Keraia
Revelation 13

Revelation 13:18

The Mark of the Beast · Revelation 13:16–18
Read Revelation 13

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
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.
Literal
Here is the wisdom. The one having understanding, let him count the number of the beast, for it is a man’s number, and its number is six hundred sixty-six.
Latin
Hic sapientia est. Qui habet intellectum, computet numerum bestiæ. Numerus enim hominis est: et numerus ejus sexcenti sexaginta sex.

Original

Greek
English
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.

Notes

Revelation 13:18

  • a call for wisdom: John gives a clue to help his readers understand the meaning of the beast’s number.

  • of a man: John hides the man’s identity, possibly to protect himself and his readers from danger (compare the use of Babylon as a symbol for Rome, Revelation 17:9).

  • The number 666 represents supernatural evil (see “Symbolic Numbers” Theme Note). John might have used the transliteration Caesar Neron (a Hebrew spelling of the name) to reach the number 666. Later scribes, who spoke Greek but not Hebrew, changed the number to 616 in some manuscripts, likely to match the name’s numerical value in Greek.

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

Symbolic Numbers The Antichrist Visions

Glossary

Antichrist Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Book of Revelation Gematria Horn Lucifer Mark of God, Mark of the Beast Numbers and Numerology Persecution Riddle Six Hundred Sixty-Six

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