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Greek Parsing — Revelation 12:1-17 (Complete Chapter)

Revelation 12:1

Greek: Καὶ σημεῖον μέγα ὤφθη ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, γυνὴ περιβεβλημένη τὸν ἥλιον, καὶ ἡ σελήνη ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτῆς στέφανος ἀστέρων δώδεκα,

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
σημεῖον σημεῖον G4592 N-NSN (Nom Sg Neut)
μέγα μέγας G3173 A-NSN
ὤφθη ὁράω G3708 V-API-3S (Aor Pass Ind)
γυνὴ γυνή G1135 N-NSF (Nom Sg Fem)
περιβεβλημένη περιβάλλω G4016 V-RPP-NSF (Perf Pass Ptcp)
ἥλιον ἥλιος G2246 N-ASM
σελήνη σελήνη G4582 N-NSF
στέφανος στέφανος G4735 N-NSM
ἀστέρων ἀστήρ G792 N-GPM
δώδεκα δώδεκα G1427 A-NUI

Key observations: ὤφθη (aorist passive, "was seen/appeared") — the sign appears by divine initiative. περιβεβλημένη (perfect passive participle) — the woman is in a state of having been clothed, implying divine clothing. στέφανος (G4735, victory wreath, not diadema/royal crown) — twelve stars.

Revelation 12:2

Greek: καὶ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔχουσα, καὶ κράζει ὠδίνουσα καὶ βασανιζομένη τεκεῖν.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
ἔχουσα ἔχω G2192 V-PAP-NSF (Pres Act Ptcp)
κράζει κράζω G2896 V-PAI-3S (Pres Act Ind)
ὠδίνουσα ὠδίνω G5605 V-PAP-NSF (Pres Act Ptcp)
βασανιζομένη βασανίζω G928 V-PPP-NSF (Pres Pass Ptcp)
τεκεῖν τίκτω G5088 V-2AAN (Aor Act Inf)

Key observations: Present tense κράζει ("she cries out") — dramatic present, bringing the scene vividly before the reader. βασανιζομένη (present passive, "being tormented") — the woman is in ongoing pain. τεκεῖν (aorist infinitive, "to give birth") — the goal of the travail.

Revelation 12:3

Greek: καὶ ὤφθη ἄλλο σημεῖον ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, καὶ ἰδοὺ δράκων πυρρός μέγας, ἔχων κεφαλὰς ἑπτὰ καὶ κέρατα δέκα καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτοῦ ἑπτὰ διαδήματα,

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
ὤφθη ὁράω G3708 V-API-3S
ἄλλο ἄλλος G243 A-NSN
δράκων δράκων G1404 N-NSM
πυρρός πυρρός G4450 A-NSM ("fire-red")
ἔχων ἔχω G2192 V-PAP-NSM (Pres Act Ptcp)
κεφαλὰς κεφαλή G2776 N-APF
κέρατα κέρας G2768 N-APN
διαδήματα διάδημα G1238 N-APN

Key observations: ἄλλο σημεῖον ("another sign") — same category as the woman, both are semeion. πυρρός ("fire-red") — only used here and Rev 6:4 (red horse of war). διαδήματα (diadems, royal crowns) — contrast with the woman's στέφανος (victory wreath). Seven diadems on heads; the woman has one stephanos.

Revelation 12:4

Greek: καὶ ἡ οὐρὰ αὐτοῦ σύρει τὸ τρίτον τῶν ἀστέρων τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἔβαλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν γῆν. καὶ ὁ δράκων ἕστηκεν ἐνώπιον τῆς γυναικὸς τῆς μελλούσης τεκεῖν, ἵνα ὅταν τέκῃ τὸ τέκνον αὐτῆς καταφάγῃ.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
σύρει σύρω G4951 V-PAI-3S (Pres Act Ind — "drags")
ἔβαλεν βάλλω G906 V-2AAI-3S (Aor Act Ind — "cast")
ἕστηκεν ἵστημι G2476 V-RAI-3S (Perf Act Ind — "has taken a stand")
μελλούσης μέλλω G3195 V-PAP-GSF ("about to")
τέκῃ τίκτω G5088 V-2AAS-3S (Aor Act Subj)
καταφάγῃ κατεσθίω G2719 V-2AAS-3S (Aor Act Subj — "devour")

Key observations: σύρει (present tense, "drags") vs ἔβαλεν (aorist, "cast") — the dragging is ongoing/habitual, the casting is decisive. ἕστηκεν (perfect, "has taken a stand and remains standing") — the dragon is in a persistent posture of readiness. ἵνα + subjunctive (purpose clause) — the dragon's explicit PURPOSE is to devour. καταφάγῃ (compound: kata+esthiō = "eat down/devour completely").

