Revelation 13 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Revelation Chapter 13 (New Testament)
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Revelation Chapter 13 (New Testament)
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 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:
17 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.
18 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.
| Greek Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| θηρίον — thērion | Verse 1 — “A beast rising out of the sea…” | “Beast,” savage creature. | Thērion (“beast”) indicates brutal, oppressive power (“beast”). It personifies anti-Christian authority. The term reflects apocalyptic tyranny. — Richard Trench, Commentary on the Seven Churches (1861) |
| ὁμοίωμα — homoiōma | Verse 2 — “…like unto a leopard…” | “Likeness,” appearance. | Homoiōma (“likeness”) expresses symbolic resemblance (“likeness”). The composite imagery highlights ferocity and speed. The term recalls Danielic prophecy. — Franz Delitzsch, Old Testament Prophecies (1898) |
| προσκυνέω — proskyneō | Verse 4 — “…they worshipped the dragon…” | “Worship,” bow down. | Proskyneō (“to worship”) signifies prostration before divine or demonic beings (“worship/bow”). Here it exposes idolatrous allegiance. The term distinguishes true and false worship. — Joseph Thayer, Lexicon (1889) |
| βλασφημία — blasphēmia | Verse 5 — “…blasphemies…” | “Slander,” profaning speech. | Blasphēmia (“blasphemy”) denotes contempt for God (“blasphemy”). It exposes moral arrogance. The term intensifies the beast’s wickedness. — Philip Schaff, Commentary on Revelation (1882) |
| ποιέω — poieō | Verse 7 — “…to make war with the saints…” | “Do,” carry out. | Poieō (“to do/make”) expresses active hostility (“to commit/make”). The beast enacts war. The term captures intentional aggression. — Westcott, Revelation of the Risen Lord (1898) |
| ὑπομονή — hypomonē | Verse 10 — “Here is the patience of the saints…” | “Endurance,” steadfast perseverance. | Hypomonē (“endurance”) stresses unwavering loyalty to Christ (“steadfastness”). It contrasts saints’ endurance with the beast’s violence. The term marks spiritual strength. — Trench, Synonyms of the NT (1896) |
| ψευδοπροφήτης — pseudoprophētēs | Verse 11 — “…another beast… a false prophet.” | “False prophet,” deceptive teacher. | Pseudoprophētēs (“false prophet”) identifies religious deception (“false prophet”). He supports political tyranny through spiritual lies. The term warns against counterfeit revelation. — Thayer, Lexicon (1889) |
| πλανάω — planaō | Verse 14 — “…deceiveth them…” | “Lead astray,” mislead. | Planaō (“to deceive”) shows deliberate misguidance (“to mislead”). Miracles are used to seduce. The term stresses discernment. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary (1884) |
| χάραγμα — charagma | Verse 16 — “…a mark on their right hand…” | “Engraving,” stamp. | Charagma (“engraved mark”) denotes visible allegiance (“mark”). It symbolizes submission to antichristic authority. The term recalls imperial branding. — James Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (1898) |
| ἀριθμός — arithmos | Verse 18 — “…the number of the beast…” | “Number,” calculation. | Arithmos (“number”) implies symbolic quantitative value (“number”). Six hundred sixty-six expresses human fallenness. The term invites spiritual insight. — Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon (1889) |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| R. H. Charles (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1855–1931) | The Revelation of St. John | The beasts represent political and religious opposition, warning of the dangers of idolatry and oppression. |
| Ferdinand Christian Baur (University of Tübingen, Germany, 1792–1860) | Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ | Baur interprets the chapter as reflecting early Christian awareness of persecution and moral challenge. |
| A. T. Robertson (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, United States, 1863–1934) | Word Pictures in the New Testament | Robertson emphasizes the vivid imagery illustrating evil and deception in the world. |
| Alfred Plummer (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1841–1926) | A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John | Plummer notes the chapter communicates moral caution and the inevitability of divine judgment. |
| Charles B. Williams (Yale University, United States, 1860–1929) | A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Revelation of St. John | Williams highlights the narrative as a combination of symbolic vision and ethical exhortation. |
Revelation Chapter 13
Verse: "He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead" (Revelation 13:16).
Lesson: This verse speaks of the mark of the beast, a sign of allegiance to the Antichrist. It is a reminder that we must always be vigilant in our faith and not be swayed by the pressures of the world. We must be careful not to conform to the patterns of this world but to stand firm in our beliefs, no matter what the cost.
Conclusion: The mark of the beast represents a great spiritual danger for believers, and we must be aware of the temptation to conform to the ways of the world. However, we can take comfort in the fact that we have the Holy Spirit to guide and protect us, and that God is ultimately in control.
What's Next? Read Our Bible Verses About Life With Purpose and Encouragement
Prayer Points: Let us pray for the strength to resist the pressures of the world and to stand firm in our faith. Let us ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance and protection, and for God's grace to sustain us in difficult times. May we always be faithful and obedient to God's will, and may we never waver in our commitment to Him.
What's Next? Get A Piano Lesson in Houston or Online from The Alive Christians' School of Music
