Revelation 13:16
New International Version
It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,

New Living Translation
He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead.

English Standard Version
Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,

Berean Standard Bible
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,

Berean Literal Bible
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,

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,

New American Standard Bible
And he causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,

NASB 1995
And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

NASB 1977
And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead,

Legacy Standard Bible
And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, that they be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

Amplified Bible
Also he compels all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead [signifying allegiance to the beast],

Christian Standard Bible
And it makes everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And he requires everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,

American Standard Version
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;

Contemporary English Version
All people were forced to put a mark on their right hand or forehead. Whether they were powerful or weak, rich or poor, free people or slaves,

English Revised Version
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;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The second beast forces all people-important and unimportant people, rich and poor people, free people and slaves-to be branded on their right hands or on their foreheads.

Good News Translation
The beast forced all the people, small and great, rich and poor, slave and free, to have a mark placed on their right hands or on their foreheads.

International Standard Version
The second beast forces all people—important and unimportant, rich and poor, free and slaves—to be marked on their right hands or on their foreheads,

Majority Standard Bible
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,

NET Bible
He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.

New Heart English Bible
He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead;

Webster's Bible Translation
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:

Weymouth New Testament
And he causes all, small and great, rich and poor, free men and slaves, to have stamped upon them a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,

World English Bible
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;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it makes all, the small, and the great, and the rich, and the poor, and the freemen, and the servants, that it may give to them a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,

Berean Literal Bible
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,

Young's Literal Translation
And it maketh all, the small, and the great, and the rich, and the poor, and the freemen, and the servants, that it may give to them a mark upon their right hand or upon their foreheads,

Smith's Literal Translation
And he makes all, small and great, and rich and poor, and free and servants, that he should give them a stamp upon their right hand, or upon their foreheads:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he shall make all, both little and great, rich and poor, freemen and bondmen, to have a character in their right hand, or on their foreheads.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And she will cause everyone, small and great, wealthy and poor, free and servant, to have a character on their right hand or on their foreheads,

New American Bible
It forced all the people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to be given a stamped image on their right hands or their foreheads,

New Revised Standard Version
Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he compelled all, both small and great, rich and poor, freemen and slaves to receive a mark on their right hands or on their brows:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And it will cause all, small and great, rich and poor, Masters and Servants, to be given a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he causes all, small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead,

Godbey New Testament
And he causes all, small and great, both rich and poor, both free and bond, that they may give them a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead:

Haweis New Testament
And he causeth all the small and the great, the rich and the poor, the freemen and the slaves, to receive a brand upon their right hand, and upon their foreheads:

Mace New Testament
he likewise obliged all, both small and great, rich and poor, the freeman and the slave, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and order'd,

Weymouth New Testament
And he causes all, small and great, rich and poor, free men and slaves, to have stamped upon them a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,

Worrell New Testament
And he causes 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 on their forehead;

Worsley New Testament
And he maketh all, both small and great, rich and poor, free-men and slaves, to receive a mark on their right hand, or on their foreheads: and that no one might buy or sell,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Mark of the Beast
15The 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. 16And 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, 17so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name.…

Cross References
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, / he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. / 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 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.

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.

Revelation 16:2
So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

Revelation 14:1
Then I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

Revelation 7:3
“Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have placed a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Daniel 3:4-6
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded: / As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. / And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.”

Daniel 7:25
He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.

Daniel 11:36
Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished.

Daniel 12:10
Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.

Ezekiel 9:4-6
“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.” / And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone! / Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.

Deuteronomy 6:8
Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

both.

Revelation 11:18
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Revelation 19:5,18
And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great…

Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

rich.

Job 34:19
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

Psalm 49:2
Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

free.

Revelation 6:15
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

Revelation 19:18
That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

receive.

Revelation 14:9-11
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, …

Revelation 15:2
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Revelation 19:20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

or.

Revelation 7:3
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Exodus 13:9
And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 6:8
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Jump to Previous
Bond Bondmen Brows Causes Causeth Forced Forehead Foreheads Free Freemen Gives Great Hand Hands Maketh Mark Marked Marks Poor Receive Rich Right Slave Slaves Small Stamped Wealth
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Bond Bondmen Brows Causes Causeth Forced Forehead Foreheads Free Freemen Gives Great Hand Hands Maketh Mark Marked Marks Poor Receive Rich Right Slave Slaves Small Stamped Wealth
Revelation 13
1. A beast rises out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns, to whom the dragon gives his power.
11. Another beast comes out of the earth,
14. causes an image to be made of the former beast,
15. and that men should worship it,
16. and receive his mark.














And the second beast
The "second beast" in Revelation 13 is often interpreted as the false prophet, a figure that works in conjunction with the first beast, typically understood as the Antichrist. The Greek word for "beast" here is "θηρίον" (thērion), which conveys a sense of a wild, untamed creature. This imagery suggests a force of chaos and opposition to God's order. Historically, this beast is seen as a symbol of deceptive power, leading people away from the truth of the Gospel.

required all people
The phrase "required all people" indicates a universal imposition, suggesting that the influence of the second beast is extensive and pervasive. The Greek word "ποιεῖ" (poiei) implies an active enforcement, not merely a suggestion. This reflects the totalitarian nature of the beast's regime, reminiscent of historical empires that demanded absolute allegiance, often at the cost of personal freedom and conscience.

small and great, rich and poor, free and slave
This phrase emphasizes the inclusivity of the beast's demand, cutting across all social and economic boundaries. The repetition of pairs highlights the comprehensive reach of the beast's influence. In the historical context of the Roman Empire, such distinctions were significant, yet the beast's power transcends them all, indicating a unifying force of oppression that affects every individual, regardless of status.

