REV 12

Revelation 12:15

WEB

The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.

BSB

Then from the mouth of the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent.

KJV

And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

Matthew Henry

Verses 12–17

Revelation 12:12–17

We have here an account of this war, so happily finished in heaven, or in the church, as it was again renewed and carried on in the wilderness, the place to which the church had fled, and where she had been for some time secured by the special care of her God and Saviour. Observe,

I. The warning given of the distress and calamity that should fall upon the inhabitants of the world in general, through the wrath and rage of the devil. For, though his malice is chiefly bent against the servants of God, yet he is an enemy and hater of mankind as such; and, being defeated in his designs against the church, he is resolved to give all the disturbance he can to the world in general: Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, and the sea, Rev 12:12. The rage of Satan grows so much the greater as he is limited both in place and time; when he was confined to the wilderness, and had but a short time to reign there, he comes with the greater wrath.

II. His second attempt upon the church now in the wilderness: He persecuted the woman who brought forth the man-child, Rev 12:13. Observe, 1. The care that God had taken of his church. He had conveyed her as on eagles' wings, into a place of safety provided for her, where she was to continue for a certain space of time, couched in prophetic characters, taken from Dan 7:25. 2. The continual malice of the dragon against the church. Her obscurity could not altogether protect her; the old subtle serpent, which at first lurked in paradise, now follows the church into the wilderness, and casts out a flood of water after her, to carry her away. This is thought to be meant of a flood of error and heresy, which was breathed by Arius, Nestorius, Pelagius, and many more, by which the church of God was in danger of being overwhelmed and carried away. The church of God is in more danger from heretics than from persecutors; and heresies are as certainly from the devil as open force and violence. 3. The seasonable help provided for the church in this dangerous juncture: The earth helped the woman, and opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood, Rev 12:16. Some think we are to understand the swarms of Goths and Vandals that invaded the Roman empire, and found work for the Arian rulers, who otherwise would have been as furious persecutors as the pagan had been, and had exercised great cruelties already; but God opened a breach of war, and the flood was in a manner swallowed up thereby, and the church enjoyed some respite. God often sends the sword to avenge the quarrel of his covenant; and, when men choose new gods, then there is danger of war in the gates; intestine broils and contentions often end in the invasions of a common enemy. 4. The devil, being thus defeated in his designs upon the universal church, now turns his rage against particular persons and places; his malice against the woman pushes him on to make war with the remnant of her seed. Some think hereby are meant the Albigenses, who were first by Dioclesian driven up into barren and mountainous places, and afterwards cruelly murdered by popish rage and power, for several generations; and for no other reason than because they kept the commandments of God and held the testimony of Jesus Christ. Their fidelity to God and Christ, in doctrine, worship, and practice, was that which exposed them to the rage of Satan and his instruments; and such fidelity will expose men still, less or more, to the end of the world, when the last enemy shall be destroyed.

Cross-references: Rev 12:12 · Rev 12:13 · Dan 7:25 · Rev 12:16

Greek interlinear

G2532

καίkaí/kahee/

and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet

Derivation: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force;

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

KJV: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

G906

βάλλωbállō/bal'-lo/

arise, cast (out), X dung, lay, lie, pour, put (up), send, strike, throw (down), thrust

Derivation: a primary verb;

to throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense)

KJV: arise, cast (out), X dung, lay, lie, pour, put (up), send, strike, throw (down), thrust.

Compare G4496.

See also: G4496.

G3588

ho/ho/

the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc

, including the feminine , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;

Derivation: the definite article;

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)

KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

G3789

ὄφιςóphis/of'-is/

serpent

Derivation: probably from G3700 (through the idea of sharpness of vision);

a snake, figuratively, (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan

KJV: serpent.

See also: G3700.

G1537

ἐκek/ek/

after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out)

or ἐξ

Derivation: a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause;

literal or figurative; direct or remote)

KJV: after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out).

Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.

G4750

στόμαstóma/stom'-a/

edge, face, mouth

Derivation: probably strengthened from a presumed derivative of the base of G5114;

the mouth (as if a gash in the face); by implication, language (and its relations); figuratively, an opening (in the earth); specially, the front or edge (of a weapon)

KJV: edge, face, mouth.

See also: G5114.

G846

αὐτόςautós/ow-tos'/

her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which

Derivation: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward);

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

KJV: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.

Compare G848.

See also: G109, G1438, G848.

G3694

ὀπίσωopísō/op-is'-o/

after, back(-ward), (+ get) behind, + follow

Derivation: from the same as G3693 with enclitic of direction;

to the back, i.e. aback (as adverb or preposition of time or place; or as noun)

KJV: after, back(-ward), (+ get) behind, + follow.

See also: G3693.

G1135

γυνήgynḗ/goo-nay'/

wife, woman

Derivation: probably from the base of G1096;

a woman; specially, a wife

KJV: wife, woman.

See also: G1096.

G5204

ὕδωρhýdōr/hoo'-dore/

water

, and genitive case, ὕδατος , etc.

Derivation: from the base of G5205;

water (as if rainy) literally or figuratively

KJV: water.

See also: G5205.

G5613

ὡςhōs/hoce/

about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed

Derivation: probably adverb of comparative from G3739;

which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows)

KJV: about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.

See also: G3739.

G4215

ποταμόςpotamós/pot-am-os'/

flood, river, stream, water

Derivation: probably from a derivative of the alternate of G4095 (compare G4224);

a current, brook or freshet (as drinkable), i.e. running water

KJV: flood, river, stream, water.

See also: G4095, G4224.

G2443

ἵναhína/hin'-ah/

albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to

Derivation: probably from the same as the former part of G1438 (through the demonstrative idea;

compare G3588); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)

KJV: albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to.

Compare G3363.

See also: G1438, G3588, G3363.

G4216

ποταμοφόρητοςpotamophórētos/pot-am-of-or'-ay-tos/

carried away of the flood

Derivation: from G4215 and a derivative of G5409;

river-borne, i.e. overwhelmed by a stream

KJV: carried away of the flood.

See also: G4215, G5409.

G4160

ποιέωpoiéō/poy-eh'-o/

abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield

Derivation: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary;

to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)

KJV: abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield.

Compare G4238.

See also: G4238.

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