Revelation 12 · Verse 9

Revelation 12:9

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:9, King James Version

Revelation 12:9 in other translations

BSB	And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
WEB	The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
ASV	And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
YLT	and the great dragon was cast forth--the old serpent, who is called ‘Devil,' and ‘the Adversary,' who is leading astray the whole world--he was cast forth to the earth, and his messengers were cast forth with him.
DARBY	And the great dragon was cast out, the ancient serpent, he who is called Devil and Satan, he who deceives the whole habitable world, he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
BBE	And the great dragon was forced down, the old snake, who is named the Evil One and Satan, by whom all the earth is turned from the right way; he was forced down to the earth, and his angels were forced down with him.
Webster	And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out upon the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

What does Revelation 12:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. that old serpent--alluding to Ge 3:1, 4. Devil--the Greek, for "accuser," or "slanderer." Satan--the Hebrew for "adversary," especially in a court of justice. The twofold designation, Greek and Hebrew, marks the twofold objects of his accusations and temptations, the elect Gentiles and the elect Jews. world--Greek, "habitable world."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 9. And the great dragon was cast out. Rev 12:3. That there may be an allusion in the language here to what actually occurred in some far-distant period of the past, when Satan was ejected from heaven, there can be no reason to doubt. Our Saviour seems to refer to such an event in the language which he uses when he says, (Lk 10:18,) "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven;" and Jude, perhaps, (Jude 6) may refer to the same event. All that we know on the subject leads us to suppose that at some time there was a revolt among the angels, and that the rebellious part were cast out of heaven, for an allusion to this is not unfrequent in the Scriptures. Still the event here referred to is a symbolical representation of what would occur at a later period, when the church would be about to spread and be triumphant, and when Satan would wage a deadly war against it. That opposition would be as if he made war on Michael the archangel, and the heavenly hosts, and his failure would be as great as if he were vanquished and cast out of heaven.

That old serpent. This doubtless refers to the serpent that deceived Eve, (Gen 3:1-11, Rev 20:2; compare Barnes on "2Co 11:3") and this passage may be adduced as a proof that the real tempter of Eve was the devil, who assumed the form of a serpent. The word old here refers to the fact that his appearance on earth was at an early stage of the world's history, and that he had long been employed in the work which is here attributed to him--that of opposing the church.

Called the Devil. To whom the name Devil is given. That is, this is the same being that is elsewhere and commonly known by that name. See Barnes on "Mt 4:1".

And Satan. Another name given to the same being; a name, like the other, designed to refer to something in his character. See it explained in Barnes on "Job 1:6".

Which deceiveth the whole world. Whose character is that of a deceiver; whose agency extends over all the earth. See Barnes on "Joh 8:44; 1Jo 5:19".

He was east out into the earth. That is, he was not suffered to pursue his designs in heaven, but was cast down to the earth, where he is permitted for a time to carry on his warfare against the church. According to the interpretation proposed above, this refers to the period when there were indications that God was about to set up his kingdom on the earth. The language, however, is such as would be used on the supposition that there had been, at some period, a rebellion in heaven, and that Satan and his followers had been cast out to return there no more. It is difficult to explain this language except on that supposition; and such a supposition is, in itself, no more improbable than the apostasy and rebellion of man.

And his angels were cast out with him. They shared the lot of their leader. As applicable to the state of things to which this refers, the meaning is, that all were overthrown; that no enemy of the church would remain unsubdued; that the victory would be final and complete. As applicable to the event from which the language is supposed to have been derived--the revolt in heaven--the meaning is, that the followers in the revolt shared the lot of the leader, and that all who rebelled were ejected from heaven. The first and the only revolt in heaven was quelled; and the result furnished to the universe an impressive proof that none who rebelled there would be forgiven--that apostasy so near the throne could not be pardoned.

(a) "serpent" Gen 3:1,4 (b) "Devil" Jn 8:44 (c) "Satan" Zech 3:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 9 Rev 12:9 per Adam Clarke That old serpent - The rabbins speak much of this being, sometimes under the notion of יצר הרע yetser hara, the evil principle, and sometimes Samael. He was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him - This is very like a saying in the book Bahir, in Sohar Gen., fol. 27, col. 107: "And God cast out Samael and his troops from the place of their holiness." Rev 12:9 per John Edward Clarke And the great dragon was cast out, etc. - By the terms Devil and Satan mentioned in this verse, Pareus, Faber, and many other commentators, understand literally the great spiritual enemy of mankind. But this view of the passage cannot be correct, from the circumstance that it is the dragon which is thus called. Now, if by the dragon be meant the devil, then use are necessarily led to this conclusion, that the great apostate spirit is a monster, having seven heads and ten horns; and also that he has a tail, with which he drags after him the third part of the stars of heaven. The appellations, old serpent, devil, and Satan, must, therefore, be understood figuratively. The heathen power is called that old serpent which deceived the whole world, from its subtlety against the Christians, and its causing the whole Roman world, as far as it was in its power, to embrace the absurdities of paganism. It is called the devil, from its continual false accusations and slanders against the true worshippers of God, for the devil is a liar from the beginning; and it is also called Satan, שטן, which is a Hebrew word signifying an adversary, from its frequent persecutions of the Christian Church. The dragon and his angels are said to be cast out, which is more than was said in the preceding verse. There mention is made of his being found no longer in heaven, or on the throne of the Roman empire, here he is entirely cast out from all offices of trust in the empire; his religion is first only tolerated, and then totally abolished, by the imperial power. This great event was not the work of a reign; it took up many years, for it had to contend with the deep-rooted prejudices of the heathen, who to the very last endeavored to uphold their declining superstition. Paganism received several mortal strokes in the time of Constantine and his sons Constans and Constantius. It was farther reduced by the great zeal of Jovian, Valentinian, and Valens; and was finally suppressed by the edicts of Gratian, Theodosius I., and his successors. It was not till a.d. 388 that Rome itself, the residence of the emperor, was generally reformed from the absurdities of paganism; but the total suppression of paganism soon followed the conversion of the metropolitan city, and about a.d. 395 the dragon may be considered, in an eminent sense, to have been cast into the earth, that is, into a state of utter subjection to the ruling dynasty of Christian emperors.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 12:7-11

