Word Studies¶

G1404 δράκων (drakōn) — Dragon¶

Original: δράκων Transliteration: drakōn Pronunciation: drak'-on Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: From an alternate form of derkomai (to look); a fabulous kind of serpent; a dragon

Translations¶

"dragon" (12x, 92.3%)
"a dragon" (1x, 7.7%)
Total: 13 NT occurrences — ALL in Revelation

Key Verses (All 13 Occurrences)¶

Rev 12:3 — "behold a great red dragon" (first appearance)
Rev 12:4 — "the dragon stood before the woman"
Rev 12:7 (x2) — "Michael fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought"
Rev 12:9 — "the great dragon was cast out"
Rev 12:13 — "when the dragon saw that he was cast"
Rev 12:16 — "the flood which the dragon cast out"
Rev 12:17 — "the dragon was wroth with the woman"
Rev 13:2 — "the dragon gave him his power"
Rev 13:4 — "they worshipped the dragon"
Rev 16:13 — "out of the mouth of the dragon"
Rev 20:2 — "he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent"

Distribution¶

8 of 13 occurrences (61.5%) are in Rev 12. This word is exclusive to Revelation in the NT. The LXX uses drakōn to translate Hebrew tannin in passages like Ezk 29:3 and Isa 27:1, providing the OT background.

G3789 ὄφις (ophis) — Serpent¶

Original: ὄφις Transliteration: ophis Pronunciation: of'-is Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: Probably from the idea of sharpness of vision; a snake

Translations¶

"serpent/serpents" (10x, 76.9%)
"a serpent" (2x, 15.4%)
"unto serpents" (1x, 7.7%)
Total: 13 NT occurrences (BLB: 14)

Key Verses¶

Gen 3:1 (LXX) — "Now the serpent was more subtil" — the ORIGINAL serpent
Mat 10:16 — "be ye wise as serpents"
Jhn 3:14 — "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness"
2Co 11:3 — "the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty"
Rev 12:9 — "that old serpent, called the Devil" — identification with Gen 3
Rev 12:14 — "from the face of the serpent" — the dragon called serpent
Rev 12:15 — "the serpent cast out of his mouth water"
Rev 20:2 — "that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan"

Significance¶

The designation ὁ ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος ("the ancient serpent") in Rev 12:9 explicitly links the dragon to the serpent of Genesis 3. The adjective archaios (G744) means "from the beginning/ancient" — this is the SAME entity.

G1228 διάβολος (diabolos) — Devil¶

Original: διάβολος Transliteration: diabolos Pronunciation: dee-ab'-ol-os Part of Speech: adjective (used substantively) Definition: From diaballō; a traducer/slanderer; specially, Satan

Translations¶

"devil" (23x, 76.7%), "false accusers" (2x), "the Devil" (2x), "slanderers" (1x)
Total: 30 NT occurrences (BLB: 38)

Key Verses in Revelation¶

Rev 2:10 — "the devil shall cast some of you into prison"
Rev 12:9 — "called the Devil, and Satan"
Rev 12:12 — "the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath"
Rev 20:2 — "the Devil, and Satan, and bound him"
Rev 20:10 — "the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire"

Etymology¶

From dia- ("through/across") + ballō ("to throw") = "to throw across" = "to slander/accuse." The devil is fundamentally THE ACCUSER — one who throws charges against the innocent. This etymology directly connects to Rev 12:10's "accuser of our brethren" (ho katēgōr).

G4567 Σατανᾶς (Satanas) — Satan¶

Original: Σατανᾶς Transliteration: Satanas Pronunciation: sat-an-as' Part of Speech: proper masculine noun Definition: Of Chaldee origin corresponding to H7854; the accuser

Translations¶

"Satan" (26x, 74.3%), "of Satan" (5x), "unto Satan" (2x)
Total: 35 NT occurrences (BLB: 36)

Key Verses¶

Mat 4:10 — "Get thee hence, Satan" (Jesus rebukes)
Luk 10:18 — "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven" (cf. Rev 12:9)
Rom 16:20 — "the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet" (Gen 3:15 echo)
Rev 12:9 — "called the Devil, and Satan"
Rev 20:2 — "the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years"

Hebrew Background (H7854)¶

The Hebrew satan means "adversary, accuser, one who opposes." In Job 1-2, ha-satan ("the adversary") appears in the heavenly council to accuse Job — precisely the role described in Rev 12:10 ("which accused them before our God day and night").

