Revelation 12:2-5
Context12:2 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,
[12:2] 1 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[12:2] 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.
[12:3] 3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[12:3] 4 tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadhma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196.
[12:4] 5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate that this remark is virtually parenthetical.
[12:4] 6 tn Grk “its”; the referent (the dragon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[12:4] 7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
[12:5] 8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the anticipated birth.
[12:5] 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.”
[12:5] 11 tn Or “all the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
[12:5] 12 tn Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rJabdo") can mean either “rod” or “scepter.”
[12:5] 13 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.