Revelation 12:5

Greek: καὶ ἔτεκεν υἱόν, ἄρσεν, ὃς μέλλει ποιμαίνειν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ· καὶ ἡρπάσθη τὸ τέκνον αὐτῆς πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν καὶ πρὸς τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
ἔτεκεν τίκτω G5088 V-2AAI-3S (Aor — "she bore")
υἱόν υἱός G5207 N-ASM ("a son")
ἄρσεν ἄρσην G730 A-ASN ("male")
μέλλει μέλλω G3195 V-PAI-3S ("is about to")
ποιμαίνειν ποιμαίνω G4165 V-PAN (Pres Act Inf — "to shepherd/rule")
ῥάβδῳ ῥάβδος G4464 N-DSF ("with a rod")
σιδηρᾷ σιδηροῦς G4603 A-DSF ("of iron")
ἡρπάσθη ἁρπάζω G726 V-API-3S (Aor Pass — "was snatched up")

Key observations: ὃς (masculine relative pronoun, agreeing with υἱόν not ἄρσεν) — grammatical agreement identifies the son. ποιμαίνειν (LXX of Psa 2:9 uses same verb) — "shepherd" with rod of iron = Psa 2:9 allusion. ἡρπάσθη (aorist passive, "was snatched away") — same root as 1Th 4:17 harpazō (rapture); the divine passive implies God is the agent.

Revelation 12:6

Greek: καὶ ἡ γυνὴ ἔφυγεν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, ὅπου ἔχει ἐκεῖ τόπον ἡτοιμασμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἵνα ἐκεῖ τρέφωσιν αὐτὴν ἡμέρας χιλίας διακοσίας ἑξήκοντα.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
ἔφυγεν φεύγω G5343 V-2AAI-3S (Aor — "she fled")
ἔρημον ἔρημος G2048 A-ASF ("wilderness/desert")
ἡτοιμασμένον ἑτοιμάζω G2090 V-RPP-ASM (Perf Pass Ptcp — "having been prepared")
τρέφωσιν τρέφω G5142 V-PAS-3P (Pres Act Subj — "they should nourish")

Key observations: ἡτοιμασμένον (perfect passive participle) — the place was ALREADY prepared by God before the flight. τρέφωσιν (3rd person plural, undefined subject — "they") — God's agents nourish her. ἡμέρας χιλίας διακοσίας ἑξήκοντα — "days one-thousand two-hundred sixty" = 1260 days.

Revelation 12:7

Greek: Καὶ ἐγένετο πόλεμος ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, ὁ Μιχαὴλ καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ τοῦ πολεμῆσαι μετὰ τοῦ δράκοντος. καὶ ὁ δράκων ἐπολέμησεν καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ,

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
ἐγένετο γίνομαι G1096 V-2ADI-3S (Aor Mid — "there arose")
πόλεμος πόλεμος G4171 N-NSM ("war")
Μιχαὴλ Μιχαήλ G3413 N-PRI (proper, indeclinable)
πολεμῆσαι πολεμέω G4170 V-AAN (Aor Act Inf — "to wage war")
δράκοντος δράκων G1404 N-GSM (genitive)
ἐπολέμησεν πολεμέω G4170 V-AAI-3S (Aor — "waged war")

Key observations: τοῦ πολεμῆσαι (articular infinitive of purpose — "in order to wage war"). "His angels" (αὐτοῦ) on both sides — Michael has his angels, the dragon has his.

Revelation 12:8

Greek: καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσαν, οὐδὲ τόπος εὑρέθη αὐτῶν ἔτι ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
ἴσχυσαν ἰσχύω G2480 V-AAI-3P (Aor — "they were not strong enough")
εὑρέθη εὑρίσκω G2147 V-API-3S (Aor Pass — "was found")
ἔτι ἔτι G2089 ADV ("any longer")

Key observations: οὐκ ἴσχυσαν — "they did not prevail/were not strong enough." The subject is the dragon and his angels (from v.7). οὐδὲ τόπος εὑρέθη — "nor was a place found for them" — their very existence in heaven is terminated; no location remains.

