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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Revelation 12:15 Then from the mouth of the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/revelation/12-15.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/66_Rev_12_15.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Revelation 12:15 - The Woman Persecuted" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then from the mouth of the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent." /><script 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width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad15.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/revelation/12-14.htm" title="Revelation 12:14">◄</a> Revelation 12:15 <a href="/revelation/12-16.htm" title="Revelation 12:16">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/revelation/12.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/revelation/12.htm">New International Version</a> Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. <a href="/nlt/revelation/12.htm">New Living Translation</a> Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from his mouth. <a href="/esv/revelation/12.htm">English Standard Version</a> The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. <a href="/bsb/revelation/12.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent. <a href="/blb/revelation/12.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And out of his mouth the serpent cast water as a river after the woman, so that he might cause her to be carried away by a flood. <a href="/kjv/revelation/12.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/revelation/12.htm">New King James Version</a> 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. <a href="/nasb_/revelation/12.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nasb/revelation/12.htm">NASB 1995</a> And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. <a href="/nasb77/revelation/12.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. <a href="/lsb/revelation/12.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. <a href="/amp/revelation/12.htm">Amplified Bible</a> 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. <a href="/csb/revelation/12.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> From his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river flowing after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. <a href="/hcsb/revelation/12.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> From his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river flowing after the woman, to sweep her away in a torrent. <a href="/asv/revelation/12.htm">American Standard Version</a> And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. <a href="/cev/revelation/12.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The snake then spewed out water like a river to sweep the woman away. <a href="/erv/revelation/12.htm">English Revised Version</a> And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. <a href="/gwt/revelation/12.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The snake's mouth poured out a river of water behind the woman in order to sweep her away. <a href="/gnt/revelation/12.htm">Good News Translation</a> And then from his mouth the dragon poured out a flood of water after the woman, so that it would carry her away. <a href="/isv/revelation/12.htm">International Standard Version</a> From its mouth the serpent spewed water like a river behind the woman in order to sweep her away with the flood. <a href="/net/revelation/12.htm">NET Bible</a> Then the serpent spouted water like a river out of his mouth after the woman in an attempt to sweep her away by a flood, <a href="/nheb/revelation/12.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. <a href="/wbt/revelation/12.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. <a href="/wey/revelation/12.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And the serpent poured water from his mouth--a very river it seemed--after the woman, in the hope that she would be carried away by its flood.<div class="vheading2">Majority Text Translations</div><a href="/msb/revelation/12.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent. <a href="/web/revelation/12.htm">World English Bible</a> The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/revelation/12.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and the serpent cast forth out of his mouth water as a river after the woman, that he may cause her to be carried away by the river, <a href="/blb/revelation/12.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And out of his mouth the serpent cast water as a river after the woman, so that he might cause her to be carried away by a flood. <a href="/ylt/revelation/12.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and the serpent did cast forth after the woman, out of his mouth, water as a river, that he may cause her to be carried away by the river, <a href="/slt/revelation/12.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And the serpent cast after the woman water out of his mouth as a river, that he might make her torn away by a river.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/revelation/12.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman, water as it were a river; that he might cause her to be carried away by the river. <a href="/cpdv/revelation/12.