δράκων G1404
dragon, great serpent — a fearsome reptilian creature symbolizing Satan in apocalyptic vision
Drakon in classical Greek denoted a large serpent or mythical dragon, likely derived from derkomai ('to see keenly'), referring to the creature's piercing gaze. All 13 New Testament occurrences appear in Revelation, where the dragon is explicitly identified as 'that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan' (Rev 12:9, 20:2). John's apocalyptic vision portrays a great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns (Rev 12:3) waging cosmic war against the woman and her offspring. The dragon imagery draws on deep Old Testament roots — Leviathan, Rahab, the sea monster — recast as a definitive symbol of satanic opposition to God's purposes. Translations are consistent: Spanish 'dragon,' French 'dragon,' German 'Drache.'
Senses
1. sense 1 — A great serpentine or reptilian monster, used exclusively in Revelation as a symbol for Satan. The dragon is introduced as a fiery-red creature with seven heads and ten horns (Rev 12:3), wages war in heaven against Michael (Rev 12:7), is identified as the ancient serpent and the Devil (Rev 12:9, 20:2), empowers the beast from the sea (Rev 13:2-4), and is ultimately bound and cast into the abyss (Rev 20:2-3). All 13 NT occurrences belong to this single apocalyptic referent, drawing on ancient Near Eastern chaos-monster imagery reshaped by John's theological vision. 13×
AR["التِّنّينِ", "تِنّينٌ", "تِنّينٍ", "تِنّينُ", "تِنّينِ"]·ben["ড্রাগন", "ড্রাগনকে", "ড্রাগনের", "নাগকে"]·DE["Drache"]·EN["a-dragon", "dragon"]·FR["dragon"]·heb["הַתַּנִּין", "תַּנִּין"]·HI["अजगर", "अजगर-के", "अजगर-को", "अजगर।"]·ID["naga", "naga,", "naga;"]·IT["dragone"]·jav["naga"]·KO["용", "용-에게", "용-의", "용을", "용이"]·PT["dragão"]·RU["дракон", "дракон,", "дракон;", "дракона", "дракона,", "дракону,"]·ES["dragón", "dragón,"]·SW["joka", "joka,"]·TR["ejderha", "ejderhanın", "ejderhaya", "ejderhayla", "ejderhayı"]·urd["اژدھا", "اژدھے-نے", "اژدھے-کو", "اژدھے-کے", "اژدہا", "اژدہے", "اژدہے-نے", "اژدہے-کو"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
δράκων [ᾰ], οντος, o(: (probably from δέρκομαι, δρᾰκεῖν,Refs 3rd c.AD+:— dragon, serpent, Refs 8th c.BC+; perhaps a water-snake, Refs __II the constellation Draco, Refs 4th c.BC+ __III a sea-fish, the great weever, Refs 5th c.BC+ __IV ={κηρύκειον}, probably a wand with a serpent coiled round it, Refs 5th c.BC+ __IV.2 serpent-shaped bracelet or necklace, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __IV.3 a noose or crossed…