Revelation 12:3
καὶ ὤφθη ἄλλο σημεῖον ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, καὶ ἰδοὺ δράκων πυρρὸς μέγας, ἔχων κεφαλὰς ἑπτὰ καὶ κέρατα δέκα, καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτοῦ ἑπτὰ διαδήματα,
And another sign was seen in heaven: behold, a great fiery red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns.
A Sign in the Sky
καὶ ὤφθη ἄλλο σημεῖον ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ – “And another sign appeared in heaven.”
- ὤφθη – aorist passive of ὁράω, “to see,” meaning “was seen” or “appeared.” A divine, visionary passive.
- ἄλλο σημεῖον – “another sign.” σημεῖον refers to a symbolic vision, not a literal entity.
- ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ – locative phrase: the sign is celestial, echoing apocalyptic motifs from Daniel and Ezekiel.
The Apocalyptic Monster
καὶ ἰδοὺ δράκων πυρρὸς μέγας – “and behold, a great fiery red dragon.”
- ἰδοὺ – interjection used in dramatic introductions: “look!” or “behold!”
- δράκων – “dragon,” a mythic beast evoking chaos, Satanic rebellion, and opposition to God.
- πυρρὸς – “fiery red,” a rare word denoting flame-like color, associated with destruction and violence.
- μέγας – “great,” indicating both size and significance in apocalyptic symbolism.
Horns, Heads, and Diadems
ἔχων κεφαλὰς ἑπτὰ καὶ κέρατα δέκα – “having seven heads and ten horns.”
- ἔχων – present participle of ἔχω, “having,” modifying δράκων.
- κεφαλὰς ἑπτά – “seven heads,” representing totality of cunning or authority; parallels with beasts in Daniel 7.
- κέρατα δέκα – “ten horns,” symbolizing power, often military or political might.
καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτοῦ ἑπτὰ διαδήματα – “and on his heads seven diadems.”
- ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς – “upon the heads,” marking location.
- ἑπτὰ διαδήματα – “seven crowns” or “diadems,” royal headbands (not victor’s wreaths). διαδήματα denote imperial rule or claim to kingship.
This signals counterfeit sovereignty and usurped dominion, a satanic parody of divine kingship.
Summary Table
| Greek Phrase | Translation | Form | Function / Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| ὤφθη ἄλλο σημεῖον | another sign was seen | Aorist passive verb | Introduces a symbolic vision in heaven |
| δράκων πυρρὸς μέγας | great fiery red dragon | Noun + adjectives | Symbol of chaos, evil, and destruction |
| ἔχων κεφαλὰς ἑπτὰ καὶ κέρατα δέκα | having seven heads and ten horns | Participial clause | Represents intelligence and power |
| ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς… διαδήματα | on his heads seven crowns | Prepositional phrase + noun | Symbolizes illegitimate royal authority |
Closing Insight
The Greek in Revelation 12:3 paints a cosmic adversary in vivid apocalyptic hues. Every term—dragon, flame, head, horn, diadem—is freighted with symbolic weight. This is not mere fantasy; it’s theological portraiture of evil’s counterfeit majesty poised for war against heaven. The grammar is sharp, structured, and explosive with imagery.
