Revelation 9:11 kjv
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
Revelation 9:11 nkjv
And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
Revelation 9:11 niv
They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).
Revelation 9:11 esv
They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.
Revelation 9:11 nlt
Their king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon ? the Destroyer.
Revelation 9 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 9:1 | And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. | Context: The Angel of the Abyss receives the key |
| Lk 8:31 | And they begged Him not to command them to depart into the abyss. | Abyss as a place of demonic imprisonment/descent |
| Rom 10:7 | ...or, 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). | Abyss related to the underworld or realm of the dead |
| Rev 11:7 | When they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them... | Abyss as origin for an ultimate evil figure (the Beast) |
| Rev 17:8 | The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the abyss and go to destruction. | Abyss as origin for future destructive entities |
| Rev 20:1-3 | Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven... He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years and threw him into the abyss... | Abyss as the temporary prison for Satan |
| 1 Cor 10:10 | Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. | "Destroyer" as an agent of divine judgment, mirroring Apollyon |
| Heb 2:14 | ...through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil... | Satan/Devil connected to power over death/destruction |
| Job 26:6 | Sheol is naked before Him, And Abaddon has no covering. | Abaddon as a personification or realm of destruction, known to God |
| Job 28:22 | Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’ | Abaddon linked intimately with Death as realms of oblivion |
| Job 31:12 | For it is a fire that consumes to Abaddon, and it would uproot all my increase. | Abaddon as the ultimate point of destruction and loss |
| Ps 88:11 | Shall Your steadfast love be declared in the grave, or Your faithfulness in Abaddon? | Abaddon as a term for the realm of ruin and perishing |
| Prov 15:11 | Sheol and Abaddon are open before the Lord, how much more the hearts of the children of man! | Abaddon signifying the depths, fully known to God |
| Prov 27:20 | Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and the eyes of man are never satisfied. | Abaddon's insatiable nature, reflective of ultimate ruin |
| Isa 28:18 | Your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand... | Theme of covenant with destructive powers |
| Jn 12:31 | Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. | Christ's defeat of the "ruler of this world" (Satan) |
| Jn 14:30 | I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me... | "Ruler of this world" as an overarching satanic authority |
| Jn 16:11 | ...and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. | Judgment proclaimed over the ruler of this world |
| Eph 2:2 | ...following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience... | "Prince of the power of the air" identifies an unseen demonic leader |
| 2 Sam 24:16 | And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity... | Angel as an agent of destruction, but under God's control |
| 2 Kgs 19:35 | And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. | Angel of the Lord executing divine judgment, causing destruction |
| Exo 10:14-15 | The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt... such a swarm of locusts has never been before... and they covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened... | Old Testament precedent for locusts as a divine judgment/plague |
| Joel 2:1-11 | Blow a trumpet in Zion... A numerous people and a mighty one... Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, but after them a desolate wilderness... | Prophetic imagery of a destructive army (locusts) as divine agents |
| Jude 1:6 | And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day. | Fallen angels are confined, awaiting ultimate judgment |
| 2 Pet 2:4 | For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into Tartarus and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment... | Divine judgment on sinful, fallen angels through imprisonment |
Revelation 9 verses
Revelation 9 11 Meaning
Revelation 9:11 reveals the identity of the ruler commanding the destructive "locust" army released during the fifth trumpet judgment. This ruler is an angelic being given authority over the abyss, known by two names that underscore his character and function: Abaddon, a Hebrew name signifying "destruction" or "ruin," and Apollyon, a Greek name meaning "destroyer." The verse emphasizes that these seemingly uncontrolled forces of torment operate under a designated leader whose essence is that of destructive power, acting within divine permission.
Revelation 9 11 Context
Revelation 9:11 appears within the narrative of the Trumpet Judgments, specifically following the sounding of the fifth trumpet. This judgment involves demonic "locusts" released from the bottomless pit, who are given power not to kill, but to torment those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads for five months. These creatures are not natural locusts but described with scorpion-like power and distinct features, clearly symbolizing supernatural, malevolent forces. Verse 11 introduces their designated "king," emphasizing that even such chaotic and terrifying torment is not random but organized under a specific leadership. This king's name underscores the destructive essence of this entire judgment. The broader historical and cultural context reflects the early church's understanding of evil as personal, active, and opposing God's plan, yet ultimately under His sovereign control, often in polemical contrast to pagan deities or imperial cults claiming ultimate authority.
