Revelation 13:16–14:10, read letter by letter — the number 666, the Lamb on Mount Zion, and the fall of Babylon. From the oldest surviving copy of the Book of Revelation.
One-page reference to print & hold beside your replica.
The short answerWhat is this leaf?
This is a leaf from Papyrus 47 — the earliest substantial copy of the Book of Revelation, written in the third century. On these two pages you can read some of the most famous words in the Bible in the oldest form we have them: the mark “on the right hand or the forehead,” the calculation of ΧΞΣ — 666 — and, on the other side, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion with the 144,000, the three angels, and “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.”
The leaf is torn along its edges, so part of every line is lost. This page shows you exactly which letters are real ink on the papyrus and which are supplied by scholars — so you can read your replica precisely, and see the famous numbers written the way the scribe actually wrote them.
How to read this page
ΑΡΝΙΟΝ
On your replica — highlighted ink that physically survives on the papyrus.
ΧΞΣ
Overline — a bar the scribe drew over a sacred name (God, Father, Lord) and over a number. Here ΧΞΣ is not a word but the figure 666.
[ΟΥΤΟΙ]
Supplied — grey, bracketed letters torn from the edges and restored from the known text of Revelation.
The feature666 and 144,000, in the scribe’s own hand
Ancient scribes wrote numbers with letters, not digits, and drew a bar over them — the same bar they used for sacred names. On the front page, look for ΧΞΣ: chi (600) + xi (60) + stigma (6) = 666, the number of the beast, written exactly as here in the oldest copy of Revelation. On the back, ΡΜΔ — rho (100) + mu (40) + delta (4) = 144 — followed by the word for “thousand”: the 144,000.
Because P47 predates almost every other witness to Revelation, this leaf is close to the source of these images that have echoed through art, music and imagination for eighteen centuries.
Line by lineThe Greek exactly as it sits on the leaf
Transcribed from the INTF transcription (NTVMR, 𝔓47 folio 7) and shown in the majuscule capitals the scribe used, with the original line breaks. Sacred names and numbers keep their overline. The photograph sits beside each side so you can compare the letters directly.
gold = ink on the manuscript overline = nomen sacrum / numeral [ grey ] = supplied / torn away
Front — Revelation 13:16–14:4 (the mark, 666, and the 144,000)
Papyrus 47 · recto · Revelation 13:16–14:4 · tap to enlarge
The top of the page is lost; the surviving text begins mid-sentence in 13:16 (“…the free and the slaves”) and runs into the vision of the Lamb on Mount Zion.
Back — Revelation 14:4–10 (the firstfruits and the three angels)
Papyrus 47 · verso · Revelation 14:4–10 · tap to enlarge
1[ΗΓΟΡΑ]Rev 14:4
2ΣΘΗΣΑΝ ΑΠΟ ΤΩΝ [Α]ΝΘΡΩ[ΠΩΝ]
3[Α]ΠΑΡΧΗ ΤΩ ΘΩ ΚΑΙ ΤΩ ΑΡΝΙ[Ω][ΚΑΙ ΕΝ]14:5
4ΤΩ ΣΤΟΜΑΤΙ ΑΥΤΩΝ ΟΥΧ ΕΥΡΕΘΗ [ΨΕΥ]
5ΔΟΣ ΑΜΩΜΟΙ ΓΑΡ ΕΙΣΙΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΙΔΟΝ [ΑΓ]14:6
6ΓΕΛΟΝ ΠΕΤΟΜΕΝΟΝ ΕΝ ΜΕΣΟΥΡΑΝΗ
7ΜΑΤΙ ΕΧΟΝΤΑ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΟΝ ΑΙΩΝΙΟΝ
8ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΣΑΣΘΑΙ ΕΠΙ ΤΟΥΣ ΚΑΘΗΜΕ
9ΝΟΥΣ ΕΠΙ ΤΗΣ ΓΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΙ ΠΑΝ ΕΘΝΟΣ
10ΚΑΙ ΦΥΛΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΓΛΩΣΣΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΛΑΟΝ
11ΛΕΓΟΝΤΑ ΕΝ ΦΩΝΗ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΦΟΒΗΘΗ14:7
12ΤΕ ΤΟΝ ΘΝ ΚΑΙ ΔΟΞΑΣΑΤΕ ΑΥΤΟΝ ΔΟΞΑΝ
13ΟΤΙ ΗΛΘΕΝ Η ΩΡΑ ΤΗΣ ΚΡΙΣΕΩΣ ΑΥΤΟΥ
14ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣΚΥΝΗΣΑΤΕ ΤΩ ΠΟΙΗΣΑΝΤΙ ΤΟΝ
15ΟΥΡΑΝΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΝ ΓΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΝ ΘΑΛΑΣ
16ΣΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΗΓΑΣ ΥΔΑΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΛΟΣ Β14:8
17ΗΚΟΛΟΥΘΕΙ ΛΕΓΩΝ ΕΠΕΣΕΝ ΕΠΕΣΕΝ
18ΒΑΒΥΛΩΝ Η ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΕΚ ΤΟΥ ΟΙΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ
19[Θ]ΥΜΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΠΟΡΝΕΙΑΣ ΑΥΤΗΣ ΠΕΠΤΩ
20ΚΑΝ ΠΑΝΤΑ ΤΑ ΕΘΝΗ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΛΟΣ ΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ14:9
21[Τ]ΡΙΤΟΣ ΗΚΟΛΟΥΘΗΣΕΝ ΑΥΤΟΙΣ ΛΕΓΩΝ
22[ΕΝ] ΦΩΝΗ ΜΕΓΑΛΗ ΕΙ ΤΙΣ ΠΡΟΚΥΝΕΙ ΤΟ
23[Θ]ΗΡΙΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΝ ΕΙΚΟΝΑ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ
24[ΛΑ]ΜΒΑΝΕΙ ΧΑΡΑΓΜΑ ΕΠΙ ΤΟΥ ΜΕ
25[ΤΩ]ΠΟΥ ΑΥΤΟΥ Η ΕΠΙ ΤΗΣ ΧΕΙΡΟ[Σ]
26[ΑΥΤΟΥ] ΚΑΙ ΑΥΤΟΣ ΠΙΕΤΑΙ ΕΚ ΤΟΥ14:10
27[ΟΙΝΟΥ ΤΟ]Υ ΘΥΜΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΘΥ ΜΟΥ ΚΕ
This side runs from the 144,000 as “firstfruits to God and the Lamb” through the three angels, and breaks off mid-word at ΚΕ|(κερασμενου), “mixed,” in 14:10.
