Revelation 13:17

Translations

Modern

…so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.

Traditional

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.

Literal

…and that no one may be able to buy or to sell, except the one having the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.

Latin

…et nequis possit emere, aut vendere, nisi qui habet caracterem, aut nomen bestiæ, aut numerum nominis ejus.

Original

Greek

English

…so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.

Notes

Revelation 13:16–17

small and great, rich and poor, free and slave: Everyone must accept the beast's evil mark of ownership (see Revelation 14:9, 11; 19:20; 20:4). This mark is needed to buy or sell. The text does not clearly describe what the mark is or how it looks.
On the right hand or forehead suggests the branding of slaves, showing the beast owns them.
the name of the beast or the number of its name: In both Hebrew and Greek, letters of the alphabet stand for numbers, giving names a numerical value (Revelation 13:18).

Revelation 13:11–18

another beast: This second beast, the third member of the evil trinity (see study note on Revelation 12:18–13:18), is later called the false prophet (16:13). As a high priest of false religion, he leads the world to worship the first beast and the dragon (see also 16:13–14).

Revelation 12:18–13:18

John shows that the dragon carries out his war (Revelation 12:17) through two beasts. Together with Satan, these three form an evil trinity, meaning three evil beings acting together as one group.

Revelation 12:1–14:20

The people of God are pictured as a woman who gives birth to the Messiah. Even though the devil has already been defeated, he continues to attack her and her children (Revelation 12:1–17). With his two followers, the beast and the false prophet, Satan tries to keep controlling the world (Revelation 13:1–18) before the final battle with the Lord (14:1–20).

Theme notes and profiles

The Antichrist The Purpose of the Judgments Visions

Related verses

Revelation 13:16
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,
Revelation 14:11
And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
Revelation 15:2
And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, beside which stood those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name. They were holding harps from God,
Revelation 22:4
They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
Revelation 14:9
And a third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Revelation 13:18
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.
Revelation 3:12
The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.
Revelation 17:5
And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Glossary

Antichrist Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of Revelation Horn Lucifer Mark of God, Mark of the Beast Persecution

Topics

666 Last Days Mark of the Beast New World Order NWO Vision of John on the Island of Patmos: The Beast Coming out of the Earth

Revelation 13:17

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