Dictionary Article

Ensignia placed on people either by God or by the Antichrist. Though the phrase is limited to the book of Revelation, a mark was used in Ezekiel 9:4-6. In his vision Ezekiel saw the inhabitants of Jerusalem slain for their wickedness, except those upon whose foreheads God had put a mark. The mark was one of identification for the purpose of protection.

Show passage in OET: EZE 9:4–6

OET-RV EZE 9:4

4 Yahweh told him, “Go through the middle of Yerushalem (Jerusalem) City, and make a mark on the foreheads of those who complain and despair about all the disgusting things being done there in the middle of the city.”

OET-RV EZE 9:5

5 Then he spoke to the others within my hearing, “Go through the city after him and kill. Don’t let yourselves have compassion, and don’t show any pity.

OET-RV EZE 9:6

6 Slaughter all the old men, young adults, little children, and women, but don’t approach anyone who has the mark on their head. Begin at my sacred place.” So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple.

OET-LV EZE 9:4

4 And_ YHWH _he/it _said him pass in _the_middle the_city in _the_middle of _Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_you _will _mark a _mark on the _foreheads _of the _people who_are_groaning and_who_are_groaning on all _of the_abominations which_are_done in_the _midst _of_of _it.

OET-LV EZE 9:5

5 And_to_these he _said in_ears _of_my pass in_city after_him and_strike not let _it _look _with _compassion mmm and_do _not show _pity.

OET-LV EZE 9:6

6 Old_man young _man and_virgin and_little _one[s] and_women you(pl)_will _kill to_destruction and_to any _of person whom on/upon/above_him/it the_mark do _not draw _near and_from_sanctuary _of_my you(pl)_will _begin and_they _began with_men (the)_old who to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the_house.

Jump to OET EZE 9:4–6 section.

The usage in the book of Revelation is quite similar. The idea begins in Revelation 7:3 (though the word does not occur here), where the 144,000 servants of God are sealed on their foreheads to protect them from the coming wrath of God. This sealing is referred to again in Revelation 9:4, where it is noted that the demonic locusts of the fifth trumpet are not to harm those with the seal of God.

Show passage in OET: REV 7:3

OET-RV REV 7:3

3 saying, “Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we can mark the seal on the foreheads of God’s servants.”

OET-LV REV 7:3

3 saying:
Not you _all _may _injure the earth, neither the sea nor the trees, until we _may _seal the slaves of _the god of _us on the foreheads of _them.

Show passage in OET: REV 9:4

OET-RV REV 9:4

4 However the locusts were told that they shouldn’t harm the grass or any green plants or trees, but only those people who didn’t have God’s mark on their foreheads.

OET-LV REV 9:4

4 And it _was _said to _them that neither they _may _injure the grass of _the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, except not/lest the people who not are _having the seal of_ the _god on their foreheads.

Jump to OET REV 7:3 section.

Jump to OET REV 9:4 section.

In Revelation 13 the specific phrase “the mark of the beast” is used. The context is John’s vision of the two beasts. The one from the sea (13:1-10) symbolizes the Antichrist with political power over the inhabitants of the earth. The beast from the earth (vv 11-18) symbolizes the Antichrist’s assistant, which is the religious leadership dedicated to securing universal worship of the Antichrist. This false religious leader causes all to receive upon their right hand or their forehead the mark (of the Antichrist), or the name (cf. v 12), or the number of the name of the antichrist (vv 16-17). This mark of the beast is necessary for a person to engage in business or economic transactions involved in physical survival. Perhaps it also serves to identify such people for martyrdom (vv 7-10). It stands in sharp contrast to the seal of God marking out the servants of God in chapter 7:1-8 (cf. 14:1). Thus mankind as depicted in this vision is divided into two classes—those belonging to Christ and those belonging to the Antichrist.

Show passage in OET: REV 13:1–10

OET-RV REV 13:1

13 and I saw a wild creature coming up out of the water. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten crowns, and anti-God names were written on each of its heads.

OET-RV REV 13:2

2 The sea creature that I saw was like a leopard with feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion, and the dinosaur gave it his power and his throne and wide-ranging authority.

OET-RV REV 13:3

3 One of the heads of the sea creature looked as if someone had wounded it so that it had died, but that wound had healed and as a result, all the people of the earth marvelled at the sea creature and obeyed it.

OET-RV REV 13:4

4 They worshipped the dinosaur because he had given authority to the sea creature, and they worshipped the sea creature, saying, “Who is like this sea creature and who is able to battle against it?”

