Revelation 13:16

14 Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.

15 The second beast was permitted to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship it to be killed.

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,

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

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.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

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,
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:
WEB
He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands or on their foreheads;
ASV
And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead;
DARBY
And it causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bondmen, that they should give them a mark upon their right hand or upon their forehead;
BLB
And it causes all the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the servants, that it should give them a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,
ÅB
Og det gjør at der blir gitt alle, små og store, rike og fattige, frie og slaver, et merke i deres høyre hånd eller på deres panne,
OTB
Det tvang alle mennesker, små og store, rike og fattige, frie og slaver, til å få et merke på sine høyre hender eller på sine panner,
B1930
Og det gjør at der blir gitt alle, små og store, rike og fattige, frie og træler, et merke i deres høire hånd eller på deres panne,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Revelation 20:4

    Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 19:20

    But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 9:4

    “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 6:8

    Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 14:9–11

    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,

    Read in context
  • Revelation 7:3

    “Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

    Read in context
  • Revelation 19:18

    so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great.”

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 11:18

    Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

    Read in context