Revelation 9:11
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What's striking here is that this king isn't just any angel; he's explicitly named in two languages, Hebrew and Greek, as "Abaddon" and "Apollyon." These names both translate to "Destroyer," highlighting that the very essence of this powerful, destructive force is annihilation itself. This double naming emphasizes the absolute and devastating nature of his reign, revealing that the ultimate purpose of this entity is utter ruin.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
These terrifying locust-like creatures, unleashed from the abyss, are not acting aimlessly; they are led by a specific commander. This king, identified as the "angel of the bottomless pit," is given a name that reveals his destructive purpose, first in Hebrew as Abaddon ("destruction") and then in Greek as Apollyon ("destroyer"). This highlights the divinely appointed, destructive nature of this force, which is about to plague those who lack God's seal.
Locusts don't have kings, but these don't just swarm—they have a ruler. Who is this king, and what does his title reveal?
The verse states, 'They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit.' This highlights a key difference from natural locusts, which are described in Proverbs 30:27 as having 'no king.' These symbolic locusts, however, are marshaled by a spiritual force. The 'angel of the bottomless pit' points to a high-ranking demonic entity, a chief envoy of Satan, who presides over the abyss—the realm of chaos and destruction. This isn't just an accidental horde; it's a directed spiritual assault. The 'bottomless pit' (Greek: abyssos) signifies an immense, deep, and unexplored chasm, a place of confinement for demonic powers.
Why give this angel two names, one Hebrew and one Greek? What does this dual labeling reveal about his nature and purpose?
The verse gives us two names for this king: Abaddon in Hebrew and Apollyon in Greek. This isn't accidental; it's a deliberate choice to convey a complete picture of his destructive nature to both Jewish and Gentile audiences.
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Together, these names personify the ultimate force of annihilation. They emphasize that this being's core identity and mission are pure destruction, acting as the 'spirit of the destroyer.'
Understand the original words
angelos · Greek Noun
A spiritual being created by God who serves as a messenger, though in some contexts, it can refer to fallen angels or demonic powers.
abyssos · Greek Noun
The place of the dead or a place of deep, chaotic imprisonment for demonic forces, often depicted as a dark, subterranean prison.
Abaddon · Hebrew Proper Noun
A Hebrew term meaning 'destruction' or 'place of destruction,' often personified as the ruler of the demonic realm.
Apollyōn · Greek Proper Noun
A Greek term meaning 'Destroyer,' used as the equivalent to Abaddon, representing the destructive nature of evil.
This verse identifies the leader of the locust-like hordes as 'Abaddon' (Hebrew) and 'Apollyon' (Greek), both meaning 'Destroyer.' Historically, this has been widely interpreted to symbolize the rise and expansion of Islam under figures like Muhammad and his successors, whose conquests brought immense disruption and 'destruction' to many regions, though not ultimately annihilating the core of Christendom.
c. 610 AD
Muhammad begins preaching
Muhammad begins receiving revelations that form the basis of the Quran, spreading the message of Islam.
622 AD
The Hijra (Migration)
Muhammad and his followers migrate from Mecca to Medina, marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar and the formation of an organized Muslim community.
629-632 AD
Early Islamic Conquests
Following Muhammad's death, Muslim armies begin rapid military expansion, conquering vast territories in the Middle East.
c. 668-675 AD
First Siege of Constantinople
The Umayyad Caliphate launches a major assault on the Byzantine capital, Constantinople, which is repelled. This marks an early major confrontation between Islamic expansion and Eastern Christendom.
c. 716-718 AD
Second Siege of Constantinople
Another large-scale siege of Constantinople by Muslim forces also ends in failure, a significant check on the expansion of the Caliphate into southeastern Europe.
732 AD
Battle of Tours
Frankish forces led by Charles Martel decisively defeat an invading Umayyad army near Tours, France, halting the northward advance of Islamic power into Western Europe.
c. 750 AD onwards— this verse
Shift in Saracen Focus
The Saracen empire experiences internal divisions and a gradual shift from relentless conquest towards consolidating power and developing culture and science, marking a lessening of their immediate threat to Christendom.
This verse directly references Abaddon as a place or realm of destruction, connecting to the name of the king and the destructive nature of the locust-like army.
Proverbs 15:11This passage states that 'Sheol and Abaddon' are naked before the Lord, highlighting the absolute and terrifying nature of destruction that the king of the locusts embodies.
John 8:44Jesus calls the devil a 'murderer from the beginning,' a concept that aligns with the 'Destroyer' (Apollyon) imagery, as this king and his forces operate with a similar intent.
Romans 3:12-18This passage graphically describes the destructive nature of sin and humanity's fallen state, echoing the all-encompassing ruin brought by Abaddon and his army.
2 Thessalonians 2:3This verse speaks of the 'man of lawlessness' whose coming is 'by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,' which parallels the demonic leadership and destructive influence described in Revelation 9.
ellicottRevelation 9:11: "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."
(11) And they had a king . . . —Better, They have over them as king (not “ the angel,” as in English version) an angel of the abyss; his name (is) in Hebrew Abaddon, and in the Greek he has a name , Apollyon. There is more than one point in which the seer wishes us to mark the contrast between these symbolical and…
clarkeRevelation 9:11: "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."
A king over them - A supreme head; some think Mohammed, some think Vespasian. The angel of the bottomless pit - The chief envoy of Satan. Abaddon - From אבד abad, he destroyed. Apollyon - From απο, intensive, and ολλυω, to destroy. The meaning is the same both in the Hebrew and Greek.
What's striking here is that this king isn't just any angel; he's explicitly named in two languages, Hebrew and Greek, as "Abaddon" and "Apollyon." These names both translate to "Destroyer," highlighting that the very essence of this powerful, destructive force is annihilation itself. This double naming emphasizes the absolute and devastating nature of his reign, revealing that the ultimate purpose of this entity is utter ruin.
These terrifying locust-like creatures, unleashed from the abyss, are not acting aimlessly; they are led by a specific commander. This king, identified as the "angel of the bottomless pit," is given a name that reveals his destructive purpose, first in Hebrew as Abaddon ("destruction") and then in Greek as Apollyon ("destroyer"). This highlights the divinely appointed, destructive nature of this force, which is about to plague those who lack God's seal.
These terrifying locust-like creatures, unleashed from the abyss, are not acting aimlessly; they are led by a specific commander. This king, identified as the "angel of the bottomless pit," is given a name that reveals his destructive purpose, first in Hebrew as Abaddon ("destruction") and then in Greek as Apollyon ("destroyer"). This highlights the divinely appointed, destructive nature of this force, which is about to plague those who lack God's seal.
"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." — What's striking here is that this king isn't just any angel; he's explicitly named in two languages, Hebrew and Greek, as "Abaddon" and "Apollyon." These names both translate to "Destroyer," highli…
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Last reviewed October 2026