OET-RV REV 13:5

5 The sea creature was given a mouth so it could speak out arrogant and anti-God statements, and it was given authority to act for three and a half years.

OET-RV REV 13:6

6 So it started speaking out anti-God statements, as well as speaking out against God’s name and his home and those who live in heaven.

OET-RV REV 13:7

7 It was given permission to battle against the believers and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and language and nation.

OET-RV REV 13:8

8 All the people living on the earth will worship it—all of those whose names have never been written in the lamb’s book of life since the creation of the world—the lamb who was slaughtered.

OET-RV REV 13:9

9 Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen.

OET-RV REV 13:10

10 If anyone’s enemies are going to capture them, they will capture them and if anyone’s enemies are going to kill them with a sword, they’ll kill them with a sword. So God’s people must endure suffering and remain faithful.

OET-LV REV 13:1

13 And I _saw out _of the sea a_wild _animal going _up, having ten horns and seven heads, and on the horns of _it ten crowns, and on the heads of _it a_name of _slander.

OET-LV REV 13:2

2 And the wild _animal that I _saw was similar to_a_leopard, and the feet of _it like of_a_bear, and the mouth of _it like the_mouth of_a_lion.
And gave to _it the dragon the power of _him, and the throne of _him, and authority great.

OET-LV REV 13:3

3 And one of the heads of _it as having _been _slain to death, and the wound of _the death of _it was _healed.
And was _being _marvelled all the earth after the wild _animal,

OET-LV REV 13:4

4 and they _prostrated before _the dragon, because he _gave his authority to _the wild _animal, and they _prostrated before _the wild _animal saying:
Who is similar to _the wild _animal, and who is _able to _war with it?

OET-LV REV 13:5

5 And was _given to _it a_mouth speaking great things and slander, and was _given to _it authority to _work forty for _months two.

OET-LV REV 13:6

6 And it _opened _up the mouth of _it to slander against the god, to _slander the name of _him, and the tent of _him, the ones in the heaven sheltering.

OET-LV REV 13:7

7 And was _given to _it authority over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation.

OET-LV REV 13:8

8 And will _be _prostrating it all the ones dwelling on the earth, whom not has _been _written the name of _him in scroll of_ the _life of _the lamb, which having _been _slain from the_foundation of_the_earth.

OET-LV REV 13:9

9 If anyone is _having an_ear, him _let _hear.

OET-LV REV 13:10

10 If anyone is _going into captivity, he _is _going, if anyone with sword is _killing _off, it _is _fitting him by sword to _be _killed _off.
Here is the endurance and the the_faith of _the holy ones.

Show passage in OET: REV 13:11–18

OET-RV REV 13:11

11 Then I saw a second wild animal come up from the earth. It had two small horns on its head like a lamb, but it spoke like a dinosaur.

OET-RV REV 13:12

12 This land animal carries out all the orders of the sea creature and insists that the people who live on the earth worship the sea creature—the one that almost died except its wound healed.

OET-RV REV 13:13

13 The land animal also did amazing miracles and it even caused fire to fall from the sky down to the earth that people could see.

OET-RV REV 13:14

14 The dinosaur gave the land animal the power to do these miracles on behalf of the sea creature. The land animal used the miracles to deceive the people who live on the earth, telling them to make an idol that looked like the sea creature that had survived a sword wound that seemed to kill it.

OET-RV REV 13:15

15 The dinosaur also gave the land animal the power to make that idol live and so the idol that looked like the sea creature was able to speak. The land animal was able to execute anyone who refused to worship the idol

OET-RV REV 13:16

16 and it also required each person, whether important or not, and whether rich or poor, free or slave, to have a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.

OET-RV REV 13:17

17 Then the land creature ordered that no one could buy or sell anything if they don’t have that mark. The mark was the name of the sea creature or the number that stood for its name.

OET-RV REV 13:18

18 This calls for wisdom: Let anyone who has understanding calculate the number of the creature, because it’s the number of a man and his number is 666.

OET-LV REV 13:11

11 And I _saw another wild _animal going _up out _of the earth, and it _was _having two horns similar to_a_lamb, and it _was _speaking like a_dragon.

OET-LV REV 13:12

12 And the authority of _the first wild _animal all it _is _doing before it.
And it _is _making the earth and the ones in it dwelling, in _order _that they _will _be _prostrating before _the wild _animal the first, of _whom was _healed the wound of_ the _death of _it.

OET-LV REV 13:13

13 And it _is _performing signs great, that even fire it _may _be _making out _of the sky to _be _coming _down to the earth before the people.

