Revelation 12:2-5

12:2 She ¹  was pregnant and was screaming in labor pains, struggling ²  to give birth. 12:3 Then ³  another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadem crowns. ⁴  12:4 Now ⁵  the dragon’s ⁶  tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. Then ⁷  the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. 12:5 So ⁸  the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, ⁹  who is going to rule ¹⁰  over all the nations ¹¹  with an iron rod. ¹²  Her ¹³  child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne,

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¹ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

² tn Grk “and being tortured,” though βασανίζω (basanizw) in this context refers to birth pangs. BDAG 168 s.v. 2.b states, “Of birth-pangs (Anth. Pal. 9, 311 βάσανος has this mng.) Rv 12:2.” The καί (kai) has not been translated.

³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

⁴ tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadhma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196.

sn Diadem crowns were a type of crown used as a symbol of the highest ruling authority in a given area, and thus often associated with kingship.

⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate that this remark is virtually parenthetical.

⁶ tn Grk “its”; the referent (the dragon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

⁸ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the anticipated birth.

⁹ tn On this term BDAG 135 s.v. ἄρσην states: “male…The neut. ἄρσεν Rv 12:5, difft. vs. 13, comes fr. Is 66:7 and is in apposition to υἱόν. On the juxtaposition s. FBoll, ZNW 15, 1914, 253; BOlsson, Glotta 23, ’34, 112.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “shepherd.”

¹¹ tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).

¹² tn Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rJabdo") can mean either “rod” or “scepter.”

sn An allusion to Ps 2:9 (see also Rev 2:27; 19:15).

¹³ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.