G3413 Μιχαήλ (Michaēl) — Michael¶

Original: Μιχαήλ Transliteration: Michaēl Pronunciation: mikh-ah-ale' Part of Speech: proper masculine noun Definition: Of Hebrew origin (H4317, "who is like God?"); Michael, an archangel

All NT Occurrences (2)¶

Jude 1:9 — "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil..."
Rev 12:7 — "Michael and his angels fought against the dragon"

OT Occurrences (Daniel)¶

Dan 10:13 — "Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me"
Dan 10:21 — "Michael your prince"
Dan 12:1 — "Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for... thy people"

Michael-Christ Connection Chain¶

Dan 10:13 — Michael is "one of the chief princes" who helps in cosmic conflict
Dan 10:21 — Michael is "your prince" (Israel's prince)
Dan 12:1 — Michael "stands up" at the time of the end; his people are delivered
Jude 1:9 — Michael contends with the devil (parallels Rev 12:7)
1Th 4:16 — The Lord descends "with the voice of the archangel" (there is only one archangel in Scripture)
Rev 12:7 — Michael fights and defeats the dragon

G4690 σπέρμα (sperma) — Seed¶

Original: σπέρμα Transliteration: sperma Pronunciation: sper'-mah Part of Speech: neuter noun Definition: From speirō; something sown, i.e. seed

Translations¶

"seed" (27x, 67.5%), "the seed" (7x), "seeds" (2x), others (4x)
Total: 40 NT occurrences (BLB: 44)

Key Verses for the Gen 3:15 → Rev 12:17 Chain¶

Gen 3:15 (LXX σπέρμα) — "between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head"
Gal 3:16 — "to Abraham and his seed... which is Christ"
Rev 12:17 — "the remnant of her seed (σπέρματος), which keep the commandments"

Significance¶

Rev 12:17 uses σπέρματος (genitive of σπέρμα) — the same word the LXX uses for Hebrew zera in Gen 3:15. The woman of Rev 12 has "seed" (sperma) — connecting her directly to the "woman" of Gen 3:15. The protoevangelium's conflict between the serpent's seed and the woman's seed is the cosmic narrative that Rev 12 unfolds.

G3062 λοιποί (loipoi) — Remnant/Rest¶

Original: λοιποί Transliteration: loipoi Pronunciation: loy-poy' Part of Speech: adjective (substantive) Definition: Masculine plural of a derivative of leipō; remaining ones

Translations¶

"other" (13x), "rest" (10x), "others" (6x), "remnant" (3x), etc.
Total: 39 NT occurrences (BLB: 41)

Occurrences as "Remnant" in Revelation¶

Rev 11:13 — "the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven"
Rev 12:17 — "to make war with the remnant of her seed"
Rev 19:21 — "the remnant were slain with the sword"

Significance¶

In Rev 12:17, τῶν λοιπῶν (genitive plural) means "the remaining ones" — those who REMAIN after the 1260-day wilderness period. They are a subset (partitive genitive) of the woman's seed (τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῆς). The remnant is defined by two present-tense participles: (1) τηρούντων — "keeping" the commandments; (2) ἐχόντων — "having" the testimony of Jesus.

G3141 μαρτυρία (martyria) — Testimony¶

Original: μαρτυρία Transliteration: martyria Pronunciation: mar-too-ree'-ah Part of Speech: feminine noun Definition: From martyreō; evidence given (judicially)

Translations¶

"testimony" (9x, 56.2%), "witness" (4x), "report" (1x), etc.
Total: 16 NT occurrences (BLB: 37)

All Revelation Occurrences as "Testimony"¶

Rev 1:2 — "bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ"
Rev 1:9 — "for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ"
Rev 6:9 — "slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held"
Rev 11:7 — "when they shall have finished their testimony"
Rev 12:11 — "by the word of their testimony"
Rev 12:17 — "have the testimony of Jesus Christ"
Rev 19:10 (x2) — "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy"
Rev 20:4 — "for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God"

The Martyria-Martyrion Connection¶

The "testimony bracket" frames Rev 12-14: Rev 11:19 "ark of his testament (diathēkē)" → Rev 15:5 "temple of the tabernacle of the testimony (martyrion)." The LAW inside the ark IS the testimony/standard by which judgment proceeds. Rev 12:17's "testimony of Jesus" is defined by Rev 19:10 as "the spirit of prophecy."

G1785 ἐντολή (entolē) — Commandment¶

Original: ἐντολή Transliteration: entolē Pronunciation: en-tol-ay' Part of Speech: feminine noun Definition: From entellomai; injunction, authoritative prescription

Translations¶

"commandment" (23x, 53.5%), "commandments" (12x, 27.9%), "precept" (2x)
Total: 43 NT occurrences (BLB: 71)

All Revelation Occurrences¶

Rev 12:17 — "keep the commandments of God"
Rev 14:12 — "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus"
Rev 22:14 — "they that do his commandments"

Significance¶

All three Revelation occurrences pair "commandments of God" with a Christ-centered qualifier: Rev 12:17 + "testimony of Jesus"; Rev 14:12 + "faith of Jesus"; Rev 22:14 + "tree of life" (access through Christ). The entolai tou Theou ("commandments of God") are consistently distinguished from human commandments and linked to the Decalogue through the connection with the ark of the covenant (Rev 11:19).