OET-LV REV 13:14

14 And it _is _deceiving which dwelling on the earth, because _of the signs that it _was _given to _it to _perform before the wild _animal, telling to _the ones dwelling on the earth, to _make an_image to _the wild _animal, who is _having the wound of _the sword, and lived.

OET-LV REV 13:15

15 And it _was _given to _it to _give spirit to _the image of _the wild _animal, in _order _that also may _speak the image of _the wild _animal, and may _make as _many _as wishfully not will _be _prostrating before _the image of _the wild _animal they _may _be _killed _off.

OET-LV REV 13:16

16 And it _is _making all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, that they _may _give to _them a_mark on the hand of _them the right, or on the forehead of _them,

OET-LV REV 13:17

17 and that not someone may _be _able to _buy or to _sell, except not/lest the one having the mark, the name of _the wild _animal, or the number of _the name of _it.

OET-LV REV 13:18

18 Here the wisdom is:
the one having a_mind let _count the number of _the wild _animal, because/for the_number of_a_man it _is, and the number of _it is six _hundred sixty six.

Show passage in OET: REV 13:12

OET-RV REV 13:12

12 This land animal carries out all the orders of the sea creature and insists that the people who live on the earth worship the sea creature—the one that almost died except its wound healed.

OET-LV REV 13:12

Show passage in OET: REV 13:16–17

OET-RV REV 13:16

16 and it also required each person, whether important or not, and whether rich or poor, free or slave, to have a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.

OET-RV REV 13:17

17 Then the land creature ordered that no one could buy or sell anything if they don’t have that mark. The mark was the name of the sea creature or the number that stood for its name.

OET-LV REV 13:16

OET-LV REV 13:17

17 and that not someone may _be _able to _buy or to _sell, except not/lest the one having the mark, the name of _the wild _animal, or the number of _the name of _it.

Show passage in OET: REV 13:7–10

OET-RV REV 13:7

7 It was given permission to battle against the believers and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and language and nation.

OET-RV REV 13:8

8 All the people living on the earth will worship it—all of those whose names have never been written in the lamb’s book of life since the creation of the world—the lamb who was slaughtered.

OET-RV REV 13:9

9 Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen.

OET-RV REV 13:10

OET-LV REV 13:7

7 And was _given to _it authority over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation.

OET-LV REV 13:8

OET-LV REV 13:9

9 If anyone is _having an_ear, him _let _hear.

OET-LV REV 13:10

Show passage in OET: REV 7:1–8

OET-RV REV 7:1

7 After that I saw four messengers standing around the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree.

OET-RV REV 7:2

2 Then I saw another messenger coming up from the direction of the rising sun, and he was holding the living God’s seal. He called out loudly to the four messengers that God had permitted to damage the earth and the sea,

OET-RV REV 7:3

3 saying, “Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we can mark the seal on the foreheads of God’s servants.”

OET-RV REV 7:4

4 Then I heard the count of those who were marked with the seal. There were 144,000 from all of Yisrael’s (Israel) tribes.

OET-RV REV 7:5

5 There were 12,000 from the tribes of Yehudah (Judah), Re’uven, Gad,

OET-RV REV 7:6

6 Asher, Naftali (Naphtali), Menasheh (Manasseh),

OET-RV REV 7:7

7 Shim’on (Simeon; Grk. Sumeon), Levi, Yisakar (Issachar),

OET-RV REV 7:8

8 Zevulun, Yosef (Joseph), and Benyamin.

OET-LV REV 7:1

7 After this I _saw four messengers having _stood on the four corners of _the earth, taking _hold _of the four winds of _the earth, in _order _that neither may _be _blowing the_wind on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

OET-LV REV 7:2

2 And I _saw another messenger, going _up from the_rising of_the_sun, having the_seal of_god the_living, and he _cried _out with_a_voice loud to _the four messengers to _whom was _given to _them to _injure the earth and the sea

OET-LV REV 7:3

3 saying:
Not you _all _may _injure the earth, neither the sea nor the trees, until we _may _seal the slaves of _the god of _us on the foreheads of _them.

