The Meaning of Revelation 12:5 Explained

Revelation 12:5

KJV: And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

YLT: and she brought forth a male child, who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, and caught away was her child unto God and His throne,

Darby: And she brought forth a male son, who shall shepherd all the nations with an iron rod; and her child was caught up to God and to his throne.

ASV: And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  she brought forth  a man  child,  who  was  to rule  all  nations  with  a rod  of iron:  and  her  child  was caught up  unto  God,  and  [to] his  throne. 

What does Revelation 12:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The birth of Jesus and His ascension are the events in view here. Satan failed to destroy Jesus at His birth, and because he also failed to destroy Him during His life and in His death, Jesus Christ ascended victoriously into heaven. Satan cannot persecute Him there. Christ will yet rule the world with an iron shepherd"s rod ( Psalm 2). The emphases in this whole review of Satan"s opposition to Jesus are Jesus" victory and Satan"s continuing antagonism.

Context Summary

Revelation 12:1-6 - "he Shall Reign For Ever And Ever"
The kingdom is even now Christ's, but it is hidden, even as He is. One day it will be manifested. For a long time David was the anointed king of Israel, but Saul sat on the throne until the predestined hour came when the tribes of Israel made David their chosen monarch. This surely is a type of that which will one day become apparent to the whole creation. The kingdom of the world will wholly and permanently become Christ's. Suffering and sorrow will then flee away, as birds of ill omen at dawn. War will cease to the end of the world. The glad populations of mankind will walk in the light of life, and the long night and travail of nature will be ended. It may be that each great era of human history ends with a scene of judgment; or that these series of visions are concurrent, viewing the earth-order from different standpoints.
What comfort is derived from this vision of the Ark of God's Covenant, which abides in the inner sanctuary! He is true to us. His word cannot alter, neither will He recede from His pledge to overthrow our enemies, to undo the devastation they have caused, and to realize His original purpose in man's creation. [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 12

1  A woman clothed with the sun travails
4  The great red dragon stands before her, ready to devour her child;
6  when she is delivered she flees into the desert
7  Michael and his angels fight with the dragon, and prevail
13  The dragon, being cast down into the earth, persecutes the woman

Greek Commentary for Revelation 12:5

She was delivered of a son [ετεκεν υιον]
Literally, “she bore a son” (second aorist active indicative of τικτω — tiktō). [source]
A man child [αρσεν]
So A C with the neuter τεκνον — teknon or παιδιον — paidion in mind, as often in O.T. See Revelation 2:27 for these words (from Psalm 2:9) applied there to victorious Christians also, and in Revelation 19:15 to the triumphant Christian. His rule will go beyond the Jews (Matthew 2:6). There is here, of course, direct reference to the birth of Jesus from Mary, who thus represented in her person this “ideal woman” (God‘s people).Was caught unto God First aorist passive indicative of αρπαζω — harpazō old verb for seizing or snatching away, as in John 10:12, here alone in the Apocalypse. Reference to the ascension of Christ, with omission of the ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ because he is here simply showing that “the Dragon‘s vigilance was futile” (Swete). “The Messiah, so far from being destroyed, is caught up to a share in God‘s throne” (Beckwith). [source]
Who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron [ος μελλει ποιμαινειν παντα τα ετνη εν ραβδωι σιδηραι]
See Revelation 2:27 for these words (from Psalm 2:9) applied there to victorious Christians also, and in Revelation 19:15 to the triumphant Christian. His rule will go beyond the Jews (Matthew 2:6). There is here, of course, direct reference to the birth of Jesus from Mary, who thus represented in her person this “ideal woman” (God‘s people). [source]
Was caught unto God [ηρπαστη]
First aorist passive indicative of αρπαζω — harpazō old verb for seizing or snatching away, as in John 10:12, here alone in the Apocalypse. Reference to the ascension of Christ, with omission of the ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ because he is here simply showing that “the Dragon‘s vigilance was futile” (Swete). “The Messiah, so far from being destroyed, is caught up to a share in God‘s throne” (Beckwith). [source]
A man-child [υἱὸν ἄῤῥενα]
Lit., a son, a male. The correct reading is ἄρσεν , the neuter, not agreeing with the masculine individual ( υἱὸν son) but with the neuter of the genus. The object is to emphasize, not the sex, but the peculiar qualities of masculinity - power and vigor. Rev., a son, a man-child. Compare John 16:21; Jeremiah 20:15. [source]
To rule [ποιμαίνειν]
Lit., to shepherd or tend. See on Matthew 2:6. [source]
A rod of iron []
Compare Psalm 2:9, and see on Revelation 2:27. [source]
Was caught up [ἡρπάσθη]
See on Matthew 12:12. Compare Acts 23:10; Judges 1:23. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 12:5

