Ἀβαδδών

Abaddon

Definition

Ἀβαδδών (Abaddon) is a proper name used in the New Testament to personify destruction. In its sole biblical occurrence, Revelation 9:11, it is explicitly identified as the angel of the abyss, whose name in Greek is Ἀπολλύων (Apollyon), meaning 'Destroyer.' This figure is presented as the king over a plague of demonic locusts released from the abyss during the tribulation. While the word originates from the Hebrew 'Abaddon,' which often refers to the 'place of destruction' or the realm of the dead in the Old Testament (e.g., Job 26:6, Proverbs 15:11), in Revelation it is personified as a powerful, destructive spiritual being.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Revelation 9:11. It is used in a highly symbolic, apocalyptic context as the name for the angel who rules over the abyss. The usage is patterned after Old Testament personifications of destruction and the underworld, but here it is applied directly to a malevolent angelic king who leads a demonic army to torment humanity.

Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew אֲבַדּוֹן ('ăḇaddôn), meaning 'destruction' or 'place of destruction.' It is not a native Greek word but a direct transliteration into Greek. The Hebrew root is אבד ('bd), meaning 'to perish' or 'be lost.' In Greek, it is explained with the synonym Ἀπολλύων (Apollyon), from the verb ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi, G622), 'to destroy.'

Semantic Range

Abaddon is a theologically significant figure in apocalyptic literature, representing the destructive power of evil aligned against God and humanity. Its identification as the 'Destroyer' and king of the abyss underscores themes of judgment, spiritual warfare, and the reality of a structured demonic realm in biblical eschatology. Understanding this term enriches the reading of Revelation by connecting it to Old Testament concepts of destruction (Sheol/Abaddon) while highlighting the New Testament's personification of evil forces that are ultimately under God's sovereign control, even in judgment.

In its original Jewish context, 'Abaddon' was a poetic term for the realm of the dead or destruction, not typically a personal name. Greek-speaking readers of Revelation would have encountered it as a foreign, mysterious title. The author, John, bridges this by providing the Greek translation 'Apollyon,' which may have also evoked cultural associations with the Greek god Apollo (often linked to plague and destruction), adding a layer of polemic against pagan deities for his contemporary audience.

Ἀπολλύων (Apollyon, G623) — The Greek translation/interpretation given for Abaddon in Revelation 9:11, meaning 'Destroyer.' | ἄβυσσος (abyssos, G12) — Refers to the 'abyss' or bottomless pit over which Abaddon is king. | ὄλεθρος (olethros, G3639) — A more general Greek term for 'destruction' or 'ruin.'

Word Details

Scripture References