G3528 νικάω (nikaō) — Overcome¶

Original: νικάω Transliteration: nikaō Pronunciation: nik-ah'-o Part of Speech: verb Definition: From nikē; to subdue, conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory

Translations¶

"overcometh" (5x), "that overcometh" (3x), "overcome" (2x), "overcame" (2x), "shall overcome" (2x), "conquering/conquer" (2x), others
Total: 22 NT occurrences (BLB: 28)

Key Occurrences¶

Rev 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21 — Seven promises to "him that overcometh" in the letters to the churches
Rev 5:5 — "the Lion of the tribe of Judah... hath prevailed"
Rev 12:11 — "they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb"
Rev 13:7 — "to make war with the saints, and to overcome them" (the beast overcomes)
Rev 15:2 — "them that had gotten the victory over the beast"
Rev 17:14 — "the Lamb shall overcome them"

Rev 12:11 — Three Means of Overcoming¶

The Greek grammar reveals three instrumental expressions: 1. διὰ τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Ἀρνίου — "through the blood of the Lamb" (objective ground) 2. διὰ τὸν λόγον τῆς μαρτυρίας αὐτῶν — "through the word of their testimony" (subjective response) 3. οὐκ ἠγάπησαν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτῶν ἄχρι θανάτου — "they did not love their life unto death" (total commitment)

G2540 καιρός (kairos) — Time/Season¶

Original: καιρός Transliteration: kairos Pronunciation: kahee-ros' Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: An occasion, set or proper time

Translations¶

"time" (37x, 46.2%), "times" (7x), "the time" (6x), "season" (4x), etc.
Total: 80 NT occurrences (BLB: 87)

Critical Occurrences¶

Dan 7:25 (LXX) — "kairon kai kairous kai hemisy kairou" (time, times, half a time)
Dan 12:7 (LXX) — same formula
Rev 12:12 — "he knoweth that he hath but a short time (kairos)"
Rev 12:14 — "a time (kairon), and times (kairous), and half a time (kairou)"

Three-Language Bridge¶

The 1260-day period spans three biblical languages: 1. Aramaic iddan (Dan 7:25) → translated as kairos in LXX 2. Hebrew moed (Dan 12:7) → translated as kairos in LXX 3. Greek kairos (Rev 12:14) — QUOTING the LXX of Daniel

Rev 12:14 is a verbatim LXX quotation of Daniel 7:25, establishing linguistic unity across the entire chain.

Double Usage in Rev 12¶

Rev 12:12 uses kairos for the devil's "short time" (oligos kairos) on earth after being cast down. Rev 12:14 uses kairos three times in the "time, times, and half a time" formula. The same word describes both the devil's limited period of rage AND the prophetic time formula — creating an ironic contrast: the devil's "short time" encompasses the 1260-year persecution of the woman.

H5175 נָחָשׁ (nachash) — Serpent¶

Original: נָחָשׁ Transliteration: nāchāsh Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: From nachash; a snake (from its hiss) OT Occurrences: 31 (BLB count)

Key Occurrences¶

Gen 3:1,2,4,13,14 — The serpent in Eden (6x in one chapter)
Gen 49:17 — "Dan shall be a serpent by the way"
Num 21:6-9 — Fiery serpents and the bronze serpent
Isa 14:29 — "out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice" (figurative)
Isa 27:1 — "leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent"

H8577 תַּנִּין (tannin) — Dragon/Sea-Monster¶

Original: תַּנִּין Transliteration: tannîn Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: A marine or land monster, sea-serpent or jackal OT Occurrences: 27

Key Occurrences¶

Gen 1:21 — "God created great whales (tanninim)"
Exo 7:9-12 — Moses' rod becomes a "serpent" (tannin) before Pharaoh
Psa 74:13 — "thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters"
Isa 27:1 — "he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea"
Isa 51:9 — "Art thou not it that hath... wounded the dragon?"
Ezk 29:3 — "Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers"

OT Dragon Tradition → Rev 12¶

The Hebrew tannin tradition provides the OT background for Rev 12's drakōn: - Multi-headed dragon: Psa 74:13 ("heads of dragons") → Rev 12:3 (seven heads) - Dragon in the sea: Isa 27:1; Ezk 29:3 → Rev 12:3; 13:1 (sea beast) - God slays the dragon: Isa 27:1; 51:9 → Rev 12:7-9 (dragon cast out) - Dragon = enemy of God's people: Ezk 29:3 (Pharaoh) → Rev 12:13 (persecuting the woman)

H3882 לִוְיָתָן (livyathan) — Leviathan¶

Original: לִוְיָתָן Transliteration: livyāthān Part of Speech: masculine noun Definition: A wreathed animal; a serpent (especially crocodile or large sea-monster); figuratively, the constellation of the dragon; symbol of Babylon OT Occurrences: 6

All Occurrences¶

Job 3:8 — "them ready to raise up leviathan"
Job 41:1 — "Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook?"
Psa 74:13-14 — "thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces"
Psa 104:25-26 — "there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein"
Isa 27:1 — "the LORD... shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent"

Significance¶

Leviathan is a multi-headed sea monster (Psa 74:14, "heads" plural) that God defeats — precisely the imagery of Rev 12:3 (seven-headed dragon) and 12:7-9 (dragon defeated and cast out). Isaiah 27:1's prophecy of God slaying leviathan "in that day" finds its fulfillment in the cosmic conflict of Rev 12.