Revelation 13:16 Meaning and Explanation
“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:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The second beast compels everyone, of every rank, to receive its mark on the right hand or the forehead.
What Does Revelation 13:16 Mean?
The second beast imposes a mark on all people without exception, small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, placed on the right hand or the forehead. No class of person is left outside the demand; the whole of society is pressed to be branded as belonging to the beast.
The mark on hand and forehead is a grim counterfeit of the call to love God with heart and strength and to bind his words upon hand and brow. Where God seals his own with his name, the beast brands its own with its claim. The reader sees that allegiance is never private; it leaves a mark on what we do (the hand) and what we think (the forehead). The question pressed upon every soul is simply whose mark it bears.
Revelation 13:16 in the Original Language
charagma (χάραγμα), 'mark' -- a stamp or brand, like an imperial seal denoting ownership or allegiance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 13:16
What does Revelation 13:16 mean?
The second beast compels everyone, of every rank, to receive its mark on the right hand or the forehead.