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.
What does Revelation 13:18 mean?
Those who understand the first beast to denote a worldly power, take the second to be also a persecuting and assumed power, which acts under the disguise of religion, and of charity to the souls of men.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Revelation 13:15-18 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Revelation 13:18
Here is wisdom - That is, in what is stated respecting the name and the number of the name of the beast. The idea is, either that there would be need of special sagacity in determining what the "number" of the "beast" or of his "name" was, or that special "wisdom" was shown by the fact that the number could be thus expressed. The language used in the verse would lead the reader to suppose that the attempt to make out the "number" was not absolutely hopeless, but that the number was so far enigmatical as to require much skill in determining its meaning.
Key words
- a lord rising up
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a lord rising up. 1. 300. 5. 10. 50. 70. 200.
- The word rendered here
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The word rendered here .
- the number of the beast
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the number of the beast.
- Roman
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Roman. In earlier times the more common appellation was Roman.
Context in Revelation 13
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Revelation 13 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as dragon, beasts, and Babylon. Revelation is the New Testament’s climactic apocalyptic prophecy of worship, witness, judgment, cosmic conflict, and the new Jerusalem. Read this chapter with the wider themes of worship, witness, and judgment in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
Explore by topic
A guided collection of passages on God’s love, neighbor-love, steadfast covenant love, and the shape of love in Christian life.
Verses on the fear of the Lord, wise speech, practical judgment, teachability, and the difference between biblical wisdom and mere cleverness.
Bible verses about justice and mercy
Key texts on public righteousness, neighbor-love, social ethics, compassion, and the prophetic refusal to separate worship from justice.
Passages on the nature of truth, honesty, deception, the word of God as truth, and Jesus' claim to be the truth.
Passages on praising God, singing, prayer, corporate worship, and the spirit in which true worship is to be offered.
Who quoted Revelation 13:18?
Find out who used Revelation 13:18 in their speeches and writings. Which famous people quoted Revelation 13:18?
Quotes found on Wikiquote (match for «number of the beast»):
Breakfast · Damien: Omen II · End of Days (film) · Fighting · Floccinaucinihilipilification · Hannibal (TV series) · Hills · Iron Maiden · Johannes Grenzfurthner · John Napier · June 6 · Magic (supernatural) · Number of the beast · Owen Benjamin · QI · Robert A. Heinlein · The Angry Video Game Nerd · The Baroque Cycle · Thinkin' Lincoln