OET-LV REV 7:4

4 And I _heard the number of _the ones having _been _sealed, hundred forty four thousands, having _been _sealed out _of every tribe of_the_sons of _Israaʸl/(Yisrā^ʼēl):

OET-LV REV 7:5

5 out _of the_tribe Twelve of _Youda/(Yəhūdāh) thousands having _been _sealed, out _of the_tribe Twelve of _Ɽoubim/(Rəʼūⱱēn) thousands, out _of the_tribe Twelve of _Gad/(Gād) thousands,

OET-LV REV 7:6

6 out _of the_tribe Twelve of _Asaʸr/(ʼĀshēr) thousands, out _of the_tribe Twelve of _Nefthaleim/(Naftālī) thousands, out _of the_tribe Twelve of _Manassaʸs/(Mənashsheh) thousands,

OET-LV REV 7:7

7 out _of the_tribe Twelve of _Sumeōn/(Shimˊōn) thousands, out _of the_tribe Twelve of _Leui/(Lēvī) thousands, out _of the_tribe Twelve of _Isaⱪar/(Yissāskār) thousands,

OET-LV REV 7:8

8 out _of the_tribe Twelve of _Zaboulōn/(Zəⱱūlūn) thousands, out _of the_tribe Twelve of _Beniamin/(Binyāmīn) thousands, out _of the_tribe of _Yōsaʸf/(Yōşēf) Twelve thousands having _been _sealed.

Show passage in OET: REV 14:1

OET-RV REV 14:1

14 Then I looked and wow, the lamb was standing on Mt. Tsiyon (Zion), and with him were 144,000 people with his name and the name of his father written on their foreheads.

OET-LV REV 14:1

14 And I _looked, and see, the lamb having _stood on the Mount of _Siōn/(Tsiyyōn), and with him a_hundred forty four thousands having the name of _him, and the name of _the father of _him, having _been _written on the foreheads of _them.

Jump to OET REV 13:1–10 section.

Jump to OET REV 13:11–18 section.

Jump to OET REV 13:12 section.

Jump to OET REV 13:16–17 section.

Jump to OET REV 13:7–10 section.

Jump to OET REV 7:1–8 section.

Jump to OET REV 14:1 section.

Revelation 13:18 contains a challenge to the church to have wisdom and to recognize what that mark or number of the beast is. Two things are stated. First, it is of a man or refers to a man. Second, his number is 666 (or 616, according to some manuscripts).

Show passage in OET: REV 13:18

OET-RV REV 13:18

18 This calls for wisdom: Let anyone who has understanding calculate the number of the creature, because it’s the number of a man and his number is 666.

OET-LV REV 13:18

18 Here the wisdom is:
the one having a_mind let _count the number of _the wild _animal, because/for the_number of_a_man it _is, and the number of _it is six _hundred sixty six.

Jump to OET REV 13:18 section.

The interpretation of this number has been discussed at length by biblical scholars without reaching a general consensus. Many think that it was a first-century cryptic (Hebrew) reference to Nero. In that context of preliminary fulfillment, it would have simply been an appeal for Christians to recognize the true nature of the godless Nero as having the character of Antichrist and to refuse to give him their allegiance. Perhaps this identity indicates that the number or mark of the beast is an expression of one’s allegiance to the Antichrist as expressed in the cult of emperor worship. Thus it would be this activity of worship and not a literal number on one’s body that is intended.

When the prophecy is completely fulfilled by the Antichrist, believers must be wise and refuse to give their loyalty to him through whatever form or test of allegiance this takes.

The importance of believers’ steadfastness is shown in Revelation 14, where the faithful 144,000, with the name of Christ and God on their foreheads, are seen standing victoriously with the Lamb on Mt Zion. This steadfastness is spoken of as keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (14:12). A similar vision of those who overcome the beast is given in 15:2-4. Here they are pictured as standing before God singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.

Show passage in OET: REV 14:12

OET-RV REV 14:12

12 So the believers who obey God’s commands and have faith in Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) must persevere on.

OET-LV REV 14:12

12 Here the the_endurance of _the holy ones is, the ones keeping the commands of_ the _god, and the faith of_Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa).

Show passage in OET: REV 15:2–4

OET-RV REV 15:2

2 I saw something that was like a sea of glass that had been mixed with fire. The people who had been victorious over the sea creature and over its image and over the number of its name were standing on that sea of glass. They were holding harps from God

OET-RV REV 15:3

3 and singing this song that came from God’s slave Mosheh (Moses), and from the lamb, which went:
⇔ “What you do, Yahweh God, ruler over everything,
⇔ is powerful and marvellous.
⇔ Your ways PATHS? are fair and honest,
⇔ king of the ages.

OET-RV REV 15:4

4 Who will refuse to respect you, Yahweh,
⇔ and honour your name?
⇔ Yes, you alone are HOLY,
⇔ because all the nations will come
⇔ and worship in front of you,
⇔ because your RIGHTEOUS acts have been revealed.”

OET-LV REV 15:2

2 And I _saw something like a_sea glass having _been _mixed with _fire, and the ones overcoming of the wild _animal, and of the image of _it, and of the number of _the name of _it, having _stood on the sea the glass, having harps of_ the _god.

