1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Abaddon

For works with similar titles, see Abaddon.

ABADDON, a Hebrew word meaning “destruction.” In poetry it comes to mean “place of destruction,” and so the underworld or Sheol (cf. Job xxvi. 6; Prov. xv. 11). In Rev. ix. 11 Abaddon (Ἀβαδδών) is used of hell personified, the prince of the underworld. The term is here explained as Apollyon (q.v.), the “destroyer.” W. Baudissin (Herzog-Hauck, Realencyklopädie) notes that Hades and Abaddon in Rabbinic writings are employed as personal names, just as shemayya in Dan. iv. 23, shāmayim (“heaven”), and mākōm (“place”) among the Rabbis, are used of God.