Revelation 13:16

And the second beast required all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The angel's narrative voice describes the second beast's action within the vision, positioned between the image being animated (v.15) and the economic enforcement clause (v.17). It is a statement of what the beast does, not a direct command to the reader.

The words — ποιεῖ (poieō) is causative: "it causes/makes," not merely "requires" as the BSB renders it; the beast compels the mark rather than simply asking for it. The pairing μικροὺς καὶ μεγάλους ("small and great") is a fixed idiom for total inclusion regardless of status.

The thread — The mark on the forehead echoes Ezekiel 9:4, where the LORD's mark on the foreheads of those who grieve over abomination is a sign of protection, here inverted into a sign of allegiance to the beast. Revelation 19:20 and 20:4 show the end of the beast and false prophet, and the judgment that follows.

Why it lands — The verse removes every possible exemption: no class, rank, or wealth is outside the demand. It asks the reader to see that the pressure is not a choice between two acceptable options but a forced binary where refusal means exclusion from ordinary life.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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:

Cross-references

Revelation 20:4 Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Revelation 19:20 But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Ezekiel 9:4 “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”
Deuteronomy 6:8 Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Revelation 7:3 “Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have placed a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
Revelation 14:9 And a third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Revelation 19:18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and commanders and mighty men, of horses and riders, of everyone slave and free, small and great.”
Deuteronomy 11:18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Exodus 13:9 It shall be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the Law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For with a mighty hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.
Revelation 6:15 Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains.