Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 13:16

"And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead;" — Revelation 13:16 (ASV)

The immediate effect of the worship of the beast involves receiving a “mark” (GK 5916) on the right hand or forehead. By comparing the other passages where the beast, image, mark, and name of the beast are mentioned, it seems clear that the mark is an equivalent expression to the “name of the beast” (v.17; 14:11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4), which is also the “number of his name” (v.17; 15:2). The Greek word “mark” usually refers to a work of art such as a carved image of a god (Acts 17:29), a written inscription, an impress “seal” of the emperor, or a “brand” on camels indicating ownership. But such a mark was never placed on a person, let alone on the “right hand” or on the “forehead.” Thus, the “mark” is not a literal impress seal or mark of identification, but it is John’s way of symbolically describing authentic ownership and loyalty. Those who worship the beast have his brand of ownership on them, just as the followers of Jesus have the brand of God’s possession on them (see also comments on 7:1–3).