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And the serpent sent out from his mouth, after the woman, water like a river, so that he might cause her to be carried away by the river. <a href="/nabre/revelation/12.htm">New American Bible</a> The serpent, however, spewed a torrent of water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current. <a href="/nrsvce/revelation/12.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/revelation/12.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Then the serpent sent a flood of water out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away by the flood. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/revelation/12.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And The Serpent cast water like a river out of its mouth after the woman, to cause her to be taken by the waters.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/revelation/12.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And the serpent threw out of his mouth water like a river, after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the river. <a href="/godbey/revelation/12.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the river. <a href="/haweis/revelation/12.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> And the serpent cast out after the woman, from his mouth water, as a river, that he might sweep her away with the flood. <a href="/mace/revelation/12.htm">Mace New Testament</a> and the serpent spouted from his throat a flood of water, after the woman, in order to drown her with the flood. <a href="/wey/revelation/12.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> And the serpent poured water from his mouth--a very river it seemed--after the woman, in the hope that she would be carried away by its flood. <a href="/worrell/revelation/12.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And the serpent cast out of his mouth, after the woman, water as a river, that he might cause her to be borne away by the river. <a href="/worsley/revelation/12.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> And the serpent threw water out of his mouth, like a river, after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. <a href="/parallel/revelation/12-15.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJfD7KQcx0I?start=2520" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/revelation/12.htm">The Woman Persecuted</a> …14But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: Kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">Then</a> <a href="/greek/1537.htm" title="1537: ek (Prep) -- From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.">from</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons."></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tou (Art-GNS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/4750.htm" title="4750: stomatos (N-GNS) -- The mouth, speech, eloquence in speech, the point of a sword. ">mouth</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">of the</a> <a href="/greek/3789.htm" title="3789: ophis (N-NMS) -- Probably from optanomai; a snake, figuratively, an artful malicious person, especially Satan.">serpent</a> <a href="/greek/906.htm" title="906: ebalen (V-AIA-3S) -- (a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw.">spewed</a> <a href="/greek/5204.htm" title="5204: hydōr (N-ANS) -- Water. And genitive case, hudatos, etc. From the base of huetos; water literally or figuratively.">water</a> <a href="/greek/5613.htm" title="5613: hōs (Adv) -- Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.">like</a> <a href="/greek/4215.htm" title="4215: potamon (N-AMS) -- A river, torrent, stream. Probably from a derivative of the alternate of pino; a current, brook or freshet, i.e. Running water.">a river</a> <a href="/greek/3694.htm" title="3694: opisō (Prep) -- Behind, after; back, backwards. From the same as opisthen with enclitic of direction; to the back, i.e. Aback.">to overtake</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/1135.htm" title="1135: gynaikos (N-GFS) -- A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.">woman</a> <a href="/greek/2443.htm" title="2443: hina (Conj) -- In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.">and</a> <a href="/greek/4160.htm" title="4160: poiēsē (V-ASA-3S) -- (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.">sweep</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autēn (PPro-AF3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">her</a> <a href="/greek/4216.htm" title="4216: potamophorēton (Adj-AFS) -- Carried away by a stream. From potamos and a derivative of phoreo; river-borne, i.e. Overwhelmed by a stream.">away in the torrent.</a> 16But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that had poured from the dragon’s mouth.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/genesis/3-15.htm">Genesis 3:15</a> And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” <a href="/exodus/15-9.htm">Exodus 15:9-10</a> The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’ / But You blew with Your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. <a href="/isaiah/59-19.htm">Isaiah 59:19</a> So shall they fear the name of the LORD where the sun sets, and His glory where it rises. For He will come like a raging flood, driven by the breath of the LORD. <a href="/jeremiah/46-7.htm">Jeremiah 46:7-8</a> Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters churn? / Egypt rises like the Nile, and its waters churn like rivers, boasting, ‘I will rise and cover the earth; I will destroy the cities and their people.’ <a href="/daniel/9-26.htm">Daniel 9:26</a> Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed. <a href="/matthew/2-13.htm">Matthew 2:13-16</a> When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, / where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” ... <a href="/matthew/24-15.htm">Matthew 24:15-16</a> So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), / then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. <a href="/luke/10-18.htm">Luke 10:18</a> So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. <a href="/john/7-38.htm">John 7:38</a> Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” <a href="/john/8-44.htm">John 8:44</a> You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. <a href="/romans/16-20.htm">Romans 16:20</a> The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. <a href="/2_corinthians/11-3.htm">2 Corinthians 11:3</a> I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. <a href="/ephesians/6-11.htm">Ephesians 6:11-12</a> Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. / For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. <a href="/1_thessalonians/2-18.htm">1 Thessalonians 2:18</a> For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us. <a href="/2_thessalonians/2-9.htm">2 Thessalonians 2:9-10</a> The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, / and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>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.cast.<a href="/revelation/17-15.htm">Revelation 17:15</a> And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.<a href="/psalms/18-4.htm">Psalm 18:4</a> The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.<a href="/psalms/65-7.htm">Psalm 65:7</a> Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/revelation/6-2.htm">Carried</a> <a href="/revelation/12-13.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/revelation/9-5.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-5.htm">Flood</a> <a href="/revelation/12-13.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/3_john/1-14.htm">Hope</a> <a href="/revelation/11-5.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/1_thessalonians/5-4.htm">Overtake</a> <a href="/james/5-18.htm">Poured</a> <a href="/revelation/9-14.htm">River</a> <a href="/revelation/9-9.htm">Seemed</a> <a href="/revelation/12-14.htm">Serpent</a> <a href="/revelation/12-14.htm">Snake</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-34.htm">Spewed</a> <a href="/john/18-1.htm">Stream</a> <a href="/2_thessalonians/2-8.htm">Sweep</a> <a href="/revelation/12-4.htm">Swept</a> <a href="/luke/7-1.htm">Torrent</a> <a href="/revelation/8-11.htm">Water</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/revelation/14-17.htm">Carried</a> <a href="/revelation/12-16.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/revelation/13-13.htm">Cause</a> <a href="/revelation/12-16.htm">Flood</a> <a href="/revelation/12-16.htm">Forth</a> <a href="/genesis/48-11.htm">Hope</a> <a href="/revelation/12-16.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/genesis/19-19.htm">Overtake</a> <a href="/revelation/12-16.htm">Poured</a> <a href="/revelation/12-16.htm">River</a> <a href="/revelation/13-3.htm">Seemed</a> <a href="/revelation/20-2.htm">Serpent</a> <a href="/revelation/20-2.htm">Snake</a> <a href="/revelation/12-16.htm">Spewed</a> <a href="/revelation/16-6.htm">Stream</a> <a href="/genesis/18-23.htm">Sweep</a> <a href="/genesis/19-15.htm">Swept</a> <a href="/numbers/21-12.htm">Torrent</a> <a href="/revelation/14-7.htm">Water</a><div class="vheading2">Revelation 12</div>1. <a href="/revelation/12-1.htm">A woman clothed with the sun travails.</a> 4. <a href="/revelation/12-4.htm">The great red dragon stands before her, ready to devour her child;</a> 6. <a href="/revelation/12-6.htm">when she is delivered she flees into the desert.</a> 7. <a href="/revelation/12-7.htm">Michael and his angels fight with the dragon, and prevail.</a> 13. <a href="/revelation/12-13.htm">The dragon, being cast down into the earth, persecutes the woman.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/revelation/12.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/revelation/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/revelation/12.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river The imagery of the serpent spewing water from its mouth is symbolic and apocalyptic, reflecting the style of Revelation. The serpent represents Satan, as identified earlier in the chapter. The water like a river suggests a powerful and overwhelming force, possibly indicating false teachings, persecution, or deceit aimed at the Church, represented by the woman. This imagery echoes the Old Testament, where water often symbolizes chaos and destruction (e.g., <a href="/psalms/18-4.htm">Psalm 18:4</a>, <a href="/isaiah/8-7.htm">Isaiah 8:7-8</a>). The serpent's attempt to use water as a weapon may also recall the flood narrative in Genesis, where God used water to judge the earth, but here it is a tool of the enemy.to overtake the woman The woman in <a href="/revelation/12.htm">Revelation 12</a> is often interpreted as a symbol of God's people, Israel, or the Church. The serpent's intention to overtake her signifies an attempt to destroy or corrupt the faithful. This reflects the ongoing spiritual warfare between Satan and God's people throughout history. The woman’s portrayal as being pursued by the serpent aligns with the persecution faced by early Christians and the Church's struggles against heretical teachings and external threats.and sweep her away in the torrent The phrase "sweep her away in the torrent" suggests a violent and sudden destruction. This can be seen as a metaphor for the trials and tribulations faced by believers, where the enemy seeks to overwhelm them with adversity. The torrent may symbolize the overwhelming nature of false doctrines, societal pressures, or direct persecution. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages where floods or torrents represent overwhelming trials (e.g., <a href="/psalms/124-4.htm">Psalm 124:4-5</a>, <a href="/isaiah/59-19.htm">Isaiah 59:19</a>). The ultimate protection and deliverance of the woman, as described later in the chapter, highlight God's sovereignty and faithfulness in preserving His people despite the enemy's efforts.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_serpent.htm">The Serpent</a> Symbolic of Satan, the serpent is depicted as the adversary of the woman and her offspring. In <a href="/bsb/revelation/12.htm">Revelation 12</a>, the serpent is actively pursuing the woman, representing the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_woman.htm">The Woman</a> Often interpreted as a symbol of Israel or the Church, the woman is portrayed as being pursued by the serpent. She represents God's people who are under attack but are divinely protected. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_river.htm">The River</a> The river spewed by the serpent is symbolic of the overwhelming flood of persecution or false teachings aimed at destroying the woman. It represents the various tactics used by Satan to undermine and attack God's people.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_warfare.htm">Spiritual Warfare</a> Recognize that believers are engaged in a spiritual battle. The serpent's pursuit of the woman is a reminder of the ongoing conflict between good and evil. <a href="/topical/d/divine_protection.htm">Divine Protection</a> Trust in God's protection. Just as the earth helped the woman by swallowing the river, God provides ways of escape and protection for His people. <a href="/topical/p/perseverance_in_faith.htm">Perseverance in Faith</a> Stand firm in faith despite persecution or false teachings. The river represents the trials and challenges believers face, but perseverance leads to victory. <a href="/topical/d/discernment_against_deception.htm">Discernment Against Deception</a> Be vigilant against false teachings and deceptions that aim to lead believers astray. The flood from the serpent can be seen as symbolic of such deceptions.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_revelation_12.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Revelation 12</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_meaning_of_'frozen_chosen'.htm">What is the meaning of 'Seed of the Woman'?</a> <a href="/q/are_the_ten_commandments_relevant_now.htm">What is the meaning of Genesis 3:15?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_jesus'_ransom_signify.htm">What is the meaning of Genesis 3:15's enmity statement?</a> <a href="/q/was_his_life_the_light_of_men.htm">Is there any truth in the devil?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/revelation/12.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(15) And the serpent . . .--Translate, And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might make her to be carried away by the river. The foe of the woman was described as a dragon for his cruelty and fierceness--as a serpent for his subtlety. The first attack on the woman is pictured as persecution by the dragon: from this she escapes by flight; but the subtlety of the enemy finds another device: the foe (now described as a serpent) pours forth water as a river to sweep away the woman. The emblem is nut uncommon in the Bible. Invasion is described as "an overflowing flood" (<a href="/context/jeremiah/46-7.htm" title="Who is this that comes up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?">Jeremiah 46:7-8</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/47-2.htm" title="Thus said the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.">Jeremiah 47:2</a>; comp. <a href="/context/isaiah/8-7.htm" title="Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up on them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:">Isaiah 8:7-8</a>) The same emblem is used in <a href="/context/psalms/74-2.htm" title="Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old; the rod of your inheritance, which you have redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein you have dwelled.">Psalm 74:2-6</a> to describe the uprising of a people's ill-will. The floods, the rivers, the waves of the sea, are employed to express popular movements. The woman that cannot be destroyed by positive persecution may be swept away by a hostile public opinion. It is not the rulers alone who stand up against the Lord and His Church: an infuriated populace may be stirred up against them. The temper of the mob occasioned as much suffering and as many deaths in early Christian days as did the political authorities. Ill-regulated popular impulses, leading to violence and unwise action, whether nominally for Christianity or against it, have done enough of the devil's work in the world.