Devine Scripture

Revelation 13:16

What does Revelation 13:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 13:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 13:16 means

The second beast compels all classes—small and great, rich and poor, free and bond—to receive a mark on the right hand or forehead. This universalizes allegiance, branding thought and deed, identity and action. The locations echo visible loyalty and practical compliance. The mark counters God’s sealing of His servants elsewhere in Revelation, presenting a rival claim of ownership. Evil seeks not only occasional homage but total belonging. No one is beneath notice; none are above control. The verse warns that the pressure will be intensely personal and inescapable, aiming to habituate society into recognizing the beast’s authority as normal and necessary. Allegiance is no longer private conviction but a public credential.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he gives to all, small and great, the poor and those who have wealth, the free and those who are not free, a mark on their right hand or on their brows;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

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,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

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;

Context

Following the death threat of verse 15, verse 16 extends control into daily life with a compulsory mark. This sets up verse 17’s economic sanction—no buying or selling without it. The flow shows how worship becomes policy and policy becomes participation. Readers must see that the conflict is not confined to temples and tribunals; it reaches into every purchase and workplace. The mark prepares for the number unveiled in verse 18.

v.15And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

v.16This passage

v.17and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 15:2

    And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that come off victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of God.

  • Ephesians 6:8

    knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

  • 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 thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great.

  • Galatians 3:28

    There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus.

  • Revelation 19:20

    And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:

  • Psalms 115:13

    He will bless them that fear Jehovah, Both small and great.

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