probably from an alternate form of (to look); a fabulous kind of serpent (perhaps as supposed to fascinate):--dragon.
Transliteration:drákōn
Pronunciation:drak'-own
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun δράκων (drakōn, `{{G1404}}`) denotes a "dragon" or a "fabulous kind of serpent." Its etymological root is often linked to an alternative form of a verb meaning "to look" or "to see," suggesting a creature with a piercing gaze, or one that is supposed to "fascinate" or mesmerize. This etymology imbues the term with a sense of awe, power, and potential danger. In ancient mythologies, dragons were commonly depicted as large, serpentine, often winged, and fire-breathing creatures, embodying primeval chaos, destruction, or formidable power. In the Septuagint (LXX), δράκων frequently translates the Hebrew `{{H8577}}` (tannin), which can refer to a large serpent, a sea monster, or a dragon, highlighting its connection to powerful, often malevolent, forces in the Old Testament.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the New Testament, the term δράκων (drakōn, `{{G1404}}`) appears exclusively within the Book of Revelation, where it is consistently and unequivocally identified with the ultimate adversary of God and humanity.
* It is first introduced in [[Revelation 12:3]] as "a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads seven diadems," a vivid image of immense power and authority, albeit evil.
* [[Revelation 12:4]] describes its destructive influence, drawing "a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth," symbolizing its dominion over a portion of the angelic host who rebelled with it.
* The pivotal identification occurs in [[Revelation 12:9]], where the dragon is explicitly named: "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him." This verse firmly links the dragon to the serpent of [[Genesis 3]] and identifies it with the Devil and Satan, the arch-deceiver.
* The dragon is depicted as the source of power for the Beast from the sea (e.g., [[Revelation 13:2]], [[Revelation 13:4]]), indicating its role in instigating earthly opposition to God and His people.
* Further appearances reinforce this identity (e.g., [[Revelation 16:13]]).
* Finally, in [[Revelation 20:2]], the dragon is seized and bound for a thousand years, again explicitly identified as "that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan," signifying its ultimate, though temporary, restraint. Its final release and subsequent judgment are detailed later ([[Revelation 20:7-10]]).
The consistent usage in Revelation reveals δράκων as a powerful symbolic representation of Satan's ancient, pervasive, and ultimately defeated evil.
### Related Words & Concepts
The understanding of δράκων (drakōn, `{{G1404}}`) is enriched by its direct and indirect connections to several other biblical terms:
* **Serpent (οφις - ophis, `{{G3789}}`):** The explicit identification of the dragon as "that ancient serpent" in [[Revelation 12:9]] and [[Revelation 20:2]] directly links it to the serpent in [[Genesis 3]], highlighting Satan's role as the original deceiver and tempter of humanity.
* **Devil (διαβολος - diabolos, `{{G1228}}`):** Meaning "slanderer" or "accuser," this is one of the direct identifications of the dragon, emphasizing its malicious and adversarial nature against God and His saints.
* **Satan (Σατανας - Satanas, `{{G4567}}`):** A transliteration of the Hebrew word meaning "adversary" or "opponent," this term is also directly applied to the dragon, underscoring its role as the primary antagonist in the cosmic struggle.
* **Beast (θηριον - thērion, `{{G2342}}`):** In Revelation, the Beast(s) derive their power and authority from the δράκων (e.g., [[Revelation 13:2]]), signifying that earthly systems of oppression and anti-Christian power are ultimately empowered by Satan.
* **Leviathan (Hebrew `{{H3882}}`):** In the Old Testament, Leviathan is a mythical sea creature often associated with chaos and evil, sometimes translated by δράκων in the LXX (e.g., [[Psalm 74:14]], [[Isaiah 27:1]]). This ancient imagery contributes to the powerful, chaotic symbolism of the dragon in Revelation.
* **Tannin (Hebrew `{{H8577}}`):** This Hebrew term, frequently translated as δράκων in the LXX, refers to large serpents or sea monsters and is used to describe powerful, oppressive entities, such as Pharaoh in [[Ezekiel 29:3]] and [[Ezekiel 32:2]]. This background informs the symbolic representation of the dragon as a formidable, destructive force.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of δράκων (drakōn, `{{G1404}}`) in Revelation is profound and multifaceted:
* **Personification of Cosmic Evil:** The dragon stands as the ultimate personification of evil in the cosmos. It is not merely an abstract force but a malevolent, intelligent, and powerful spiritual being, the arch-enemy of God, Christ, and His Church.
* **Continuity of Satan's Rebellion:** By explicitly linking the dragon to "that ancient serpent," Revelation establishes a clear continuity of Satan's rebellion and deceptive work from the Fall in Eden through to the end times. His character and methods remain consistent throughout salvation history.
* **Source of Persecution and Deception:** The dragon is depicted as the ultimate instigator of persecution against God's people and the primary agent of deception in the world. It empowers earthly anti-Christian forces and seeks to mislead humanity.
* **Cosmic Conflict and Divine Sovereignty:** The imagery of the dragon, particularly in [[Revelation 12]], vividly portrays a cosmic battle between good and evil, heaven and earth. However, the dragon's defeat by Michael and his angels, and its subsequent binding and ultimate judgment, powerfully affirm God's absolute sovereignty and the certain triumph of His divine plan over all evil.
* **Assurance of Ultimate Victory:** The final judgment and eternal demise of the dragon in [[Revelation 20:10]] provide immense theological comfort and assurance to believers. It signifies that despite the present reality of spiritual warfare, the power of evil is finite and its defeat is absolute and irreversible, guaranteeing the ultimate establishment of God's righteous kingdom.
### Summary
The Greek word δράκων (drakōn, `{{G1404}}`) signifies a "dragon" or "fabulous serpent," rooted in ancient perceptions of powerful and awe-inspiring reptilian creatures. While in classical antiquity and the Septuagint it could refer to various large serpents or sea monsters, its usage in the New Testament is exclusively found in the Book of Revelation. There, δράκων serves as the preeminent symbolic representation of the Devil, Satan, "that ancient serpent" (e.g., [[Revelation 12:9]], [[Revelation 20:2]]), thereby connecting the ultimate adversary of God with the deceiver of [[Genesis 3]]. This powerful imagery underscores the cosmic nature of evil, personified in Satan, who is depicted as the source of deception, accusation, and the empowerment of earthly anti-God forces. The narrative arc of the δράκων in Revelation, from its initial appearance as a formidable foe to its ultimate binding and final judgment, provides a profound theological assurance of God's absolute sovereignty and the definitive, inevitable triumph of good over evil.
TRV