Revelation 9 11 Word analysis
- And they had as king over them (Greek: kai echousin ep' autōn basilea): This phrase highlights leadership and organized nature. "King" (basilea) implies sovereign rule and authority, not merely a leader. The demonic "locusts" operate with a designated chain of command, signifying a purposeful, structured torment, not an arbitrary eruption of chaos.
- the angel of the bottomless pit, (Greek: ton aggelon tēs abyssou):
- angel (aggelos): While typically meaning "messenger," in this apocalyptic context, it refers to a spiritual being. The phrase "angel of the bottomless pit" directly associates him with this specific, dark domain, signifying his origin and sphere of influence. He is likely a fallen angel.
- bottomless pit (Greek: abyssou, from abyssos): Literally "abyss" or "very deep," it denotes a realm of darkness, chaotic primordial waters, or a subterranean prison for evil spirits. This is not hell itself but a temporary holding place for certain demonic entities, including Satan himself (Rev 20:1-3).
- whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, (Greek: onoma autō Hebraisti Abaddōn):
- Abaddon (Hebrew: אֲבַדּוֹן, 'ăḇaddōn): This name means "destruction," "ruin," or "place of destruction/perishing." In the Old Testament, it's often personified or parallels Sheol (Job 26:6, Prov 15:11), referring to the underworld or a place of ruin. Here, it is explicitly given as a personal name to the king, highlighting his destructive character.
- and in Greek he has the name Apollyon. (Greek: kai en tē Hellenikē echei onoma Apollyōn):
- Apollyon (Greek: Ἀπολλύων, Apolluōn): This name is derived from the Greek verb apollymi, meaning "to destroy," "to perish," or "to ruin." It directly translates the Hebrew Abaddon and explicitly identifies the king as "the Destroyer." The presentation of both Hebrew and Greek names serves to emphasize the universality of this entity's destructive function, intelligible to both Jewish and Gentile audiences.
Revelation 9 11 Bonus section
The provision of both a Hebrew (Abaddon) and Greek (Apollyon) name for the king of the abyss carries rich significance. It could imply:
- Universal Recognition: It ensured the understanding of this destructive power across both Jewish and Gentile audiences of John's time, emphasizing that this judgment and the force behind it would be recognized by all.
- Intrinsic Nature: The names are not arbitrary titles but encapsulate the very essence and function of this angelic being – he is inherently linked to and embodies destruction. This contrasts with names for God which reveal His creative and saving attributes.
- Polemics against Apollo: Some scholars note a subtle polemic against the Greek god Apollo, who was sometimes associated with pestilence and destruction (e.g., in Homer's Iliad), yet was revered for healing and light. By calling the "destroyer" Apollyon, Revelation turns a revered pagan deity's name (or a sound-alike name) into a harbinger of true divine judgment, identifying a demonic power behind supposed divine attributes. This starkly contrasts the light of Christ with the darkness of true destruction.
- Specific Role vs. Satan: While the devil is often seen as the primary force of evil, Abaddon/Apollyon might represent a specific functionary or high-ranking demonic prince charged with leading this particular phase of torment and ruin, acting under God's permissive will. He is the specific orchestrator of this unique judgment, not necessarily Satan himself.
Revelation 9 11 Commentary
Revelation 9:11 is pivotal in identifying the malicious force orchestrating the fifth trumpet's torment. The depiction of the "locusts" as having a "king" signifies that their operations are not random or undirected, but rather controlled and purposed. This "king" is an angelic being, indicating a spiritual, non-human agency behind this destructive phase of judgment. His designation as "the angel of the bottomless pit" precisely situates him as a prominent figure within the realm of imprisoned evil spirits, given specific, though temporary, authority to release agents of suffering.
The double naming – Abaddon (Hebrew for destruction) and Apollyon (Greek for destroyer) – is highly significant. It ensures universal comprehension of this entity's nature across both Jewish and Gentile linguistic and conceptual frameworks, signifying that this destructive power is fundamentally one of ruination and annihilation. This also implies a personal agency for evil, rather than an abstract force. While often associated with Satan due to his ultimate role as the great adversary, Abaddon/Apollyon appears as a distinct entity, potentially a high-ranking demonic lieutenant specifically commissioned for this destructive task. This precise identification solidifies the reality of spiritual warfare and God's sovereign allowance and control over even the most terrible expressions of evil in His unfolding judgment. Ultimately, even "the Destroyer" is part of God's greater plan, highlighting that no evil is outside God's ultimate permission or beyond His final judgment.