1404. drakón
Lexical Summary
drakón: Dragon

Original Word: δράκων
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: drakón
Pronunciation: dra'-kone
Phonetic Spelling: (drak'-own)
KJV: dragon
NASB: dragon
Word Origin: [probably from an alternate form of derkomai "to look"]

1. a fabulous kind of serpent (perhaps as supposed to fascinate)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
dragon.

Probably from an alternate form of derkomai (to look); a fabulous kind of serpent (perhaps as supposed to fascinate) -- dragon.

HELPS Word-studies

1404 drákōn (from derkomai, "to see," the root of the English term, "dragon") – properly "seeing one," used of mythical dragons (huge serpents) seeing their prey from far away; (figuratively) Satan (Rev 12:7,9) exercising his subtle (indirect) impact on heathen governments (powers) – i.e. accomplishing his hellish agenda from "behind the scenes."

[The ancient Greeks classified a "dragon" (1404 /drákōn) as a type of serpent. 1404 /drákōn ("a dragon") was believed to have incredible insight, able to spot prey in any hiding place.]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from an alt. form of derkomai (to look)
Definition
a dragon (a mythical monster)
NASB Translation
dragon (13).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1404: δράκων

δράκων, δράκοντος, (apparently from δέρκομαι, 2 aorist ἔδρακον; hence, δράκων, properly, equivalent to ὀξύ βλέπων (Etym. Magn. 286, 7; cf. Curtius, § 13)); the Sept. chiefly for תָּנִּין; a dragon, a great serpent, a fabulous animal (so as early as Homer, Iliad 2, 308f, etc.). From it, after Genesis 3:1ff, is derived the figurative description of the devil in Revelation 12:3-17; Revelation 13:2, 4, 11; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 20:2. (Cf. Baudissin, Studien zur semitisch. Religionsgesch. vol. i. (iv. 4), p. 281ff.)

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 1404 portrays a personal, malevolent being who opposes God’s purposes from Genesis to Revelation. All thirteen New Testament uses appear in the Apocalypse, where the dragon stands as the chief antagonist of Christ, His people, and His kingdom.

Symbolic Identity and Old Testament Roots

Revelation equates the dragon with “that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). The link to “serpent” recalls Genesis 3 and Isaiah’s imagery of Leviathan (Isaiah 27:1), showing unified biblical testimony: the same adversary who tempted humanity in Eden resurfaces at the culmination of history. Prophetic texts that speak of a sea-monster or great serpent (Job 26:12-13; Psalm 74:13-14) foreshadow the dragon’s final defeat, underscoring Scripture’s thematic coherence.

Occurrences and Literary Function in Revelation

1. Revelation 12:3–4 introduces “a great red dragon” whose sweeping tail casts a third of the stars to earth, picturing primordial rebellion and cosmic scale.
2. Revelation 12:7–9 depicts heaven’s war: Michael prevails, the dragon is expelled, and his true identity is unmasked.
3. Revelation 12:13–17 narrates the dragon’s persecution of the woman and her offspring, portraying ongoing conflict between the devil and the covenant community.
4. Revelation 13:2, 4, 11 transfers the dragon’s power to the beast and inspires global worship, showing counterfeit sovereignty.
5. Revelation 16:13 aligns the dragon with the beast and the false prophet in an unholy triad that sends deceptive spirits to gather the kings for Armageddon.
6. Revelation 20:2 records the dragon’s binding for a thousand years, foreshadowing his ultimate doom.

Narrative Progression

The storyline moves from the dragon’s heavenly expulsion (chapter 12) to his earthly rage (chapters 12–13), strategic deception (chapter 16), temporary restraint (chapter 20), and, though outside the word’s occurrences, final destruction in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). The sequence magnifies both the seriousness of satanic opposition and the certainty of divine victory.

Theological Significance

1. Christological Contrast: The dragon offers counterfeit crowns and authority (Revelation 12:3; 13:2), whereas Jesus wears “many crowns” earned by righteous conquest (Revelation 19:12).
2. Ecclesiological Comfort: The woman’s offspring—“those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12:17)—are preserved despite furious assault, assuring believers of God’s protection.
3. Missiological Mandate: Global deception and dragon-inspired worship (Revelation 13:4) heighten the urgency of gospel proclamation, for only truth liberates from satanic falsehood.
4. Eschatological Hope: The dragon’s binding and forthcoming judgment guarantee the consummation of God’s kingdom, inspiring perseverance.

