REV 13:16-18

The Mark of the Beast

16And it causes all — the small and the great, and the rich and the utterly destitute, and the free and the slaves — that they be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

17and that no one may buy or sell except the one who has the mark — the name of the beast or the number of its name.

18Here is wisdom: the one who has understanding, let him count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person, and his number is 666.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Roman Empire, economic and social life was tightly controlled through systems of patronage, taxation, and trade regulations. The mark described here would have evoked imagery of imperial branding, such as the seals on official documents, coins bearing the emperor’s image, or even the branding of slaves and livestock. The mention of the mark on the right hand or forehead suggests a public, visible sign of allegiance, akin to Roman military tattoos or religious markings used in cultic practices. The restriction on buying or selling would have resonated deeply in a society where access to markets was essential for survival, especially for the poor and slaves , who had no alternative means of subsistence. The number 666, written in Greek letters, would have been understood as a cipher or code, a common practice in apocalyptic literature to veil criticism of imperial power. For Jewish and Christian audiences, this passage would have been a stark warning against compromising with Roman idolatry and economic coercion.

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How other translations render this

REV 13:16

KJV: And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
BSB: And the second beast required all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
Koinōnos: And it causes all — the small and the great, and the rich and the utterly destitute, and the free and the slaves — that they be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

REV 13:17

KJV: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
BSB: so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.
Koinōnos: and that no one may buy or sell except the one who has the mark — the name of the beast or the number of its name.

REV 13:18

KJV: Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
BSB: Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and that number is 666.
Koinōnos: Here is wisdom: the one who has understanding, let him count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person, and his number is 666.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

REV 13:16

poor:The word translated 'poor' here referred to someone who was utterly destitute, often a beggar, completely dependent on others for survival, rather than simply someone of low economic status.
servants,:The term used here for 'servants' more accurately describes a 'slave' or 'bondservant'—someone who was the property of another, with no personal rights or freedoms.
a mark:The word translated 'a mark' referred to an engraved, imprinted, or branded symbol, often used for identification, ownership, or as a seal.

REV 13:17

of the:The word translated 'of the' is part of a phrase referring to a 'wild animal' or 'beast,' often implying a dangerous or untamed creature, rather than a domesticated one.