Robertson Word Pictures - Revelation 12:4 - 12:4

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Robertson Word Pictures - Revelation 12:4 - 12:4


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

His tail (hē oura autou). See Rev 9:10, Rev 9:19.

Draweth (surei). Present active indicative of surō, old verb, to drag, here alone in the Apocalypse, but see Joh 21:8.

The third part of the stars (to triton tōn asterōn). Like a great comet is this monster. See Dan 8:10. Perhaps only the third is meant to soften the picture as in Rev 8:7.

Did cast them (ebalen autous). Second aorist active indicative. Charles takes this to refer to a war in heaven between the good angels and Satan, with the fall of some angels (Jud 1:6). But John may have in mind the martyrs before Christ (Heb 11:32.) and after Christ’s ascension (Mat 23:35).

Stood (estēken). Imperfect active of a late verb, stēkō, from the perfect hestēka of histēmi, graphic picture of the dragon’s challenge of the woman who is about to give birth.

When she was delivered (hotan tekēi). Indefinite temporal clause with hotan and the second aorist active subjunctive of tiktō, “whenever she gives birth.”

That he might devour (hina kataphagēi). Purpose clause with hina and the second aorist active subjunctive of katesthiō, to eat up (down). This is what Pharaoh did to Israel (Exo 1:15-22; Psa 85:13; Isa 27:1; Isa 51:9; Eze 29:3). Precisely so the devil tried to destroy the child Jesus on his birth.