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A DragonUnknown artist/maker (Franco-Flemish), illuminator · about 1270

Dragon(crocodile)

/DRAG-un/

Summary

A term used in Scripture for various great monsters or serpents, and in Revelation as a symbol for Satan, the adversary of God and His people.

☩Old Testament Usage

The Hebrew words translated 'dragon' (tannin and tan) refer to various creatures. Tannin denotes any great monster, whether land or sea—including large serpents, sea creatures, and the crocodile as Egypt's emblem. The word is applied metaphorically to Pharaoh and Egypt, picturing the king as the great dragon lying in the midst of his rivers. Tan (plural tannim), often rendered 'jackals' in modern translations, refers to creatures inhabiting desolate places, used to describe lands given over to utter ruin.

Key verses:Ezekiel 29:3Ezekiel 32:2Isaiah 34:13Jeremiah 9:11Psalm 74:13

☩The Dragon in Revelation

In the New Testament, dragon (Greek drakon) appears only in the Apocalypse, where it symbolizes Satan. The 'great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns' represents Satan's power working through the Roman empire, which attempted to destroy Christ at His birth through Herod. This dragon gives the beast its throne and authority, and is explicitly identified as 'that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan,' linking back to the serpent of Genesis 3.

Key verses:Revelation 12:3-9Revelation 13:2-4Revelation 20:2

☩Symbolism and Mythological Background

The dragon image draws on ancient Near Eastern mythology, particularly the Babylonian story of the conflict between Marduk and Tiamat, the chaos monster. In Scripture, this imagery is adapted to portray God's victory over the forces of evil and chaos. The red color of the apocalyptic dragon signifies that Satan was 'a murderer from the beginning.' Dragon worship existed in various ancient cultures, and dragon standards were used in Egypt, Babylon, and among the Celts.

Key verses:Isaiah 27:1Isaiah 51:9Psalm 74:13-14

Related Verses31 mentions

Revelation· 13 verses

12:312:412:712:912:13

Psalms· 4 verses

44:1974:1391:13148:7

Isaiah· 4 verses

13:2227:134:1351:9

Jeremiah· 4 verses

9:1110:2251:3451:37

See Also

The Animals Entering Noah's Ark, oil on canvas painting by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione called Il Grechetto
Animals
Whale
Whale

References

  1. 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Dragon," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
  2. 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Dragon," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
  3. 3.George Morrish, "Dragon," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
  4. 4.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Dragon," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
  5. 5.James Hastings (ed.), "Dragon," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).