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/revelation/12.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 15. - And the serpent cast out of his month water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood; cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river... carried away by the river. A flood, in the Old Testament, has several significations. It frequently expresses overwhelming misfortune. Thus <a href="/psalms/69-15.htm">Psalm 69:15</a>, "Let not the waterflood overflow me;" <a href="/psalms/90-5.htm">Psalm 90:5</a>, "Thou carriest them away as with a flood" (cf. also <a href="/daniel/9-26.htm">Daniel 9:26</a>; <a href="/daniel/11-22.htm">Daniel 11:22</a>; <a href="/isaiah/59-19.htm">Isaiah 59:19</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/46-7.htm">Jeremiah 46:7</a>; <a href="/amos/9-5.htm">Amos 9:5</a>, etc.). The flood is typical of every form of destruction with which the devil seeks to overwhelm the Church of God. At the period of the writing of the Apocalypse, it plainly symbolized the bitter persecutions to which Christians were subjected; but its meaning need not be limited to this one form of destruction. Thus all those writers are correct, so far as they go, who interpret the flood of the Mohammedan power, of heresy, of the Gothic invasion, etc. <a href="/commentaries/revelation/12-15.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Then Καὶ (Kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. from ἐκ (ek) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1537.htm">Strong's 1537: </a> From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. the τοῦ (tou) Article - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. mouth στόματος (stomatos) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4750.htm">Strong's 4750: </a> The mouth, speech, eloquence in speech, the point of a sword. of the ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. serpent ὄφις (ophis) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3789.htm">Strong's 3789: </a> Probably from optanomai; a snake, figuratively, an artful malicious person, especially Satan. spewed ἔβαλεν (ebalen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_906.htm">Strong's 906: </a> (a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw. water ὕδωρ (hydōr) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5204.htm">Strong's 5204: </a> Water. And genitive case, hudatos, etc. From the base of huetos; water literally or figuratively. like ὡς (hōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_5613.htm">Strong's 5613: </a> Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner. a river ποταμόν (potamon) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4215.htm">Strong's 4215: </a> A river, torrent, stream. Probably from a derivative of the alternate of pino; a current, brook or freshet, i.e. Running water. to overtake ὀπίσω (opisō) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_3694.htm">Strong's 3694: </a> Behind, after; back, backwards. From the same as opisthen with enclitic of direction; to the back, i.e. Aback. the τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. woman γυναικὸς (gynaikos) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1135.htm">Strong's 1135: </a> A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife. [and] ἵνα (hina) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2443.htm">Strong's 2443: </a> In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that. sweep ποιήσῃ (poiēsē) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4160.htm">Strong's 4160: </a> (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. her αὐτὴν (autēn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. away in the torrent. ποταμοφόρητον (potamophorēton) Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4216.htm">Strong's 4216: </a> Carried away by a stream. From potamos and a derivative of phoreo; river-borne, i.e. Overwhelmed by a stream. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/revelation/12-15.htm">Revelation 12:15 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/revelation/12-15.htm">Revelation 12:15 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/revelation/12-15.htm">Revelation 12:15 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/revelation/12-15.htm">Revelation 12:15 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/revelation/12-15.htm">Revelation 12:15 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/revelation/12-15.htm">Revelation 12:15 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/revelation/12-15.htm">Revelation 12:15 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/revelation/12-15.htm">Revelation 12:15 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/revelation/12-15.htm">Revelation 12:15 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/revelation/12-15.htm">Revelation 12:15 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/revelation/12-15.htm">NT Prophecy: Revelation 12:15 The serpent spewed water out of his (Rev. Re Apocalypse)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/revelation/12-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Revelation 12:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Revelation 12:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/revelation/12-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Revelation 12:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Revelation 12:16" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>