Devine Scripture

Revelation 13:17

What does Revelation 13:17 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 13:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 13:17 means

Without the mark—defined as the name of the beast or the number of his name—no one may buy or sell. Economic life is harnessed to idolatry. This is sophisticated coercion: starve dissent without needing constant executions. The mark ties identity to commerce, forcing a choice between faithfulness and livelihood. It exposes how love of comfort can be a snare and how righteousness may exact a financial cost. The verse cautions that systems can embody worship, not just rituals. To resist such a regime will require not only courage in the face of death but also endurance in the face of deprivation, trusting that the God who owns all can sustain those who refuse the beast’s credentials.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and 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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and 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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So that no man might be able to do trade but he who has the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and that no one may be able to buy, or to sell, except he who is having the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And that no man might buy or sell, but he that hath the character, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and that no one should be able to buy or sell save he that had the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of its name.

Context

After mandating the mark in verse 16, verse 17 defines its function: gatekeeping access to the marketplace. This prepares for the final verse, which invites wisdom to reckon with the number of the beast. The narrative has shifted from wonder to worship to war to wallet—complete societal control. Identifying the number in verse 18 is not mere curiosity; it guides discernment about the nature of the system believers must resist.

v.16And 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;

v.17This passage

v.18Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 13:18

    Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.

  • Revelation 3:12

    He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.

  • Revelation 22:4

    and they shall see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads.

  • Revelation 13:16

    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;

  • Revelation 14:9

    And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand,

  • Revelation 14:11

    and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name.

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