Revelation 12 13

Revelation 12:13 kjv

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

Revelation 12:13 nkjv

Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child.

Revelation 12:13 niv

When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

Revelation 12:13 esv

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

Revelation 12:13 nlt

When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

Revelation 12 verses

Revelation 12 13 Meaning

Revelation 12:13 describes the dragon, identified as Satan, reacting to his defeat in heaven. Upon realizing he has been decisively cast down to the earth, his immense fury and malice are redirected. His target becomes the woman, representing God's faithful people throughout history, specifically because she bore the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This verse explains the source of persecution experienced by believers: it is a direct consequence of Satan's heavenly downfall and his intensified hatred for Christ and His followers, knowing his own time is limited.

Revelation 12 13 Context

Revelation chapter 12 introduces a cosmic vision central to understanding the conflict between God's kingdom and Satan's forces. It depicts a pregnant woman (God's people/Israel), a male child (Jesus Christ), and a great red dragon (Satan). The dragon attempts to devour the child at birth, but the child is caught up to heaven (symbolizing Christ's ascension and enthronement). This is followed by a heavenly war where Michael and his angels cast Satan and his angels down to the earth, ending Satan's access to God's presence as the "accuser." Verse 13 directly follows this heavenly expulsion, detailing Satan's response to his irreversible defeat. He shifts his malicious focus from directly assailing Christ (who is now enthroned) to persecuting His followers on earth, who represent the ongoing lineage and spiritual heritage of the woman. Historically and culturally, this passage would have resonated with believers facing persecution under Roman imperial power, seeing it as part of a larger spiritual battle.

Revelation 12 13 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ, Kai): A simple conjunction linking this action to the previous event (Satan's casting down), showing direct consequence.
• when (ὅτε, hote): Introduces a temporal clause, marking the exact point in time: after the heavenly defeat.
• the dragon (ὁ δράκων, ho drakōn): The definite article emphasizes a specific, previously identified entity. The Greek drakōn means "dragon" or "great serpent," often signifying a monstrous, powerful, and malevolent adversary. In Rev 12:9, he is explicitly identified as "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world." This name underscores his ancient, deceptive nature (Gen 3:1) and his role as adversary.
• saw (εἶδεν, eiden): Aorist tense of horao, "to see, perceive, realize." It's not just physical sight but a full comprehension of his new, reduced status and irrevocable defeat.
• that he was cast (ὅτι ἐβλήθη, hoti eblēthē): The particle hoti introduces the content of what was seen/realized. Eblēthē is the aorist passive indicative of ballō, meaning "to throw, cast, hurl." The passive voice emphasizes that his casting down was done to him by an external, superior power (God, through Michael in Rev 12:7-9), not through his own will. It implies a decisive, violent, and complete expulsion.
• unto the earth (εἰς τὴν γῆν, eis tēn gēn): "To the earth" or "into the land/ground." This signifies his new, restricted sphere of activity. Previously he had access to the heavenly court (Job 1:6-7); now his operations are confined to the human realm, emphasizing his limited time and intensifying his focus on humanity.
• he persecuted (ἐδίωξεν, ediōxen): Aorist tense of diōkō, meaning "to chase, pursue, harass, persecute." This describes a deliberate, active, and hostile action. It denotes relentless hostility and a determination to harm, suggesting physical, spiritual, and emotional attacks against the woman.
• the woman (τὴν γυναῖκα, tēn gynaika): The same definite woman introduced at the beginning of the chapter. She is often interpreted as representing God's corporate people – starting with Israel, through whom the Messiah came, and encompassing the church, the true spiritual Israel. She embodies the continuity of God's redemptive plan through humanity.
• which brought forth (τὴν τεκοῦσαν, tēn tekousan): Present participle of tikto, "to bring forth, give birth to, bear." It emphasizes the ongoing characteristic of the woman being the one who bore the male child. This clarifies the reason for the persecution: it is directed at the woman precisely because of her connection to the Messiah.
• the man child (τὸν ἄρσενα, ton arsena): The definite article ton points back to the specific "male child" mentioned in Rev 12:5, undeniably Jesus Christ. This phrase highlights that the root cause of Satan's enmity is Christ, and the persecution of His followers is a proxy war.

Word-group analysis

• And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth: This phrase describes Satan's realization of his irreversible, definitive defeat in the spiritual war. His fall from the heavenly realm (where he could accuse the brethren before God) to the earthly realm signifies a significant demotion in power and access. His "seeing" implies full comprehension of this humiliating state.
• he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child: This phrase explains Satan's immediate and vengeful reaction. His malice is redirected from the now-exalted Christ to His earthly followers. The persecution is rooted in his unceasing hatred for Christ and extends to those who belong to Him. This defines the cosmic source of suffering experienced by believers in the world.

Revelation 12 13 Bonus section

The casting down of the dragon to earth also signifies a pivotal shift in the cosmic struggle. Before this event, Satan, as implied in Old Testament texts (e.g., Job, Zech 3), had a legal right or access to stand before God as the accuser of humanity. His expulsion in Revelation 12 signifies the definitive end of that legal standing due to Christ's complete victory through His death, resurrection, and ascension. The immediate consequence on earth, therefore, is an intensified and localized spiritual warfare. While limited in time and sphere, his activity on earth is marked by great wrath. This verse reinforces the truth that suffering for Christ's sake is not a sign of God's abandonment but an indicator of faithful allegiance to the One whom Satan despises most. The knowledge that his time is short makes him more furious, not less. This should serve as both a warning against complacency and an encouragement for steadfastness in faith.

Revelation 12 13 Commentary

Revelation 12:13 provides a profound theological explanation for the persistent suffering and persecution faced by believers throughout history. Having been decisively defeated in heaven and stripped of his heavenly access to accuse the saints (Rev 12:10), Satan, in a state of extreme fury due to his limited time (Rev 12:12), unleashes his rage upon God's people on earth. His targeting of "the woman which brought forth the man child" underscores that this persecution is not random but purposeful: it is a direct result of his deep-seated hatred for Jesus Christ and his futile attempt to undermine Christ's ongoing redemptive work through His followers. This cosmic backdrop helps believers understand their tribulations as participation in a spiritual warfare already decided in heaven, and not merely human conflicts. It affirms that despite the intensity of the persecution, Satan acts from a position of defeat and desperation, not ultimate authority. For the believer, this verse offers assurance that while suffering is real, its source is an already-defeated enemy, and it confirms the validity of their faith in Christ as the true cause for such opposition. For example, Christians facing ridicule for their faith, or those suffering in oppressive regimes for Christ's sake, are experiencing this enduring persecution.