Revelation 12:5
New International Version
She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.

New Living Translation
She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne.

English Standard Version
She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne,

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

Berean Literal Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

New American Standard Bible
And she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.

NASB 1995
And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

NASB 1977
And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

Legacy Standard Bible
And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

Amplified Bible
And she gave birth to a Son, a male Child, who is destined to rule (shepherd) all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.

Christian Standard Bible
She gave birth to a Son, a male who is going to rule all nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But she gave birth to a Son—a male who is going to shepherd all nations with an iron scepter—and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
The woman gave birth to a son, who would rule all nations with an iron rod. The boy was snatched away. He was taken to God and placed on his throne.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
She gave birth to a son, a boy, who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter. Her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne.

Good News Translation
Then she gave birth to a son, who will rule over all nations with an iron rod. But the child was snatched away and taken to God and his throne.

International Standard Version
She gave birth to a son, a boy, who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne.

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

NET Bible
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,

New Heart English Bible
She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Weymouth New Testament
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,

World English Bible
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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
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,

Berean Literal Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
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,

Smith's Literal Translation
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.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And she brought forth a male child, who was soon to rule all the nations with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to his throne.

New American Bible
She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne.

New Revised Standard Version
And 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 snatched away and taken to God and to his throne;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And she brought forth a male child, who was to shepherd all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up to God, and to his throne.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And she delivered the Son, the Male who was to Shepherd all the nations with a rod of iron. And her Son was caught up to God and to his throne.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And she brought forth a male child, that was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught away to God, even to his throne.

Godbey New Testament
And she brought forth a male son, who is about to shepherdize all the nations with an iron rod: and her child was caught up to God, and to his throne.

Haweis New Testament
And she brought forth a male child, who should rule the nations with an iron sceptre: and her infant was caught up to God, and his throne.

Mace New Testament
and she brought forth a man-child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up to be with God, and about his throne.

Weymouth New Testament
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,

Worrell New Testament
And she brought forth a man-child, who is about to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.

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

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Woman and the Dragon
4His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky, tossing them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, ready to devour her child as soon as she gave birth. 5And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place for her to be nourished for 1,260 days.…

Cross References
Psalm 2:7-9
I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father. / Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession. / You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”

Isaiah 66:7-8
“Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in pain, she delivered a boy. / Who has heard of such as this? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children.

Daniel 7:13-14
In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. / And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Micah 5:2-3
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. / Therefore Israel will be abandoned until she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers will return to the children of Israel.

Matthew 2:6
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”

Matthew 28:18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

Luke 1:32-33
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, / and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 12:31-32
Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out. / And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw everyone to Myself.”

Acts 1:9-11
After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. / They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. / “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

Acts 2:33-36
Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. / For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand / until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’ ...

Romans 1:3-4
regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh, / and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:24-25
Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. / For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

Ephesians 1:20-22
which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, / far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. / And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,

Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, / that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Treasury of Scripture

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

she.

Revelation 12:2
And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Jeremiah 31:22
How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

rule.

Revelation 2:26,27
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: …

Revelation 19:15
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Psalm 2:9,10
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel…

caught.

Revelation 11:12
And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

Mark 16:19
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

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Birth Caught Child Delivered Destined Forth High Iron Male Nations Rod Rule Scepter Seat Shepherd Snatched Throne
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Birth Caught Child Delivered Destined Forth High Iron Male Nations Rod Rule Scepter Seat Shepherd Snatched Throne
Revelation 12
1. A woman clothed with the sun travails.
4. The great red dragon stands before her, ready to devour her child;
6. when she is delivered she flees into the desert.
7. Michael and his angels fight with the dragon, and prevail.
13. The dragon, being cast down into the earth, persecutes the woman.














And she gave birth
This phrase introduces the central event of the verse, the birth of a significant figure. The imagery of birth is often used in Scripture to signify the arrival of something new and divinely ordained. In the Greek, "gave birth" (ἔτεκεν) emphasizes the fulfillment of prophecy and divine purpose. Historically, this has been interpreted as the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who was born of the Virgin Mary, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies such as Isaiah 7:14.

to a son, a male child
The specification of "a son, a male child" underscores the fulfillment of messianic prophecies concerning a male descendant who would deliver and rule. The Greek term for "male child" (ἄρσεν) highlights the gender, which is significant in the context of Jewish expectations of a male Messiah. This phrase connects to the Davidic lineage, as the Messiah was prophesied to come from the line of David, a male kingly line.

who will rule all the nations
This phrase speaks to the authority and dominion of the child. The Greek word for "rule" (ποιμανεῖ) can also mean "to shepherd," indicating a leadership style that is both authoritative and caring. This echoes Psalm 2:8-9, where the Messiah is promised the nations as His inheritance. Historically, this has been seen as a reference to Christ's ultimate reign over all the earth, a reign that is both just and compassionate.

with an iron scepter
The "iron scepter" symbolizes unbreakable authority and power. In the ancient world, iron was a symbol of strength and durability. The Greek word for "scepter" (ῥάβδῳ) is often associated with royal authority. This imagery is drawn from Psalm 2:9, reinforcing the idea of the Messiah's unyielding rule. In a conservative Christian perspective, this points to the future millennial reign of Christ, where He will govern with absolute justice.

