Revelation 12:16
ESV
But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.
NIV
But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
NASB
But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth.
CSB
But the earth helped the woman. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth.
NLT
But the earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the dragon.
KJV
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
NKJV
But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.
What does Revelation 12:16 mean?
Prior verses have depicted a woman—symbolizing Israel—fleeing a dragon—symbolizing Satan. Satan's latest attempt to destroy Israel is poetically described as a flood coming from the serpent's mouth. According to this verse, the serpent's attempt to sweep away the woman fails, because God helps her. Most likely, the "river" is an army intent on invading and destroying Israel. God opens the earth to swallow the flood/river—typically identified as the northern army described in Ezekiel 38 and Joel 1—that the serpent sends to destroy Israel. This apparently refers to a natural phenomenon, possibly an earthquake.Ezekiel predicted this devastating earthquake that destroys the northern army. He wrote: "But on that day, the day that Gog shall come against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, my wrath will be roused in my anger. For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. … And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. …With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain upon him and his hordes and the many peoples who are with him torrential rains and hailstones, fire, and sulfur" (Ezekiel 38:18–22).
