Revelation 12:1 Meaning and Explanation
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A radiant woman appears in heaven, clothed with the sun, standing on the moon, and crowned with twelve stars.
What Does Revelation 12:1 Mean?
The vision shifts from the trumpets and the temple to a great sign written across the sky. John sees a woman robed in light, the moon beneath her feet and twelve stars on her brow. She is the first of three figures in this chapter, set against the dragon and the man child she will bear.
Everything about her speaks of glory and covenant. Sun, moon, and stars echo Joseph's dream of the family of promise, and the twelve stars gather up the tribes from whom the Messiah comes. She is the faithful people through whom God's purpose enters the world. To behold her is to see that the long story of God's covenant is heading somewhere, toward a child the whole vision waits upon.
Revelation 12:1 in the Original Language
sēmeion (σημεῖον), 'wonder' -- a sign, an image that points beyond itself to a deeper meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 12:1
What does Revelation 12:1 mean?
A radiant woman appears in heaven, clothed with the sun, standing on the moon, and crowned with twelve stars.