John 1:30 A man [ἀνὴρ]
Three words are used in the New Testament for man: ἄῤῥην , or ἄρσην , ἀνήρ , and ἄνθρωπος . Ἄρσην marks merely the sexual distinction, male (Romans 1:27; Revelation 12:5, Revelation 12:13). Ἁνήρ denotes the man as distinguished from the woman, as male or as a husband (Acts 8:12; Matthew 1:16), or from a boy (Matthew 14:21). Also man as endowed with courage, intelligence, strength, and other noble attributes (1 Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:13; James 3:2). Ἄνθρωπος is generic, without distinction of sex, a human being (John 16:21), though often used in connections which indicate or imply sex, as Matthew 19:10; Matthew 10:35. Used of mankind (Matthew 4:4), or of the people (Matthew 5:13, Matthew 5:16; Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:18; John 6:10). Of man as distinguished from animals or plants (Matthew 4:19; 2 Peter 2:16), and from God, Christ as divine and angels (Matthew 10:32; John 10:33; Luke 2:15). With the notion of weakness leading to sin, and with a contemptuous sense (1 Corinthians 2:5; 1 Peter 4:2; John 5:12; Romans 9:20). The more honorable and noble sense thus attaches to ἀνήρ rather than to ἄνθρωπος . Thus Herodotus says that when the Medes charged the Greeks, they fell in vast numbers, so that it was manifest to Xerxes that he had many men combatants ( ἄνθρωποι ) but few warriors ( ἄνθρωποι ) vii., 210. So Homer: “O friends, be men ( ἀνέρες ), and take on a stout heart” (“Iliad,” v., 529). Ἁνήρ is therefore used here of Jesus by the Baptist with a sense of dignity. Compare ἄνθρωπος , in John 1:6, where the word implies no disparagement, but is simply indefinite. In John ἀνήρ has mostly the sense of husband (John 4:16-18). See John 6:10. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

2 Corinthians 12:2 Caught up [ἁρπαγέντα]
Compare Dante:“Thou knowest, who didst lift me with thy light”“Paradiso,” i., 75.The verb suits the swift, resistless, impetuous seizure of spiritual ecstasy. See on Matthew 11:12; and compare Acts 8:39; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 12:5. [source]
Revelation 12:13 He persecuted [εδιωχεν]
First aorist active participle of διωκω — diōkō to pursue, to chase, hostile pursuit here as in Matthew 5:10.; Matthew 10:23, etc. John now, after the “voice” in Revelation 12:10-13, returns to the narrative in Revelation 12:9. The child was caught away in Revelation 12:5, and now the woman (the true Israel on earth) is given deadly persecution. Perhaps events since a.d. 64 (burning of Rome by Nero) amply illustrated this vision, and they still do so. [source]
Revelation 19:15 That he should smite [ινα παταχηι]
Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist active subjunctive of πατασσω — patassō old verb already in Revelation 11:6 and like Isaiah 11:4, a figure here for forensic and judicial condemnation.And he shall rule them (και αυτος ποιμανει — kai autos poimanei). Emphatic use of αυτος — autos twice (he himself). Future active of ποιμαινω — poimainō to shepherd as in Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5 “with a rod of iron” (εν ραβδωι σιδηραι — en rabdōi sidērāi) as there. See 1 Peter 2:25; Hebrews 13:20 for Christ as Shepherd.And he treadeth Change to present tense of πατεω — pateō to tread (here transitive), with solemn repetition of και αυτος — kai autos winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God Literally, “the winepress of the wine of the wrath of the anger of God the Almighty” (four genitives dependent on one another and on ληνον — lēnon). These images are here combined from Revelation 14:8, Revelation 14:10, Revelation 14:19.; Revelation 16:19. The fact is already in Revelation 19:13 after Isaiah 63:1. [source]
Revelation 19:15 And he shall rule them [και αυτος ποιμανει]
Emphatic use of αυτος — autos twice (he himself). Future active of ποιμαινω — poimainō to shepherd as in Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5 “with a rod of iron” (εν ραβδωι σιδηραι — en rabdōi sidērāi) as there. See 1 Peter 2:25; Hebrews 13:20 for Christ as Shepherd. [source]
Revelation 2:26 Unto the end [αχρι τελους]
That is, αχρι ου αν ηχο — achri hou an hēxo above.Authority over the nations (εχουσιαν επι των ετνων — exousian epi tōn ethnōn). From Psalm 2:8. The followers of the Messiah will share in his victory over his enemies (Revelation 1:6; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15). [source]
Revelation 2:26 Authority over the nations [εχουσιαν επι των ετνων]
From Psalm 2:8. The followers of the Messiah will share in his victory over his enemies (Revelation 1:6; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15). [source]
Revelation 2:27 He shall rule [ποιμανει]
Future active of ποιμαινω — poimainō to shepherd (from ποιμην — poimēn shepherd), also from Psalm 2:8. See again Revelation 7:17; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15. [source]
Revelation 7:17 Shall be their shepherd [παιμανει αυτους]
“Shall shepherd them,” future active of ποιμαινω — poimainō (from ποιμην — poimēn shepherd), in John 21:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2; Revelation 2:27; Revelation 7:17; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15. Jesus is still the Good Shepherd of his sheep (John 10:11, John 10:14.). Cf. Psalm 23:1.Shall guide them (οδη γησει αυτους — hodē gēsei autous). Future active of οδηγεω — hodēgeō old word (from οδηγος — hodēgos guide, Matthew 15:14), used of God‘s guidance of Israel (Exodus 15:13), of God‘s guidance of individual lives (Psalm 5:9), of the guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13), of Christ‘s own guidance here (cf. John 14:4; Revelation 14:4).Unto fountains of waters of life The language is like that in Isaiah 49:10; Jeremiah 2:13. Note the order, “to life‘s water springs” (Swete) like the Vulgate ad vitae fontes aquarum, with emphasis on ζωης — zōēs (life‘s). For this idea see also John 4:12, John 4:14; John 7:38.; Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:1, Revelation 22:17. No special emphasis on the plural here or in Revelation 8:10; Revelation 14:7; Revelation 16:4.And God shall wipe away (και εχαλειπσει ο τεος — kai exaleipsei ho theos). Repeated in Revelation 21:4 from Isaiah 25:8. Future active of εχαλειπω — exaleiphō old compound, to wipe out (εχ — ex), off, away, already in Revelation 3:5 for erasing a name and in Acts 3:19 for removing the stain (guilt) of sin.Every tear Old word, with other form, δακρυ — dakru in Luke 7:38, Luke 7:44. Note repetition of εκ — ek with οπταλμων — ophthalmōn (out of their eyes). “Words like these of Revelation 7:15-17 must sound as a divine music in the ears of the persecuted. God will comfort as a mother comforts” (Baljon). [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 12:5 mean?

And she brought forth a son male who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron was caught up the child of her to - God the throne of Him
Καὶ ἔτεκεν υἱόν ἄρσεν ὃς μέλλει ποιμαίνειν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ ἡρπάσθη τὸ τέκνον αὐτῆς πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ

ἔτεκεν  she  brought  forth 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: τίκτω  
Sense: to bring forth, bear, produce (fruit from the seed).
υἱόν  a  son 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.
ἄρσεν  male 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἄρρην 
Sense: a male.
μέλλει  is  about 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: μέλλω  
Sense: to be about.
ποιμαίνειν  to  rule 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ποιμαίνω  
Sense: to feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep.
ἔθνη  nations 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.
ῥάβδῳ  a  rod 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ῥάβδος  
Sense: a staff, a walking stick, a twig, rod, branch.
σιδηρᾷ  of  iron 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: σιδήρεος 
Sense: made of iron.
ἡρπάσθη  was  caught  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἁρπάζω  
Sense: to seize, carry off by force.
τέκνον  child 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: τέκνον  
Sense: offspring, children.
αὐτῆς  of  her 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
τὸν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεὸν  God 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
θρόνον  throne 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: θρόνος  
Sense: a throne seat.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.