And her child was caught up to God and to His throne
The phrase "caught up" (ἡρπάσθη) indicates a sudden and divine action, often associated with protection or exaltation. This is reminiscent of Christ's ascension, where He was taken up to heaven and seated at the right hand of God, as described in Acts 1:9-11. The imagery of being "caught up to God and to His throne" signifies the divine approval and authority bestowed upon the child, affirming His identity as the Son of God and His role in the divine plan of salvation.

(5) And she brought forth . . .--Translate, And she brought forth a man child, who is to shepherd all the nations with (it is, literally, in) a rod of iron. There can be no doubt that this man child is Christ. The combination of features is too distinct to admit of doubt, it is the one who will feed His flock like a shepherd (Isaiah 40:12), who is to have, not His own people, but all nations as His inheritance (Psalm 2:7-9), and whose rule over them is to be supreme and irresistible. But the fact that this child is Christ must not cause us to limit the meaning of the vision to the efforts of the evil one to destroy the infant Jesus; for it is also the Christ in the Church which the wicked one hates: and wherever Christ dwells in any heart by faith, and wherever the preachers of the gospel in earnest travail for their Master, seek to lift up Christ, there will the foe be found, like the fowls of the air, ready to carry away the good seed. Though the basis of the vision is in the historical fact, the power of the vision reaches over a wider area, and forcibly reminds us that as there are irreconcilable principles at work in the world, so all these, when traced to their original forms, are the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of the devil.

And her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.--The efforts of the evil one to destroy are thwarted; the child is snatched away and placed out of the range of the dragon's power. The prince of this world might instigate Israel to take Jesus Christ and with wicked hands crucify and kill Him, but the eternal divine life of Him who had power to lay down His life and take it again, and whose years were for ever and ever, was beyond the reach of every hostile power; and after death and resurrection, Christ ascended up where He was before. But the vision is designed to assure us that, precisely because of this, so all life in Christ is beyond the power of the evil one, and that the forces hostile to good are powerless against that life which is hid with Christ in God. The Church may be as a weak, oppressed, and persecuted woman, but her faith rises up as a song from the lips of its members. "God hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." The contest is between the man child and the dragon; and those who in heart and mind ascend to where Christ is know that the contest is not one of mere ideas, but a conflict between the Christ, who is with them always, though He has ascended, and all the powers of evil, which will be smitten down by the rod of His power.

Verse 5. - And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron; a son, a male - the Greek υἱόν, ἄρσεν, renders it emphatic - who is to rule, as in the Revised Version; to rule, or to govern as a shepherd (cf. the verb in Matthew 2:6). This reference and Psalm 2:9 leave no doubt as to the identification of the man child. It is Christ who is intended. The same expression is used of him in Revelation 19, where he is definitely called the "Word of God." And her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. The sentence seems plainly to refer to the ascension of Christ and his subsequent abiding in heaven, from whence he rules all nations. The seer, perhaps, wishes to indicate at once the absolute immunity of Christ from any harm proceeding from the power of the devil, whose efforts are henceforth directly aimed only at the Church of Christ. Satan still hopes to injure Christ through his members. As remarked above (see on ver. 4), what is true of the personal history of Christ is often true of his Church and of his true members. And thus some have seen in this passage a picture of the woman, the Church, bringing forth members, to devour whom is Satan's constant purpose, but who in God's good time are taken to his throne to be near himself.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

she gave birth
ἔτεκεν (eteken)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5088: A strengthened form of a primary teko tek'-o; to produce, literally or figuratively.

to a son,
υἱόν (huion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5207: A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.

a male child,
ἄρσεν (arsen)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 730: Male. Arsen probably from airo; male.

who
ὃς (hos)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

will
μέλλει (mellei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3195: A strengthened form of melo; to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something.

rule
ποιμαίνειν (poimainein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 4165: To shepherd, tend, herd; hence: I rule, govern. From poimen; to tend as a shepherd of.

all
πάντα (panta)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

the
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

nations
ἔθνη (ethnē)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1484: Probably from etho; a race, i.e. A tribe; specially, a foreign one.

with
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

an iron
σιδηρᾷ (sidēra)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4603: Made of iron. From sideros; made of iron.

scepter;
ῥάβδῳ (rhabdō)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4464: A rod, staff, staff of authority, scepter. From the base of rhapizo; a stick or wand.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

her
αὐτῆς (autēs)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

child
τέκνον (teknon)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5043: A child, descendent, inhabitant. From the base of timoria; a child.

was caught up
ἡρπάσθη (hērpasthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 726: To seize, snatch, obtain by robbery. From a derivative of haireomai; to seize.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

God
Θεὸν (Theon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

throne.
θρόνον (thronon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2362: From thrao; a stately seat; by implication, power or a potentate.


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NT Prophecy: Revelation 12:5 She gave birth to a son (Rev. Re Apocalypse)
Revelation 12:4
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