Word by wordRead it, sound it out, and see the meaning
The whole leaf, word by word: the Greek on the leaf, a transliteration to sound it out, and a word-for-word English gloss, with the smooth translation after each passage. Sacred names and numbers carry the scribe’s overline; their meaning is in the gloss. Words in a gold box appear (at least partly) on the fragment; grey words in [brackets] are supplied.
gold = ink on the manuscript overline = nomen sacrum / numeral [ grey ] = supplied / torn away
A mark on every hand and forehead — Revelation 13:16–17
[ΤΟΥΣ]tousthe[ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΥΣ]eleutherousfree[Κ]ΑΙkaiand[ΔΟΥ]ΛΟ[ΥΣ]doulousslavesΙ[ΝΑ]hinaso that[ΔΩΣΙΝ]dōsinthey give[ΑΥΤ]ΟΙΣautoisthemΧΑΡΑΓΜΑΤΑcharagmatamarksΕΠΙepionΤΗΣtēstheΧΕΙΡΟΣcheiroshand[ΑΥΤΩ]ΝautōntheirΤΗΣtēstheΔΕΞΙΑΣdexiasrightΗēorΕΠΙepionΤΩΝtōntheΜΕΤΩΠΩΝmetōpōnforeheads[ΑΥΤ]ΩΝautōntheirΚΑΙkaiandΙΝΑhinaso thatΜΗmēnotΤΙΣtisanyoneΔΥΝΗΤΑΙdynētaimay be ableΑΓΟΡΑΣΑΙagorasaito buyΗēorΠΩΛΗΣΑΙpōlēsaito sellΕΙeiexceptΜΗmē—Οhothe oneΕΧΩΝechōnhavingΤΟtotheΧΑΡΑΓΜΑcharagmamarkΗēorΤΟtotheΟΝΟΜΑonomanameΤΟΥtouof theΘΗΡΙΟΥthērioubeastΗēorΤΟΝtontheΑΡΙΘΜΟΝarithmonnumberΤΟΥtouof theΟΝΟΜΑΤΟΣonomatosnameΑΥΤΟΥautouof it
16 He causes all… the free and the slaves, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; 17 and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).
The number of the beast — 666 — Revelation 13:18
ΩΔΕhōdehereΗhētheΣΟΦΙΑsophiawisdomΕΣΤΙΝestinisΟhothe oneΕΧΩΝechōnhavingΟΥΝounthereforeΨΗΦΙΣΑΤΩpsēphisatōlet him calculateΤΟΝtontheΑΡΙΘΜΟΝarithmonnumberΤΟΥtouof theΘΗΡΙΟΥthērioubeastΑΡΙΘΜΟΣarithmosa numberΓΑΡgarforΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΥanthrōpouof a manΕΣΤΙΝestinit isΕΣΤΙΝestinit isΔΕdeandΧΞΣ666666
18 Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. Its number is ΧΞΣ — six hundred sixty-six. (P47 writes the number as the three Greek letters Χ Ξ Ϛ under a bar, and here reads “…is, is…” — see textual notes.)
Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).
The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion — Revelation 14:1
1 I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. (“144” is written ΡΜΔ under a bar; the scribe spells “thousand” ΧΕΙΛΙΑΔΕΣ and “Zion” ΣΕΙΩΝ.)
Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).
A voice from heaven; a new song — Revelation 14:2–3
2 I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps. 3 They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders.
Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).
