • Daniel 8:12

    And an host was given [him] against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

  • Revelation 12:9

    And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

  • John 8:44

    Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

  • Revelation 12:2

    And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

  • Revelation 12:3

    And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

  • Revelation 8:7

    ΒΆ The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
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