666 is called the number of the beast in Revelation 13:18. It became linked with the devil or Antichrist, and some scholars link it to the Roman emperor Nero.
Source
Revelation 13:18 says “Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.”
Variants
Some early manuscripts read 616.
Likely meaning
Many scholars link it to Emperor Nero, since the Hebrew letters of “Nero Caesar” add up to 666 (gematria).
Later use
Popular culture tied 666 to the devil and the Antichrist.
Fear
The fear of 666 is hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia.
Note
Interpretations differ.
Textual sources
The number 666 appears in Revelation 13:18, “the number of the beast,” which the text says is a man’s number. Some early Greek manuscripts, including Papyrus 115 and Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus, read 616 instead of 666, so the number varied in early copies.
- Many scholars link it to gematria, where letters have number values. The Greek form of “Nero Caesar” transliterated into Hebrew (Nrwn Qsr) adds to 666, and the Latin form without the final n gives 616, which would explain the variant.
- The book of Revelation was written in the first century, probably under Roman persecution.
- Other interpretations apply the number to later figures, a view that scholars call historicist or futurist depending on school.
Later use and fear
In popular culture, 666 became tied to the devil through horror films like The Omen (1976) and rock music. Fear of 666 is called hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia. In 1986 the US town of Reagan renamed addresses, and Route 666 in the US was renumbered Route 491 in 2003 due to superstition and sign theft. The meaning remains debated across Christian traditions.
Textual sources
The number 666 appears in Revelation 13:18 as the number of the beast, while some early manuscripts give 616. Scholars connect it to gematria, with many seeing it as a code for Nero Caesar.
Later use and fear
Popular culture linked 666 with the devil. Fear of it is hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia. Interpretations vary.
The origin in scripture
The number 666 is called the number of the beast in the Book of Revelation 13:18, which says that wisdom is needed to calculate the number of the beast, and it is the number of a man. Some manuscripts, including the Papyrus 115 and Codex Ephraemi, give 616 instead.
Interpretations
Many scholars read 666 as gematria, where letters have numeric values, for the Roman emperor Nero. The Hebrew letters of Nero Caesar add to 666, and the variant 616 matches a different spelling. Since the early church, others have applied the number to different rulers or institutions. Revelation uses 7 for completeness, so 6 can symbolize falling short. The number is popular in culture, and many people avoid it, though it has no power by itself. Views differ between traditions.
Based on data from biblical scholarship and the Encyclopaedia Britannica