No one could learn it but the redeemed — Revelation 14:3–4
ΚΑΙkaiandΟΥΔΕΙΣoudeisno oneΕΔΥΝΑΤΟedynatowas ableΜΑΘΕ[ΙΝ]matheinto learnΤΗΝtēntheΩΔΗΝōdēnsongΕΙeiexceptΜΗmē—ΑΙhaitheΡΜΔ144144ΧΕΙΛ[ΙΑΔΕΣ]chiliadesthousandΟΙhoiwhoΗΓΟΡΑΣΜΕΝΟΙēgorasmenoiwere redeemedΑΠΟapofromΤΗΣtēstheΓΗ[Σ]gēsearth[ΟΥΤΟΙ]houtoithese[ΕΙ]ΣΙΝeisinareΟΙhoiwhoΜΗmēnotΜΕΤΑmetawithΓΥΝΑΙΚΩ[Ν]gynaikōnwomen[ΟΥΚ]ouknot[ΕΜΟ]ΛΥΝΘΗΣΑΝemolynthēsanwere defiledΠΑΡΘΕΝΟΙparthenoivirginsΓΑΡgarfor[ΕΙΣΙΝ]eisinthey are
3 No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth. 4 These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins.
Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).
Firstfruits to God and the Lamb — Revelation 14:4–5
[ΗΓΟΡΑ]ΣΘΗΣΑΝēgorasthēsanwere redeemedΑΠΟapofromΤΩΝtōn—[Α]ΝΘΡΩ[ΠΩΝ]anthrōpōnmen[Α]ΠΑΡΧΗaparchēfirstfruitsΤΩtōtoΘΩtheōGodΚΑΙkaiandΤΩtōto theΑΡΝΙ[Ω]arniōLamb[ΚΑΙ]kaiand[ΕΝ]eninΤΩtōtheΣΤΟΜΑΤΙstomatimouthΑΥΤΩΝautōntheirΟΥΧouchnotΕΥΡΕΘΗheurethēwas found[ΨΕΥ]ΔΟΣpseudosa lieΑΜΩΜΟΙamōmoiwithout faultΓΑΡgarforΕΙΣΙΝeisinthey are
4 These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 In their mouth was found no lie, for they are without fault.
Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).
The eternal Good News — the first angel — Revelation 14:6–7
6 I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!”
Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).
Fallen is Babylon — the second angel — Revelation 14:8
8 Another, a second angel, followed, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality.”
Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).
9 Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God…” (The leaf breaks off mid-word at ΚΕ|κερασμενου, “mixed.” P47 here adds ΜΟΥ, “my” God — a distinctive reading.)
Smooth translation: World English Bible (public domain).
Reading the detailsTextual notes
666 — and the famous variant. P47 reads the number of the beast as ΧΞΣ = 666, the reading in almost all manuscripts. (A handful of others famously read 616; this leaf is a witness to the 666 tradition.) Just before it the scribe writes “…is the number of a man; it is, and it is ΧΞΣ” — repeating the word “is,” a small slip of the pen.
“Let him who has…” The standard text reads “let him who has understanding (ΝΟΥΝ) calculate.” Here the scribe has written ΟΥΝ (“therefore”) — dropping the Ν of ΝΟΥΝ, an easy eye-skip that slightly changes the sense.
Everyday spellings. The scribe writes as he spoke: ΣΕΙΩΝ for ΣΙΩΝ (“Zion”), ΧΕΙΛΙΑΔΕΣ for ΧΙΛΙΑΔΕΣ (“thousand”), and ΠΡΟΚΥΝΕΙ for ΠΡΟΣΚΥΝΕΙ (“worships”) — ordinary phonetic spellings of the period, where ΕΙ and Ι had come to sound alike.
Two distinctive readings. In 14:7 P47 reads “ΔΟΞΑΣΑΤΕ ΑΥΤΟΝ ΔΟΞΑΝ” (“glorify him… glory”) where most texts read “give him glory”; and in 14:10 it reads “the wrath of ΘΥΜΟΥ” — “of my God” — adding a word most manuscripts lack.
On accuracy. Layer 1 (the surviving Greek and the surviving-versus-supplied boundary) is taken directly from the INTF transcription of 𝔓47 folio 7.
Single-column papyrus codex, ~ single-quire; ~ 24–27 lines per page
Text type
An early Alexandrian-type text; with Codex Sinaiticus it forms a distinct strand for Revelation
Why it mattersThe oldest Book of Revelation
Revelation was received into the New Testament more slowly than the Gospels, and its earliest copies are correspondingly rare. Papyrus 47 is the earliest substantial witness to the book — the closest we can get, in a continuous run of text, to how Revelation actually read in the third century.
That makes this leaf unusually important for its content: the mark of the beast, the number 666, and the 144,000 are among the most quoted, debated and reimagined verses ever written. To hold them in the form of the oldest manuscript — numbers and all, written in letters under a bar — is to stand very close to their source.
Dating. Frederic Kenyon, the first editor, placed P47 in the third century, and that remains the consensus (often narrowed to the later third century). Palaeographic dating yields a range rather than a fixed year, but P47’s standing as the earliest extensive copy of Revelation is not in doubt.
Own this leaf
Manuscript Shop produces a museum-grade facsimile of this leaf of Papyrus 47 on real Egyptian papyrus, reproducing both sides — the mark of the beast and 666, and the 144,000 with the three angels — at its true size.