to receive a mark
The "mark" is a critical element in this passage, often interpreted as a sign of allegiance to the beast. The Greek word "χάραγμα" (charagma) refers to an engraving or stamp, akin to a brand. This mark is symbolic of ownership and control, reminiscent of the branding of slaves or soldiers in ancient times. It signifies a spiritual and physical submission to the beast's authority, contrasting with the seal of God given to believers.

on their right hand or on their forehead
The specific locations of the mark, "on their right hand or on their forehead," are significant. The right hand symbolizes action and power, while the forehead represents thought and identity. This dual placement suggests a total domination over both the actions and minds of individuals. Biblically, this contrasts with the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:8, where God's commandments are to be bound on the hand and forehead, symbolizing devotion and obedience to God alone.

(16, 17) And he causeth . . .--Better, And he [i.e., probably, the second wild beast, and not the image, as in the latter clause of the last verse] makes all men, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, that they should give them a mark upon their right hand or upon their forehead: (and) that no one should be able to buy or to sell but he who has the mark, the name of the wild beast, or the number of his name. We have read of the sealing of the servants of God in their foreheads (Revelation 7:3): we shall hear of it again (Revelation 22:4); the power of evil also has its mark or stamp. As slaves received a brand or mark in their flesh, betokening to whom they belonged, so in the spiritual conflict there is on the side of good and of evil a brand or mark. St. Paul spoke of such marks in his own body that proved him a slave of Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:17). In the same way the subtle false prophet, the abettor of world-power, seeks to impress a mark on all, on the penalty of complete social exclusion. It is utterly unnecessary to take this brand of evil literally, any more than we took the seal of Christ literally. That seal we understood as spiritual, in the faith and in the character; this evil brand we must interpret in like manner. It surely means the acquiescence in character and action to the principles of this tyrannical world-power: the right hand is the symbol of toil and social intercourse; the forehead is the symbol of character, as time is ever writing its awful tale upon men's brows. There have been days when men's faith has been read only too plainly by a hostile world, and when their simple trust in Christ caused Christians to be suspected, and when "men cast out their name as evil," and when the mark of the beast was worn and gloried in everywhere. We might cite from the history of the past numberless such epochs. But are we sure that the days are gone? Are we sure that it is easy for simple, unaffected goodness and genuine faith to gain all it might gain? Are we sure that honesty, guilelessness, utter and strenuous truthfulness are not weighted in the race of life? The days of the future may bring intenser forms of this tyranny, as the days of the past have shown them; but the days of the present may afford us illustrations of how readily men may lose, lose much and lose terribly, rather than succumb to fashions which violate honour and dishonour Christ. But we read of more than a mark here: we read of a "name," and the "number of a name." What are we to understand by these?

Verse 16. - 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; that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead. Δώσῃ, "he may give," found in the Textus Receptus, is unsupported by any uncial; δῶσιν, "they may give," is read in א, A, B, C, P; and most cursives have either δῶσιν or δώσωσιν. Wordsworth translates, "give to themselves," and adds, "a remarkable sentence, intimating compulsion under the semblance of choice." But it does not seem fair to press the meaning so far. The third plural is often used in a perfectly general way in the Apocalypse (cf. Revelation 12:6, and Moulton's Winer, p. 655), and the Revised Version is probably correct in translating by the passive (vide supra). Certainly the other passages in the Apocalypse, where the mark is mentioned, seem to show that men have absolute freedom of choice (see especially Revelation 14:9 and Revelation 20:4). Again the beast seeks to imitate God (cf. Revelation 3:12, "I will write upon him my new name;" Revelation 22:4, "His name shall be in their foreheads;" Revelation 7:3; Revelation 9:4; Revelation 14:1). The idea is taken kern the Mosaic customs (cf. Deuteronomy 6:8, "And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontiers between thine eyes") Some writers see also an allusion to the heathen custom of branding slaves and others who were devoted to the service of temples; and recall the fact that χαράγματα, or "cuttings," such as are here mentioned, were forbidden to the Jews (Leviticus 19:28).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[the second beast] required
ποιεῖ (poiei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

all
πάντας (pantas)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

[people]
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

small
μικροὺς (mikrous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3398: Little, small. Including the comparative mikroteros apparently a primary word; small (figuratively) dignity).

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

great,
μεγάλους (megalous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

rich
πλουσίους (plousious)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4145: Rich, abounding in, wealthy; subst: a rich man. From ploutos; wealthy; figuratively, abounding with.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

poor,
πτωχούς (ptōchous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4434: Poor, destitute, spiritually poor, either in a good sense (humble devout persons) or bad.

free
ἐλευθέρους (eleutherous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1658: Free, delivered from obligation. Probably from the alternate of erchomai; unrestrained, i.e. not a slave, or exempt.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

slave,
δούλους (doulous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1401: (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.

to
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

receive
δῶσιν (dōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

a mark
χάραγμα (charagma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5480: Sculpture; engraving, a stamp, sign. From the same as charax; a scratch or etching, i.e. Stamp, or scupltured figure.

on
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

right
δεξιᾶς (dexias)
Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1188: On the right hand, right hand, right. From dechomai; the right side or hand.

hand
χειρὸς (cheiros)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5495: A hand.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

on
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

forehead,
μέτωπον (metōpon)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3359: The forehead, front. From meta and ops; the forehead.


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NT Prophecy: Revelation 13:16 He causes all the small and (Rev. Re Apocalypse)
Revelation 13:15
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