Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
His tail (h oura autou). See Revelation 9:10, Revelation 9:19.
Draweth (surei). Present active indicative of surw, old verb, to drag, here alone in the Apocalypse, but see John 21:8.
The third part of the stars (to triton twn asterwn). Like a great comet is this monster. See Daniel 8:10. Perhaps only the third is meant to soften the picture as in Revelation 8:7 f.
Did cast them (ebalen autouv). Second aorist active indicative. Charles takes this to refer to a war in heaven between the good angels and Satan, with the fall of some angels (Judges 1:6). But John may have in mind the martyrs before Christ (Hebrews 11:32 f.) and after Christ's ascension (Matthew 23:35).
Stood (esthken). Imperfect active of a late verb, sthkw, from the perfect esthka of isthmi, graphic picture of the dragon's challenge of the woman who is about to give birth.
When she was delivered (otan tekh). Indefinite temporal clause with otan and the second aorist active subjunctive of tiktw, "whenever she gives birth."
That he might devour (ina katafagh). Purpose clause with ina and the second aorist active subjunctive of katesqiw, to eat up (down). Cf. 28:34. This is what Pharaoh did to Israel (Exodus 1:15-22; Psalms 85:13; Isaiah 27:1; Isaiah 51:9; Ezekiel 29:3). Precisely so the devil tried to destroy the child Jesus on his birth.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Revelation 12:4:
Revelation 8:5
Revelation 9:10
Revelation 12:2
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