What Does Revelation 12:9 Mean in the King James?

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 12:9 · KJV
The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

The Slanderer’s name and “cast out” share the Greek throw-root: the one who throws accusation is himself thrown down.

The Slanderer deceives the whole world, yet he is cast out with his messengers. His reach is vast, but it does not make him sovereign: the one who throws accusation is himself thrown down.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that deception reaching the whole world must therefore rule everything. The verse shows the Slanderer under judgment and cast down even at the height of his reach.

διάβολος

diábolos

GROWS FROM

⁨βαλ-⁩/⁨βαλλ-⁩

To throw, cast, or hurl.

⁨διάβολος⁩ (diábolos) is the name translated “Devil,” from ⁨διαβάλλω⁩ (diabállō), “to slander” or “accuse,” built on ⁨βάλλω⁩ (bállō), “to throw.” The verse then says he is ⁨ἐβλήθη⁩ (eblēthē), “was thrown”: the accusing thrower is himself thrown down.

ALSO GROWS

diabállō: Slander, accuse.

διαβάλλω

This compound carries the ⁨βάλλω⁩ throw-root into the act of accusation; it is the word-family behind ⁨διάβολος⁩, the Slanderer.

ekbállō: Cast out, drive out.

ἐκβάλλω

Adding ⁨ἐκ-⁩ (“out”) to the same throw-root makes explicit the expulsion echoed in ⁨ἐβλήθη⁩.

πλανῶν

planōn

GROWS FROM

πλαν-

To wander, cause to wander, or lead astray.

“deceiveth” in this verse is planōn. The Greek word pictures deception as leading someone off course. The whole world is not merely told something false; it is made to stray.

ALSO GROWS

plánē: Wandering, error.

πλάνη

The noun keeps the motion of straying in view: the deception in the verse takes the world away from its course.

plános: Deceiver, one who leads astray.

πλάνος

This related word names the deceiving agent, keeping the focus on the one who causes others to wander.

The power to mislead or accuse does not secure the adversary’s place; the one who casts others down is also cast down.

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Genesis 3:15 · KJVThe serpent wounds, but its head is crushed: the adversary’s strike is held within its own defeat.
And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luke 10:18 · KJVThe Adversary’s fall shows that his place does not endure.
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
John 12:31 · KJVThe ruler of this world is cast out, showing that this world’s power can be judged and displaced.
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
John 12:31 · KJV

Revelation says the dragon ⁨ἐβλήθη⁩ (eblēthē, “was cast out”), from ⁨βάλλω⁩ (bállō, “throw”); John says the ruler of this world ⁨ἐκβληθήσεται⁩ (ekblēthḗsetai, “will be cast out”), from the same root. The repeated throw-root makes the Slanderer’s displacement a recurring verdict.

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Revelation 12:9 KJV Meaning