Revelation 13:18 Meaning and Explanation
“Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The chapter closes with a call to wisdom: to discern the beast's number, the number of a man, six hundred sixty-six.
What Does Revelation 13:18 Mean?
The chapter ends with a summons to wisdom and understanding: to count the number of the beast, which is the number of a man, six hundred threescore and six. The phrase the number of a man grounds this towering power in something merely human, however vast its pretensions.
Whatever its full meaning, the number marks the beast as human and therefore limited, falling short of the fullness that belongs to God. It calls not for fear but for discernment, the wisdom to recognize counterfeit power and refuse to be dazzled by it. The reader is left holding the chapter's great contrast: the mark of the beast against the seal of the Lamb, and is urged to seek the understanding that keeps the heart clear-eyed and the worship rightly placed.
Revelation 13:18 in the Original Language
arithmos (ἀριθμός), 'number' -- a count or reckoning, here a number to be discerned with wisdom.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 13:18
What does Revelation 13:18 mean?
The chapter closes with a call to wisdom: to discern the beast's number, the number of a man, six hundred sixty-six.