OET-LV REV 15:3

3 And they _are _singing the song of _Mōsaʸs/(Mosheh), the slave of_ the _god, and the song of _the lamb saying:
Great and marvellous are the works of _you, master the god the almighty.
righteous and true are the ways of _you, the king of _the ages.

OET-LV REV 15:4

4 Who by _no _means not may _be _afraid, master, and will _be _glorifying the name of _you, because you _alone devout are?
Because all the nations will _be _coming and they _will _be _prostrating before you, because the just _acts of _you were _revealed.

Jump to OET REV 14:12 section.

Jump to OET REV 15:2–4 section.

There are four further references in Revelation to the mark of the beast. The angel warns that those who receive the mark of the beast and worship him will drink the cup of God’s wrath (14:9-11). When the first angel pours out the first bowl of wrath, this falls on those who have the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image (16:2). At the destruction of the beast and the false prophet, the latter is described as deceiving those who received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image (19:20). Finally, those who reign with Christ during the millennium are those who did not worship the beast or receive his mark (20:4).

Show passage in OET: REV 14:9–11

OET-RV REV 14:9

9 Then a third messenger followed them, saying in a loud voice, “Those who worship the sea creature and its image, and receive a mark on their forehead or on their hand,

OET-RV REV 14:10

10 they’ll be on the receiving end of God’s anger which he’ll pour out undiluted, so they’ll be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in front of God’s messengers and of the lamb.

OET-RV REV 14:11

11 The smoke from their torment will continue through all the ages, yes, the ones worshipping the sea creature and its image and anyone who receives the mark of its name will have no rest, day or night.

OET-LV REV 14:9

9 And an_other messenger third followed after _them, saying with a_voice loud:
If anyone is _prostrating before _the wild _animal and the image of _it, and is _receiving a_mark on the forehead of _him, or on the hand of _him,

OET-LV REV 14:10

10 also he will _be _drinking of the wine of _the rage of_ of _- _god, which having _been _mixed undiluted in the cup of _the severe _anger of _him, and he _will _be _being _tormented in fire and sulfur before the messengers the_holy and before the lamb.

OET-LV REV 14:11

11 And the smoke of _the torment of _them to the_ages of_the_ages is _going _up, and not they _are _having rest, by _day and night, the ones prostrating before _the wild _animal and the image of _it, and if anyone is _receiving the mark of _the name of _it.

Show passage in OET: REV 16:2

OET-RV REV 16:2

2 So the first messenger went and poured out his bowl on the earth, all the people with the sea creature’s mark and the ones worshipping its image.

OET-LV REV 16:2

2 And went _away the first, and poured _out the bowl of _him on the earth, and it _became an_ulcer evil, and evil on the people which having the mark of _the wild _animal, and the ones prostrating before _the image of _it.

Show passage in OET: REV 19:20

OET-RV REV 19:20

20 But then the animal was captured along with the false prophet who had done miracles in front of him. (That was how he’d deceived the ones who had accepted the mark of the animal and the ones worshipping his image.) The two of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.

OET-LV REV 19:20

20 And was _caught the wild _animal, and with him the the_false _prophet, the one having _done the signs before him, by which he _deceived the ones having _received the mark of _the wild _animal, and the ones prostrating before _the image of _him.
Living were _throw the two into the lake of_ the _fire, which being _burned with sulfur.

Show passage in OET: REV 20:4

OET-RV REV 20:4

4 I saw thrones with people sitting on them and they were given the responsibility of judging both the souls of the ones who’d been beheaded for believing Yeshua’s (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) and God’s message, and those who didn’t worship the animal or his image and didn’t receive the mark on their hand or forehead. And they lived and reigned with the messiah for a thousand years.

OET-LV REV 20:4

4 And I _saw thrones, and they _sat _down on them, and judgement was _given to _them, and the souls of _the ones having _been _beheaded because _of the testimony of_Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa), and because _of the message of_ the _god, and whoever neither prostrated before _the wild _animal, nor the image of _him, and not took the mark on their forehead, and on the hand of _them, and they _lived and reigned with the for_a_Thousand chosen _one /messiah years.

Jump to OET REV 14:9–11 section.

Jump to OET REV 16:2 section.

Jump to OET REV 19:20 section.

Jump to OET REV 20:4 section.

In summary, the phrase “mark of the beast,” or the number 666, is a way of referring to the identity of the followers of the Antichrist in the book of Revelation. Believers are warned not to become a part of those who are deceived but rather to remain steadfast and faithful to the Lamb and to own his name upon their foreheads.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary