Revelation 12:15

13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.

14 But 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.

Then from the mouth of the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent.

16 But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that had poured from the dragon’s mouth.

17 And the dragon was enraged at the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then from the mouth of the serpent spewed water like a river to overtake the woman and sweep her away in the torrent.
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.
WEB
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.
ASV
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.
DARBY
And the serpent cast out of his mouth behind the woman water as a river, that he might make her be [as] one carried away by a river.
BLB
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a river after the woman, so that he might cause her to be carried away by the river.
ÅB
Og slangen sprutet av sin munn vann som en elv etter kvinnen, for å rive henne bort med elven;
OTB
Så spydde slangen vann som en elv ut av sin munn etter kvinnen, så han kunne få henne til å bli feid bort med flommen.
B1930
Og slangen sprutet av sin munn vann som en elv efter kvinnen, for å rive henne bort med elven;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 8:7

    the Lord will surely bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates — the king of Assyria and all his pomp. It will overflow its channels and overrun its banks.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 59:19

    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.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 18:4

    The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 65:7

    You stilled the roaring of the seas, the pounding of their waves, and the tumult of the nations.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 28:2

    Behold, the Lord has one who is strong and mighty. Like a hailstorm or destructive tempest, like a driving rain or flooding downpour, he will smash that crown to the ground.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 17:15

    Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 93:3–4

    The floodwaters have risen, O LORD; the rivers have raised their voice; the seas lift up their pounding waves.

    Read in context