Practical Ministry Considerations

• Spiritual Warfare: Pastors should equip saints with the whole armor of God, knowing the dragon’s primary weapons are accusation (Revelation 12:10) and deceit.
• Discernment: Congregations must test spirits and ideologies, recognizing that any system seeking worship apart from Christ echoes the dragon’s agenda.
• Worship Focus: Revelation’s glorious visions direct honor to God and the Lamb, countering cultural tendencies to venerate power structures energized by the dragon.
• Encouragement in Persecution: The dragon’s limited timeframe (“he knows his time is short,” Revelation 12:12) heartens suffering believers.

Related Imagery in Scripture

Serpent (Genesis 3:1-15), Leviathan (Psalm 74:14; Isaiah 27:1), roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), and the accuser (Job 1:9-11; Zechariah 3:1-2) present complementary facets of the same enemy, enriching the portrait supplied by the dragon metaphor.

Summary

Strong’s 1404 encapsulates the Bible’s portrayal of Satan as a formidable yet doomed foe. Revelation gathers earlier motifs, exposes his strategies, and unveils his defeat. For the church, these passages foster vigilance, confidence, and worship of the One who “will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20).

Forms and Transliterations
δράκα δράκας δρακί δρακοντα δράκοντα δράκοντες δρακοντι δράκοντι δρακοντος δράκοντος δρακόντων δρακός δρακων δρακών δράκων δράξ δραξί drakon drakōn drákon drákōn drakonta drákonta drakonti drákonti drakontos drákontos
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Englishman's Concordance
Revelation 12:3 N-NMS
GRK: καὶ ἰδοὺ δράκων μέγας πυρρός
NAS: a great red dragon having seven
KJV: a great red dragon, having seven
INT: and behold a dragon great red

Revelation 12:4 N-NMS
GRK: καὶ ὁ δράκων ἔστηκεν ἐνώπιον
NAS: them to the earth. And the dragon stood
KJV: the earth: and the dragon stood before
INT: And the dragon stands before

Revelation 12:7 N-GMS
GRK: μετὰ τοῦ δράκοντος καὶ ὁ
NAS: war with the dragon. The dragon
KJV: against the dragon; and
INT: against the dragon and the

Revelation 12:7 N-NMS
GRK: καὶ ὁ δράκων ἐπολέμησεν καὶ
NAS: with the dragon. The dragon and his angels
KJV: the dragon; and the dragon fought and
INT: and the dragon warred and

Revelation 12:9 N-NMS
GRK: ἐβλήθη ὁ δράκων ὁ μέγας
NAS: And the great dragon was thrown
KJV: the great dragon was cast out,
INT: was cast [out] the dragon great

Revelation 12:13 N-NMS
GRK: εἶδεν ὁ δράκων ὅτι ἐβλήθη
NAS: And when the dragon saw
KJV: And when the dragon saw that
INT: saw the dragon that he was cast

Revelation 12:16 N-NMS
GRK: ἔβαλεν ὁ δράκων ἐκ τοῦ
NAS: which the dragon poured
KJV: the flood which the dragon cast out of
INT: cast the dragon out of the

Revelation 12:17 N-NMS
GRK: ὠργίσθη ὁ δράκων ἐπὶ τῇ
NAS: So the dragon was enraged
KJV: And the dragon was wroth with
INT: was angry the dragon with the

Revelation 13:2 N-NMS
GRK: αὐτῷ ὁ δράκων τὴν δύναμιν
NAS: of a lion. And the dragon gave
KJV: of a lion: and the dragon gave him
INT: to it the dragon the power

Revelation 13:4 N-DMS
GRK: προσεκύνησαν τῷ δράκοντι ὅτι ἔδωκεν
NAS: they worshiped the dragon because
KJV: they worshipped the dragon which
INT: they worshipped the dragon who gave

Revelation 13:11 N-NMS
GRK: ἐλάλει ὡς δράκων
NAS: a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.
KJV: he spake as a dragon.
INT: spoke as a dragon

Revelation 16:13 N-GMS
GRK: στόματος τοῦ δράκοντος καὶ ἐκ
NAS: [coming] out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth
KJV: the mouth of the dragon, and
INT: mouth of the dragon and out of

Revelation 20:2 N-AMS
GRK: ἐκράτησεν τὸν δράκοντα ὁ ὄφις
NAS: And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent
KJV: he laid hold on the dragon, that old
INT: he laid hold of the dragon the serpent

Strong's Greek 1404
13 Occurrences


δράκων — 9 Occ.
δράκοντα — 1 Occ.
δράκοντι — 1 Occ.
δράκοντος — 2 Occ.

1403
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