Revelation 12:9

Greek: καὶ ἐβλήθη ὁ δράκων ὁ μέγας, ὁ ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος, ὁ καλούμενος Διάβολος καὶ Ὁ Σατανᾶς, ὁ πλανῶν τὴν οἰκουμένην ὅλην, ἐβλήθη εἰς τὴν γῆν, καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτοῦ μετ' αὐτοῦ ἐβλήθησαν.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
ἐβλήθη βάλλω G906 V-API-3S (Aor Pass — "was cast out")
δράκων δράκων G1404 N-NSM
μέγας μέγας G3173 A-NSM
ὄφις ὄφις G3789 N-NSM
ἀρχαῖος ἀρχαῖος G744 A-NSM ("ancient/from the beginning")
καλούμενος καλέω G2564 V-PPP-NSM (Pres Pass Ptcp — "being called")
Διάβολος διάβολος G1228 A-NSM ("Devil/slanderer")
Σατανᾶς Σατανᾶς G4567 N-NSM
πλανῶν πλανάω G4105 V-PAP-NSM (Pres Act Ptcp — "deceiving")
οἰκουμένην οἰκουμένη G3625 N-ASF ("the inhabited world")
ἐβλήθησαν βάλλω G906 V-API-3P (Aor Pass — "were cast")

Key observations: FOUR-FOLD identification chain: (1) ὁ δράκων ὁ μέγας — "the great dragon"; (2) ὁ ὄφις ὁ ἀρχαῖος — "the ancient serpent" (Gen 3 link); (3) ὁ καλούμενος Διάβολος — "the one called Devil"; (4) ὁ Σατανᾶς — "Satan." All articular (with ὁ) — definite identification. ἐβλήθη repeated twice (vv.9a, 9b) + ἐβλήθησαν (plural, angels) — triple passive "was/were cast out." πλανῶν (present active participle, "the one CURRENTLY deceiving") — ongoing deception is the dragon's characteristic activity.

Revelation 12:10

Greek: καὶ ἤκουσα φωνὴν μεγάλην ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ λέγουσαν Ἄρτι ἐγένετο ἡ σωτηρία καὶ ἡ δύναμις καὶ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ ἡ ἐξουσία τοῦ Χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐβλήθη ὁ κατήγωρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν, ὁ κατηγορῶν αὐτοὺς ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτός.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
Ἄρτι ἄρτι G737 ADV ("just now/at this moment")
ἐγένετο γίνομαι G1096 V-2ADI-3S (Aor — "has come")
σωτηρία σωτηρία G4991 N-NSF ("salvation")
δύναμις δύναμις G1411 N-NSF ("power")
βασιλεία βασιλεία G932 N-NSF ("kingdom")
ἐξουσία ἐξουσία G1849 N-NSF ("authority")
ἐβλήθη βάλλω G906 V-API-3S
κατήγωρ κατήγορος G2725 N-NSM ("accuser")
κατηγορῶν κατηγορέω G2723 V-PAP-NSM (Pres Act Ptcp — "the one accusing")

Key observations: Ἄρτι ("just now") — temporal adverb marking the PRESENT moment; cf. Jhn 12:31 "now" (νῦν). Four nouns with articles — σωτηρία, δύναμις, βασιλεία, ἐξουσία — constitute a four-fold declaration of divine authority. κατήγωρ (unusual form of "accuser") + κατηγορῶν (present participle, "the one CONTINUALLY accusing") — Satan's role was ongoing accusation "day and night" (ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτός — genitive of time).

Revelation 12:11

Greek: καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐνίκησαν αὐτὸν διὰ τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Ἀρνίου καὶ διὰ τὸν λόγον τῆς μαρτυρίας αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἠγάπησαν τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτῶν ἄχρι θανάτου.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
ἐνίκησαν νικάω G3528 V-AAI-3P (Aor — "they overcame")
αἷμα αἷμα G129 N-ASN ("blood")
Ἀρνίου ἀρνίον G721 N-GSN ("of the Lamb")
λόγον λόγος G3056 N-ASM ("word")
μαρτυρίας μαρτυρία G3141 N-GSF ("of testimony")
ἠγάπησαν ἀγαπάω G25 V-AAI-3P (Aor — "they loved")
ψυχὴν ψυχή G5590 N-ASF ("life/soul")
θανάτου θάνατος G2288 N-GSM ("of death")

Key observations: Three means of overcoming: (1) διὰ τὸ αἷμα τοῦ Ἀρνίου — "through the blood of the Lamb" (ground/basis); (2) διὰ τὸν λόγον τῆς μαρτυρίας — "through the word of their testimony" (instrument); (3) οὐκ ἠγάπησαν τὴν ψυχὴν... ἄχρι θανάτου — "they did not love their life unto death" (self-denial). All aorists — completed action. ἄχρι θανάτου — "even unto death" (to the point of death).

