Revelation 13:17 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Only those bearing the beast's mark, name, or number are permitted to buy or sell.
What Does Revelation 13:17 Mean?
The mark becomes the price of ordinary life. No one may buy or sell without it, or without the name of the beast or the number of its name. Economic survival is tied to submission, so that to refuse the mark is to be shut out of the marketplace itself.
Here pressure grows subtle and total. Not by sword alone but by hunger and exclusion the beast seeks to compel allegiance, making faithfulness costly in daily bread. The believer is brought to a sharp test: provision now or integrity before God. The reader is prepared to trust the Lord who feeds the birds and clothes the lilies, and to remember that the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills can sustain his people even when the world's doors are closed against them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 13:17
What does Revelation 13:17 mean?
Only those bearing the beast's mark, name, or number are permitted to buy or sell.