The attempts of the dragon proved unsuccessful against the church, and fatal to his own interests. The seat of this war was in heaven; in the church of Christ, the kingdom of heaven on earth. The parties were Christ, the great Angel of the covenant, and his faithful followers; and Satan and his instruments. The strength of the church is in having the Lord Jesus for the Captain of their salvation. Pagan idolatry…

Read the full comment on Revelation 12:7-11 →

Revelation 12:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532

ἐβλήθηeblēthēwas thrown [out]G906

ὁhotheG3588

δράκωνdrakōndragonG1404

ὁho<the>G3588

μέγας,megasgreat,G3173

ὁhotheG3588

ὄφιςophisserpentG3789

ὁho<the>G3588

ἀρχαῖος,archaiosancient,G744

ὁhowhoG3588

καλούμενοςkaloumenosis calledG2564

διάβολοςdiabolos[the] devilG1228

καὶkaiandG2532

ὁho<the>G3588

ΣατανᾶςSatanasSatanG4567

ὁhowhoG3588

πλανῶνplanōnis deceivingG4105

τὴνtēntheG3588

οἰκουμένηνoikoumenēninhabited [world]G3625

ὅλην,holēnwhole,G3650

ἐβλήθηeblēthēHe was thrown downG906

εἰςeistoG1519

τὴνtēntheG3588

γῆν,gēnearth,G1093

καὶkaiandG2532

οἱhoitheG3588

ἄγγελοιangeloiangelsG32

αὐτοῦautouof himG846

μετ᾽met᾽withG3326

αὐτοῦautouhimG846

ἐβλήθησαν.eblēthēsanwere thrown down.G906

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Revelation 12:9

Luke 10:18
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
John 12:31
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
1 John 5:19
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
Isaiah 14:12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Revelation 20:2-3
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Job 2:1-2
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Revelation 12:7
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
2 Thessalonians 2:9-11
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
1 John 3:8-10
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

the great.
3,7; Lu 10:18; Joh 12:31
that.
14,15; 20:2; Ge 3:1,4,13; Isa 27:1; 65:25
the Devil.
9:20; 16:14; 18:2; Mt 4:1,5,8; 13:39; Lu 8:12; Joh 8:44; 1Ti 3:6,7
Heb 2:14; 1Jo 3:8-10; Jude 1:9
and Satan.
2:9,13,24; 3:9; 1Ch 21:1; Job 1:6-12; 2:1; Ps 109:6; Zec 3:1,2
Mt 4:10; Lu 13:16; 22:3,31; Ac 5:3; 26:18; Ro 16:20; 2Co 2:11; 11:14
2Co 12:7; 2Th 2:9
deceiveth.
13:14; 18:23; 19:20; 20:3,8,10; Mt 24:24; Ro 16:18; 2Co 11:3
Eph 4:14; 2Th 2:3,9-11; 1Ti 2:14; 2Ti 3:13; 1Jo 5:19
he was.
9:1; Eze 28:16; Lu 10:18; Joh 12:31
into.
Job 1:7; 2:2; Isa 14:12; 65:25; Joh 14:30; 16:11; 2Co 4:4; 1Pe 5:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Revelation 12:8
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 12:10
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Read all of Revelation 12

Revelation 12:9 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y fué lanzado fuera aquel gran dragón, la serpiente antigua, que se llama Diablo y Satanás, el cual engaña á todo el mundo; fué arrojado en tierra, y sus ángeles fueron arrojados con él.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et le grand dragon fut précipité, le serpent ancien, celui qui est appelé diable et Satan, celui qui séduit la terre habitée tout entière, – il fut précipité sur la terre, et ses anges furent précipités avec lui.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und es wurde geworfen der große Drache, die alte Schlange, welcher Teufel und Satan genannt wird, der den ganzen Erdkreis verführt, geworfen wurde er auf die Erde, und seine Engel wurden mit ihm hinabgeworfen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et projectus est draco ille magnus, serpens antiquus, qui vocatur diabolus, et Satanas, qui seducit universum orbem: et projectus est in terram, et angeli ejus cum illo missi sunt.