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, (Revelation 12:3)
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 |
Theological Portraiture of a Counterfeit Majesty
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.
