REV 12:5 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And she gave birth to a son, a male, who is going to rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched away to God and to his throne,

UST Then the woman gave birth to a son. He is destined to rule all groups of people with complete authority. God snatched away this child for safety and brought him up to his throne in heaven.

BSB And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.[fn] And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

MSB And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.[fn] And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

BLB And she brought forth a male son, who is about to shepherd all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God, and to His throne.

AICNT And she gave birth to a son, a male, who is destined to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched up to God and {to}[fn] his throne.

12:5, to: Absent from some manuscripts. TR

OEB The woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod; and her child was at once caught up to God on his throne.

WEBBE She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET So the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to rule over all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne,

LSV and she brought forth a male son, who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, and her child was snatched up to God and to His throne,

FBV She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all nations with an iron rod.[fn] Her son was snatched up to God and his throne.

12:5 See Psalms 2:9.

TCNT She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.

T4T The woman gave birth to a son, who is destined to rule all the nations with complete authority as if he was using [MET] an iron rod [MET]. God snatched away her child and took him to rule from his throne.

LEB And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod,[fn] and her child was snatched away to God and to his throne.

12:5 An allusion to Ps 2:9|link-href="None"

BBE And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who was to have rule over all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was taken up to God and to his high seat.

Moff She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron flail; her child was caught up to God and to his throne,

Wymth She gave birth to a son—a male child, destined before long to rule all nations with an iron scepter. But her child was caught up to God and 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.

DRA And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with an iron rod: and her son was taken up to 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,

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

12.5 Elohim

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

SLT And she brought forth a son, a male, who is about to rule all nations with an iron rod: and her child was snatched up to God, and his throne.

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

KJB-1769 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.
(And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod/staff of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. )

KJB-1611 And shee brought foorth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of yron: and her child was caught vp vnto God, and to his Throne.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps And she brought foorth a man chylde, which shoulde rule all nations with a rodde of yron: And her sonne was taken vp vnto God, and to his throne.
(And she brought forth a man child, which should rule all nations with a rod/staff of iron: And her son was taken up unto God, and to his throne.)

Gnva So shee brought foorth a man childe, which should rule all nations with a rod of yron: and that her childe was taken vp vnto God and to his throne.
(So she brought forth a man child, which should rule all nations with a rod/staff of iron: and that her child was taken up unto God and to his throne. )

Cvdl And she brought forth a man childe, which shulde rule all nacions with a rod of yron. And her sonne was taken vp vnto God, and to his seate.
(And she brought forth a man child, which should rule all nations with a rod/staff of iron. And her son was taken up unto God, and to his seat.)

TNT And she brought forth a man chylde which shulde rule all nacions with a rode of yron And her sonne was taken vp vnto God and to his seate.
(And she brought forth a man child which should rule all nations with a rode of iron And her son was taken up unto God and to his seat. )

Wycl And sche bar a knaue child, that was to reulinge alle folkis in an yrun yerde; and hir sone was rauyschid to God, and to his trone.
(And she bar a knave/dishonest/unscrupulous child, that was to reulinge all folks/people in an iron rod/stick; and her son was rauyschid to God, and to his throne.)

Luth Und sie gebar einen Sohn, ein Knäblein, der alle Heiden sollte weiden mit der eisernen Rute; und ihr Kind ward entrückt zu GOtt und seinem Stuhl.
(And they/she/them gave_birth a son, a Knäblein, the/of_the all heathens should graze with the/of_the iron rod; and you(pl)/their/her child what/which entrückt to/for God and his chair/stool.)

ClVg Et peperit filium masculum, qui recturus erat omnes gentes in virga ferrea: et raptus est filius ejus ad Deum, et ad thronum ejus,[fn]
(And gave_birth son male, who/which recturus was everyone people/nations in/into/on rod/staff to_carrya: and raptured/abducted it_is son his to God, and to throne his, )

12.5 Et peperit. Carnali generatione, Christus de Abraham et David præcessit; vel peperit Ecclesia filium, id est fidem Christi in cordibus auditorum.

12.5 And peperit. Carnali generation, Christ/Messiah from/about Abraham and David preceded; or gave_birth Assembly/Church son, that it_is faith of_Christ in/into/on hearts audience.

UGNT καὶ ἔτεκεν υἱόν ἄρρενα, ὃς μέλλει ποιμαίνειν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ; καὶ ἡρπάσθη τὸ τέκνον αὐτῆς πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ πρὸς τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ.
(kai eteken huion arrena, hos mellei poimainein panta ta ethnaʸ en ɽabdōi sidaʸra; kai haʸrpasthaʸ to teknon autaʸs pros ton Theon, kai pros ton thronon autou.)

SBL-GNT καὶ ἔτεκεν υἱόν, ⸀ἄρσεν, ὃς μέλλει ποιμαίνειν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ· καὶ ἡρπάσθη τὸ τέκνον αὐτῆς πρὸς τὸν θεὸν καὶ πρὸς τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ.
(kai eteken huion, ⸀arsen, hos mellei poimainein panta ta ethnaʸ en ɽabdōi sidaʸra; kai haʸrpasthaʸ to teknon autaʸs pros ton theon kai pros ton thronon autou.)

RP-GNT Καὶ ἔτεκεν υἱὸν ἄρρενα, ὃς μέλλει ποιμαίνειν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ· καὶ ἡρπάσθη τὸ τέκνον αὐτῆς πρὸς τὸν θεὸν καὶ πρὸς τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ.
(Kai eteken huion arrena, hos mellei poimainein panta ta ethnaʸ en ɽabdōi sidaʸra; kai haʸrpasthaʸ to teknon autaʸs pros ton theon kai pros ton thronon autou.)

TC-GNT Καὶ ἔτεκεν υἱὸν [fn]ἄρρενα, ὃς μέλλει ποιμαίνειν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη [fn]ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ· καὶ [fn]ἡρπάσθη τὸ τέκνον αὐτῆς πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν καὶ [fn]πρὸς τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ.
(Kai eteken huion arrena, hos mellei poimainein panta ta ethnaʸ en ɽabdōi sidaʸra; kai haʸrpasthaʸ to teknon autaʸs pros ton Theon kai pros ton thronon autou. )

12:5 αρρενα 𝔐^A+ [83.4%] ¦ αρσενα 𝔐^A− [13.4%] ¦ αρσεν NA SBL TH WH [2.3%]

12:5 εν 𝔐^A+,C,K [77%] ¦ — 𝔐^A− ECM^† [23%]

12:5 ηρπασθη 𝔐^A,K [76.4%] ¦ ηρπαγη 𝔐^C PCK [22.7%]

12:5 προς 𝔐^A−,C,K [81.9%] ¦ — 𝔐^A+ TR [17.1%]

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:1–17: The woman fled from the dragon

In this section, John saw several signs or symbols representing spiritual reality. The first sign was a woman, representing the people of God. The second sign was a dragon, representing Satan. The woman was about to give birth, and the dragon wanted to kill the child. The child is symbolic of Jesus as the Christ. God took the son to heaven and protected the woman.

In 12:7–12, John interrupted the story of the woman and the dragon to tell about the war between the dragon and the angels. These verses help explain why the dragon wanted to kill the woman. In 12:13, John continued the story of the woman and the dragon.

Other examples of headings for this section are:

The sign of the dragon chasing the woman

The vision of the woman and the dragon

The spiritual conflict of God’s people and Satan

12:5a

And she gave birth to a son, a male child,

She birthed a son, a baby boy,
She bore a son.

a son, a male child: The Greek words are literally “a son, a male.” The phrase a male child emphasizes the fact that the child was male. Some languages have another way to emphasize the meaning. For example:

a son, indeed, a boy

In some languages son and male child are translated in the same way. If that is true in your language, translate with only one phrase. For example:

a son (GNT)

If possible, translate the emphasis in another way. See General Comment on 12:5a–b for other ways to translate the emphasis.

12:5b

who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.

who will rule all nations forcefully with an iron staff/stick.
He will lead/govern all people groups to their destruction with a club made of iron.

who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter: This clause tells the reader more about the son. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly indicate that the woman gave birth to other sons and only this one will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. If that is true in your language, translate this clause so that it tells more about the son. One way to do that is to start a new sentence here. For example:

He will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.

will rule all the nations with an iron scepter: Translate these words as you did in 2:27. They have the same meaning here. If you are unclear as to the meaning, see the notes there. Here these words refer to the son (12:5a), not believers.

nations: Here the word nations can refer to language groups as well as groups under one government. If possible, use a word or phrase that allows either meaning.

General Comment on 12:5a–b

In 12:5a the baby is described as both a son and a male child to emphasize the fact that the child was male. In some languages it is more natural to make the phrase “male child” the subject of the following clause (12:5b). For example:

^5aShe gave birth to a son. This boy ^5bwill rule all nations…

^5aThe woman was delivered of a boy, ^5bthe son who was to rule all the nations… (NJB)

12:5c

And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

And her child was grabbed and taken up to God and to his throne.
But someone quickly lifted her child to God and to his place/seat of ruling.

This sentence resumes describing the vision from 12:5a.

And: There is some contrast between what the dragon wanted to do (12:4c) and what happened here. In some languages translating the contrast is more natural. For example:

but (RSV)

her child was caught up: Here the word caught up refers to taking the child away quickly and forcefully. He was caught up in order to rescue him from danger. Here the word does not refer to stealing or taking him wrongfully.

This clause is passive. Some languages must use an active clause. Probably God commanded someone to snatch her child. For example:

God caused/commanded someone to snatch her child

someone quickly took her child

to God and to His throne: In some languages it is more natural to add another verb or verbs here. For example:

and taken to God and to his throne (GW)

He was taken to God and placed on his throne (CEV)

His throne: The pronoun His probably refers to God,as Beale, Beckwith, Smalley, and Kistemaker say. but may refer to the child.as Johnson and Aune say. You should not explain in your translation to whom the word His refers here.

throne: This word refers to the official chair of a king. It is a symbol of his power to rule. Here the word throne indicates that God rules heaven and earth.

See how you translated this word in 1:4.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

υἱόν ἄρρενα

˓a˒_son (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἔτεκεν υἱόν ἄρσεν ὅς μέλλει ποιμαίνειν παντᾶ τά ἔθνη ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ καί ἡρπάσθη τό τέκνον αὐτῆς πρός τόν Θεόν καί πρός τόν θρόνον αὐτοῦ)

The terms son and male mean similar things. John is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [a boy]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

ἄρρενα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἔτεκεν υἱόν ἄρσεν ὅς μέλλει ποιμαίνειν παντᾶ τά ἔθνη ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ καί ἡρπάσθη τό τέκνον αὐτῆς πρός τόν Θεόν καί πρός τόν θρόνον αὐτοῦ)

John is using the adjective male as a noun to mean a certain kind of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [a male child]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ

with ˓a˒_rod iron

John is speaking as if this child will literally use an iron scepter to rule all the nations. He means that the child will rule with great strength by association with the way that iron is very strong. If it would be clearer in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated the similar phrase in [2:27](../02/27.md). Alternate translation: [with great strength] or [with irresistible power]

Note 4 topic: translate-unknown

ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ

˓a˒_rod iron

A scepter was an ornamental staff or wand that rulers carried or held as a symbol of their authority. If your readers would not be familiar with what a scepter is, in your translation you could use the name of a comparable object in your culture or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: [a royal staff made of iron]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡρπάσθη τὸ τέκνον αὐτῆς πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ πρὸς τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ

˓was˒_snatched (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Καί ἔτεκεν υἱόν ἄρσεν ὅς μέλλει ποιμαίνειν παντᾶ τά ἔθνη ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ καί ἡρπάσθη τό τέκνον αὐτῆς πρός τόν Θεόν καί πρός τόν θρόνον αὐτοῦ)

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [God snatched away her child to his throne]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / hendiadys

πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ πρὸς τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ

This phrase expresses a single idea by using two words connected with and. The word God tells whose throne this is. If it would be more natural in your language, you could express this meaning with an equivalent phrase that does not use “and.” Alternate translation: [to God’s throne]

Parallel REV 12:5

Section 12:1–17: The woman fled from the dragon

12:5a

12:5b

General Comment on 12:5a–b

12:5c