Revelation 12:1 (WEB)
A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Revelation 12:1 (KJV)
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:
Key words
- σημεῖονsēmeion · Greek
- 'wonder' — literally 'sign,' John's word for a revelation with meaning.
- γυνήgynē · Greek
- 'woman' — the Woman of Genesis 3:15 and the 'Woman' of Cana and the cross.
- στέφανοςstephanos · Greek
- 'crown' — of twelve stars; the queen mother wore a crown beside the king (Jeremiah 13:18).
Why it matters
A Woman appears in heaven, clothed with the sun and crowned with twelve stars, about to give birth to the Messiah who rules the nations (v. 5). Pitre reads her as Mary — the New Eve at war with the ancient serpent, the ark just seen in the heavenly temple, and the crowned queen mother of the Davidic King — while allowing that she also represents Israel and the Church. Her crown answers the objection that a 'Queen of Heaven' is a pagan idea.
Fathers and councils · 1
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the saints of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus.”” — editor's note: Rev. xii. 1–6, etc.
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