Chapter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Revelation 12:15
ESV The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.
NIV Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent.
NASB And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.
CSB From his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river flowing after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.
NLT Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth.
KJV And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
NKJV So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.

What does Revelation 12:15 mean?

Depictions in the book of Revelation are extremely dramatic, often meant to be entirely symbolic. Others seem more literal, or a blend of poetry and plain speech. The serpent's action in this verse might be taken literally or symbolically. It's not entirely impossible that someone might attempt to use flooding as a weapon. It is doubtful, though, that the serpent sent a river of water to sweep escaping Jews away in a flood.

More likely, the flood represents the invading forces of the King of the North—typically identified as Russia. Ezekiel chapter 38 identifies this northern aggressor and predicts it will "go against the land that is restored from war, the land whose people were gathered from many peoples upon the mountains of Israel" (Ezekiel 38:8). Addressing the northern aggressor, the Lord says, "You will advance, coming on like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes, and many peoples with you" (Ezekiel 38:9). Verse 15 identifies the northern aggressor clearly: "You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many people with you." The next verse identifies the people targeted by the northern aggressor: "You will come up against my people Israel" (Ezekiel 38:16).
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app:
BibleRef.com is part of Got Questions Ministries

For answers to your Bible questions, please visit