Revelation 13:11–17

13:11 Then32 I saw another beast33 coming up from the earth. He34 had two horns like a lamb,35 but36 was speaking like a dragon. 13:12 He37 exercised all the ruling authority38 of the first beast on his behalf,39 and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. 13:13 He40 performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of people41 13:14 and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told42 those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived. 13:15 The second beast43 was empowered44 to give life45 to the image of the first beast46 so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 13:16 He also caused47 everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave48) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. 13:17 Thus no one was allowed to buy49 or sell things50 unless he bore51 the mark of the beast—that is, his name or his number.52

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32	tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
33	sn This second beast is identified in Rev 16:13 as “the false prophet.”
34	tn Grk “and it had,” a continuation of the preceding sentence. On the use of the pronoun “he” to refer to the second beast, see the note on the word “It” in 13:1.
35	tn Or perhaps, “like a ram.” Here L&N 4.25 states, “In the one context in the NT, namely, Re 13:11, in which ἀρνίον refers literally to a sheep, it is used in a phrase referring to the horns of an ἀρνίον. In such a context the reference is undoubtedly to a ‘ram,’ that is to say, the adult male of sheep.” In spite of this most translations render the word “lamb” here to maintain the connection between this false lamb and the true Lamb of the Book of Revelation, Jesus Christ.
36	tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
37	tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
38	tn For the translation “ruling authority” for ἐξουσία (exousia) see L&N 37.35.
39	tn For this meaning see BDAG 342 s.v. ἐνώπιον 4.b, “by the authority of, on behalf of Rv 13:12, 14; 19:20.”
40	tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
41	tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos), referring to both men and women.
42	tn Grk “earth, telling.” This is a continuation of the previous sentence in Greek. sn He told followed by an infinitive (“to make an image …”) is sufficiently ambiguous in Greek that it could be taken as “he ordered” (so NIV) or “he persuaded” (so REB).
43	tn Grk “it”; the referent (the second beast) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
44	tn Grk “it was given [permitted] to it [the second beast].”
45	tn Grk “breath,” but in context the point is that the image of the first beast is made to come to life and speak.
46	tn Grk “of the beast”; the word “first” has been supplied to specify the referent.
47	tn Or “forced”; Grk “makes” (ποιεῖ, poiei).
48	tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
49	tn Grk “and that no one be able to buy or sell.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Although the ἵνα (hina) is left untranslated, the English conjunction “thus” is used to indicate that this is a result clause.
50	tn The word “things” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context. In the context of buying and selling, food could be primarily in view, but the more general “things” was used in the translation because the context is not specific.
51	tn Grk “except the one who had.”
52	tn Grk “his name or the number of his name.”

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