What Does Revelation 13:16 Mean in the King James?

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:

Revelation 13:16 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

An imposed engraving reaches every rank and makes allegiance visible either in the hand’s actions or on the forehead.

THE MEANING

This verse shows coercion crossing every social boundary: the small and great, rich and poor, free and bound all fall within its reach. The imposed mark ties a person’s actions or visible identity to demanded compliance.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that visible compliance always proves free consent is undone here: this mark is imposed by one who causes every rank to receive it.

THE ROOT

χάραγμα

charagma

GROWS FROM

χαράσσω

charassō

To engrave, scratch, or carve.

English “mark” can sound like a label; ⁨χάραγμα⁩ (charagma, an engraved mark or impression) carries the sense of something impressed into a surface. Its word family includes ⁨χαράσσω⁩ (charassō, to engrave) and ⁨χαρακτήρ⁩ (charaktēr, an imprint or exact impression), making the image one of allegiance stamped into visible life.

ALSO GROWS

charassō: To engrave, scratch, or carve.

χαράσσω

This verb names the engraving behind the mark and gives it the force of an impressed sign.

charaktēr: An engraved impression or exact representation.

χαρακτήρ

This related word names an imprint that carries the form of what made it, showing how a mark can bear identity.

THE PATTERN

A sign on the hand or forehead makes a person’s allegiance visible through action, remembrance, or identity.

And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

Deuteronomy 6:8 · KJVThe verse places the words on the hand and between the eyes, linking action with what is kept before the mind.

And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.

Exodus 13:9 · KJVThe hand-sign and forehead-memorial join embodied action and remembrance to being brought out.

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

Revelation 14:1 · KJVThe Father’s name on the forehead marks identity by the nature a person bears.

THE THREAD

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

Revelation 14:9 · KJV

Revelation 14:9 uses the same Greek noun ⁨χάραγμα⁩ (charagma, an engraved mark) for the beast’s mark, tying this imposed inscription to worship of the beast. That pairing shows the mark as an outward sign of allegiance, not a neutral ornament.

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