1. Revelation 20:2 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What does the word “seized” mean?

Revelation 20:2 (ESV)

2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,

The word employed here is used to describe what Herod did to John the Baptist (Mark 6:17) and the chief priests and scribes did to Jesus (Mark 14:1, Mark 14:44, Mark 14:46). The term “seized” is functionally the equivalent to our word “arrest.” Arresting includes handcuffing, done in this case with the great chain.