Revelation 12:12

Greek: διὰ τοῦτο εὐφραίνεσθε, οὐρανοὶ καὶ οἱ ἐν αὐτοῖς σκηνοῦντες· οὐαὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν, ὅτι κατέβη ὁ διάβολος πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἔχων θυμὸν μέγαν, εἰδὼς ὅτι ὀλίγον καιρὸν ἔχει.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
εὐφραίνεσθε εὐφραίνω G2165 V-PPM-2P (Pres Pass Impv — "be glad!")
σκηνοῦντες σκηνόω G4637 V-PAP-NPM (Pres Act Ptcp — "those dwelling/tabernacling")
οὐαὶ οὐαί G3759 INJ ("woe!")
κατέβη καταβαίνω G2597 V-2AAI-3S (Aor — "came down")
διάβολος διάβολος G1228 A-NSM
θυμὸν θυμός G2372 N-ASM ("fury/passion")
εἰδὼς οἶδα G1492 V-RAP-NSM (Perf Act Ptcp — "knowing")
καιρὸν καιρός G2540 N-ASM ("time/season")

Key observations: Dual response: heavens REJOICE (εὐφραίνεσθε, imperative) / earth receives WOE (οὐαί). σκηνοῦντες (from skenoo, "to tabernacle/dwell in tents") — sanctuary/tabernacle language. θυμὸν μέγαν — "great fury" (thymos = passionate rage, distinct from orge = judicial wrath). ὀλίγον καιρόν — "a short time/season" — the devil KNOWS his time is limited (εἰδώς, perfect participle = settled knowledge).

Revelation 12:13

Greek: Καὶ ὅτε εἶδεν ὁ δράκων ὅτι ἐβλήθη εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἐδίωξεν τὴν γυναῖκα ἥτις ἔτεκεν τὸν ἄρσενα.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
εἶδεν ὁράω G3708 V-2AAI-3S (Aor — "saw/perceived")
ἐβλήθη βάλλω G906 V-API-3S
ἐδίωξεν διώκω G1377 V-AAI-3S (Aor — "persecuted/pursued")
ἥτις ὅστις G3748 R-NSF (qualitative relative — "the very one who")
ἔτεκεν τίκτω G5088 V-2AAI-3S
ἄρσενα ἄρσην G730 A-ASM

Key observations: ἐδίωξεν (from diōkō, G1377) = "persecuted" — same word used throughout the NT for religious persecution. ἥτις (qualitative relative) — emphasizes the CHARACTER of the woman: "the one who is of such a nature as to have borne the male [child]."

Revelation 12:14

Greek: καὶ ἐδόθησαν τῇ γυναικὶ αἱ δύο πτέρυγες τοῦ ἀετοῦ τοῦ μεγάλου, ἵνα πέτηται εἰς τὴν ἔρημον εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτῆς, ὅπου τρέφεται ἐκεῖ καιρὸν καὶ καιροὺς καὶ ἥμισυ καιροῦ ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ ὄφεως.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
ἐδόθησαν δίδωμι G1325 V-API-3P (Aor Pass — "were given")
πτέρυγες πτέρυξ G4420 N-NPF ("wings")
ἀετοῦ ἀετός G105 N-GSM ("of the eagle")
πέτηται πέτομαι G4072 V-PNS-3S (Pres M/P Subj — "she might fly")
τρέφεται τρέφω G5142 V-PPI-3S (Pres Pass Ind — "she is nourished")
καιρὸν καιρός G2540 N-ASM ("a time")
καιροὺς καιρός G2540 N-APM ("times")
ἥμισυ ἥμισυς G2255 A-ASN ("half")
καιροῦ καιρός G2540 N-GSM ("of a time")
ὄφεως ὄφις G3789 N-GSM ("of the serpent")

Key observations: καιρὸν καὶ καιροὺς καὶ ἥμισυ καιροῦ — "a time and times and half a time" = VERBATIM LXX quotation of Daniel 7:25 (kairon kai kairous kai hemisy kairou). Three occurrences of kairos in one phrase: singular + plural + genitive = 1 + 2 + 0.5 = 3.5 times. τρέφεται (present passive — "she is being nourished") — ongoing divine sustenance. ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ ὄφεως — "from the face of the serpent" — the dragon is now called "the serpent" again, linking back to Gen 3.

