by Tim Hegg
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Revelation 13:18
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.
Rev. 13:18 Ὧδε ἡ σοφία ἐστίν. ὁ ἔχων νοῦν ψηφισάτω τὸν ριθμὸν τοῦ θηρίου, ριθμὸς γὰρ νθρώπου ἐστίν, καὶ ὁ ριθμὸς αὐτοῦ
ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ. (666)
(א, P, 1006. 1841. 1854. 2053vid al)
χξς (666)
(A, P47 051 M; Ir Hipp)
ἑξακόσιοι δεκα ἕξ. (616)
(C, Irmss)
χῖς (616)
(P115)
ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα πεντε (665)
(2344)
Neron Caesar (Greek)
The other numerical sums, found in a few manuscripts (e.g., manuscript 2344 which has “665”), are probably scribal errors or perhaps were done by scribes who misspelled the Hebrew transliteration of the Greek or Latin name Nero Caesar. If, for instance, Nero was spelled נרה rather than נרו, the numerical sum would be 665 rather than 666.
