Revelation 13:11-18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Second Beast
11 Then I saw another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb, and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound[a] had been healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all,(A) 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to perform on behalf of the beast it deceives the inhabitants of earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword[b] and yet lived,(B) 15 and it was allowed to give breath[c] to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast could even speak and cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 Also, it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be given a brand on the right hand or the forehead,(C) 17 so that no one can buy or sell who does not have the brand, that is, the name of the beast or the number for its name.(D) 18 This calls for wisdom: let anyone with understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number for a person. Its number is six hundred sixty-six.[d](E)
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Revelation 13:11-18
International Standard Version
11 I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it talked like a dragon. 12 It uses all the authority of the first beast on its behalf,[a] and it makes the earth and those living on it worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs spectacular signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14 It deceives those living on earth with the signs that it is allowed to do on behalf of[b] the first[c] beast, telling them to make an image for the beast who was wounded by a sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast[d] was allowed to impart life to the image of the first[e] beast so that the image of the beast could talk and order the execution of those who would not worship the image of the beast. 16 The second beast[f] forces all people—important and unimportant, rich and poor, free and slaves—to be marked on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that no one may buy or sell unless he has the mark, which is the beast’s name or the number of its name.
18 In this case wisdom is needed: Let the person who has understanding[g] calculate[h] the total[i] of the beast, since it is a human multitude,[j] and the sum of the multitude[k] is 600, 60, and six.[l]
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- Revelation 13:12 Or in its presence
- Revelation 13:14 Or in the presence of
- Revelation 13:14 The Gk. lacks first
- Revelation 13:15 Lit. It
- Revelation 13:15 The Gk. lacks first
- Revelation 13:16 Lit. It
- Revelation 13:18 Lit. has a mind
- Revelation 13:18 Or decide
- Revelation 13:18 Or the multitude
- Revelation 13:18 Or is a multitude of a man; or is the number of a human being
- Revelation 13:18 Or total number
- Revelation 13:18 Other mss. read 616; some scholars suggest that the Gk. letters χ, ξ, and ς (totaling 666) may resemble the proto-Arabic term for “in the name of Allah”
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