Revelation 12:15

Greek: καὶ ἔβαλεν ὁ ὄφις ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ ὀπίσω τῆς γυναικὸς ὕδωρ ὡς ποταμόν, ἵνα αὐτὴν ποταμοφόρητον ποιήσῃ.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
ἔβαλεν βάλλω G906 V-2AAI-3S
στόματος στόμα G4750 N-GSN ("mouth")
ὕδωρ ὕδωρ G5204 N-ASN ("water")
ποταμόν ποταμός G4215 N-ASM ("river/flood")
ποταμοφόρητον ποταμοφόρητος G4216 A-ASF ("carried away by a flood")
ποιήσῃ ποιέω G4160 V-AAS-3S (Aor Act Subj)

Key observations: ποταμοφόρητον — hapax legomenon (appears only here in the NT). Compound: potamos ("river") + phoreō ("to carry") = "river-carried/swept away by a flood." ὕδωρ ὡς ποταμόν — "water like a river" — from the serpent's mouth, suggesting deception/propaganda rather than literal water.

Revelation 12:16

Greek: καὶ ἐβοήθησεν ἡ γῆ τῇ γυναικί, καὶ ἤνοιξεν ἡ γῆ τὸ στόμα αὐτῆς καὶ κατέπιεν τὸν ποταμὸν ὃν ἔβαλεν ὁ δράκων ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ.

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
ἐβοήθησεν βοηθέω G997 V-AAI-3S (Aor — "helped/came to the aid of")
ἤνοιξεν ἀνοίγω G455 V-AAI-3S (Aor — "opened")
κατέπιεν καταπίνω G2666 V-2AAI-3S (Aor — "swallowed up/drank down")

Key observations: ἡ γῆ... ἡ γῆ — "the earth" is repeated twice as subject, emphasizing that the earth itself is an active agent helping the woman. κατέπιεν (katapinō, "swallow down completely") — cf. Num 16:32 where the earth swallowed Korah and his company.

Revelation 12:17

Greek: καὶ ὠργίσθη ὁ δράκων ἐπὶ τῇ γυναικί, καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ποιῆσαι πόλεμον μετὰ τῶν λοιπῶν τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῆς, τῶν τηρούντων τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἐχόντων τὴν μαρτυρίαν Ἰησοῦ·

Word Lemma Strong's Parsing
ὠργίσθη ὀργίζω G3710 V-API-3S (Aor Pass — "was enraged")
ἀπῆλθεν ἀπέρχομαι G565 V-2AAI-3S (Aor — "went away")
ποιῆσαι ποιέω G4160 V-AAN (Aor Act Inf — "to make")
πόλεμον πόλεμος G4171 N-ASM ("war")
λοιπῶν λοιπός G3062 A-GPM ("remaining ones/remnant")
σπέρματος σπέρμα G4690 N-GSN ("of seed")
τηρούντων τηρέω G5083 V-PAP-GPM (Pres Act Ptcp — "those keeping")
ἐντολὰς ἐντολή G1785 N-APF ("commandments")
ἐχόντων ἔχω G2192 V-PAP-GPM (Pres Act Ptcp — "those having")
μαρτυρίαν μαρτυρία G3141 N-ASF ("testimony")
Ἰησοῦ Ἰησοῦς G2424 N-GSM ("of Jesus")

Key observations: ὠργίσθη (aorist passive of orgizō) — the dragon's rage is a RESPONSE to failure (cf. ἐπὶ τῇ γυναικί, dative — "against the woman"). τῶν λοιπῶν τοῦ σπέρματος αὐτῆς — "the remaining ones of her seed" — partitive genitive; the remnant is a PORTION of her seed, not the whole. TWO present active participles (τηρούντων, ἐχόντων) define the remnant's CHARACTER: (1) those KEEPING (present tense, habitual/ongoing) the commandments of God; (2) those HAVING (present tense, possessing) the testimony of Jesus. σπέρματος — "seed" (G4690) — direct verbal link to Gen 3:15 (zera/sperma).