Revelation 12:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Revelation 12:1-5

Revelation 12:1-5. And there appeared a woman clothed with the sun “It was a well-known custom,” says Lowman, “at the time of this prophecy, to represent the several virtues, and public societies, by the figure of a woman in some peculiar dress, many of which are to be seen in the Roman coins; in particular, Salus, the emblem of security and protection, is represented as a woman standing upon a globe, to represent the safety and security of the world under the emperor’s care. The... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Revelation 12:1-17

12:1-14:20 PICTURES OF CONFLICT AND TRIUMPHThe woman, the child and the dragon (12:1-17)In this vision the woman who gives birth to a son seems to symbolize Israel who produced the Messiah, Jesus. But it is the true Israel, the true people of God, who are pictured here. The faithful of old Israel were those who began the Christian church, and in the church there is no distinction on the basis of nationality. All Christians are now God’s people (12:1-2).Then appears a dragon (identified in verse... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Revelation 12:2

cried = crieth out. travailing, &c. Greek. odino. Only here and Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:19 , Gal 1:27 . See Micah 5:3 . pained. Literally tormented. See Revelation 9:5 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 12:2

and she was with child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered.And she was with child ... This verse is not merely incidental. The hatred and opposition from Satan to both the woman and her child already existed before the child was born. Therefore, the satanic hatred could not have been the result of the Christ (the child) at some later date winning a victory over Satan. This is important to understanding later verses in the chapter.Travailing in birth ... This is... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Revelation 12:2

Revelation 12:2. And she being with child cried, &c.— And she crieth in sorrow and travail, having a child to bring forth. The metaphor of a mother blessed with a fair posterity, is very proper to represent the public happiness, by an increase both of numbers and strength. It is an easy figure to consider the church as a mother, and the converts to truth and righteousness, the true worshippers of God, as her children. See on Revelation 12:6. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:2

2. pained—Greek, "tormented" (basanizomene). DE BURGH explains this of the bringing in of the first-begotten into the world AGAIN, when Israel shall at last welcome Him, and when "the man-child shall rule all nations with the rod of iron." But there is a plain contrast between the painful travailing of the woman here, and Christ's second coming to the Jewish Church, the believing remnant of Israel, "Before she travailed she brought forth . . . a MAN-CHILD," that is, almost without... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 12:1-6

The dragon’s hostility toward the male child 12:1-6This pericope furnishes the plot for the drama that unfolds in the rest of the chapter. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Revelation 12:2

In John’s vision the woman was about to give birth and cried out in labor pains. Evidently this represents Israel’s pain before Jesus Christ’s appearing at His first coming. [Note: Kiddle, p. 220; Walvoord, The Revelation . . ., p. 188; Thomas, Revelation 8-22, p. 121.] read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 12:1-17

The Woman and the Man-Child. The DragonThe persecution which the Church had already suffered, and which was about to burst forth again, is the great fact which underlies the whole ’Revelation.’ The sufferings of the Church and its members have been referred to again and again, particularly in Revelation 11:1-13. In the ’seals’ and the ’trumpets’ the Church has been assured, in a broad and general manner, that God’s judgments will fall upon the world of wickedness, and that the ungodly will bow... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Revelation 12:2

(2) And she . . .—Better, And being with child, she crieth, travailing, and tormented to bring forth. All life dawns in anguish, according to the ancient fiat (Genesis 3:16); but this is not all. There is an anguish of the Church which Christ laid upon her; it is the law of her life that she must bring forth Christ to the world; it is not simply that she must encounter pain, but that she cannot work deliverance without knowing suffering. Thus the Apostles felt: the love of Christ constrained... read more

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