Revelation 12:3 NIV

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 12:3

another. App-124 . behold. App-133 . dragon. Greek. drakon. First of thirteen occurances in Rev. only. ( App-10 and App-197 ) See Revelation 12:9 . seven heads . . . heads. "Signs" of universality of earthly power. crowns. Greek. diadema. Only here, Revelation 13:1 ; Revelation 19:12 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Revelation 12:3

And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems.Behold, a great red dragon ... There is no doubt of who is symbolized by this. It is Satan (Revelation 12:9). The word "dragon" is in the dictionaries of every nation under the sun; and none can question the choice of such a word to symbolize the devil. In this vision, the dragon was presented in a form and appearance absolutely unlike any mythological... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Revelation 12:3

3. appeared—"was seen." wonder—Greek, "semeion," "sign." red—So A and Vulgate read. But B, C, and Coptic read, "of fire." In either case, the color of the dragon implies his fiery rage as a murderer from the beginning. His representative, the beast, corresponds, having seven heads and ten horns (the number of horns on the fourth beast of Daniel 7:7; Revelation 13:1). But there, ten crowns are on the ten horns (for before the end, the fourth empire is divided into ten kingdoms); here, seven... 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 12:3

The second "sign" John saw was the "dragon" whom God identified in Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:2 as Satan. "Dragon" (Gr. drakon) occurs 12 times in the New Testament and only in the Book of Revelation. In every instance it refers to Satan (Revelation 12:3-4; Revelation 12:7; Revelation 12:9; Revelation 12:13; Revelation 12:16-17; Revelation 13:2; Revelation 13:4; Revelation 13:11; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 20:2). A dragon symbolizes a powerful, aggressive, deadly foe. His red color... 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 12:3

(3) And there appeared . . .—Better, And another sign was seen in the heaven; and behold a great red dragon. This, too, is a sign, and has a meaning. The dragon stands for some dread and hostile power. “The dragon is that fabulous monster of whom ancient poets told, as large in size, coiled like a snake, blood red in colour . . . insatiable in voracity, and ever athirst for human blood”—a fit emblem of him whom our Lord declared to be a murderer from the beginning; for the dragon is intended... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Revelation 12:1-17

St. Michael and All Angels Revelation 12:7 Tradition says that the Feast of St. Michael and all Angels was first celebrated in the fourth century; but history states that its general observance did not occur until the eighth century, when it became an annual festival. Since then the Eastern Church has observed it on 8th November; the Anglican Church on 29th September. The belief in angelic creatures has been a favourite article in the universal creed, but the most unequivocal and direct... read more