Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 12:16

"And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth." — Revelation 12:16 (ASV)

The serpent spews a floodlike river of water out of his mouth to engulf and drown the woman. The water imagery symbolizes destruction by an enemy (69:1–2; 124:2–5; Nahum 1:8) or calamity (Psalms 18:4). As the desert earth absorbs the torrent, so the covenant people will be helped by God and preserved from utter destruction (Isaiah 26:20; Isaiah 42:15; Isaiah 43:2; Isaiah 50:2). Just as the ancient Egyptians of old were swallowed by the earth , so the messianic community will be delivered by God’s power.