Lexical Summary Apolluón: Apollyon Original Word: Ἀπολλύων Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Apollyon. Active participle of apollumi; a destroyer (i.e. Satan) -- Apollyon. see GREEK apollumi HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 623 Apollýōn (from 622 /apóllymi, "cause to perish, be ruined") – properly, "the destroyer" (from the Abyss), i.e. Satan (used only in Rev 9:11). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originactive participle of apollumi Definition "a destroyer," Apollyon, the angel of the abyss NASB Translation Apollyon (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 623: ἈπολλύωνἈπολλύων, Ἀπολλυοντος, ὁ (participle from ἀπολλύω), Apollyon (a proper name, formed by the author of the Apocalypse), i. e. Destroyer: Revelation 9:11; cf. Ἀβαδδών (and B. D. under the word). Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence and Context The name appears once in the New Testament, in Revelation 9:11. There, during the fifth trumpet judgment, John sees demonic locusts emerging from the abyss: “They were ruled by a king, the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he has the name Apollyon”. The verse links two linguistic streams—Hebrew and Greek—underscoring the universal scope of this judgment and signaling that the destroyer’s work transcends any single culture or era. Etymological and Intertestamental Background Hebrew Scripture frequently personifies “Abaddon” as the realm of death (Job 26:6; Proverbs 15:11). Intertestamental literature (for example, 1 Enoch) expands this imagery, depicting vast subterranean places of imprisonment for rebellious spirits. By the first century, Jewish apocalyptic thought often identified a chief angelic warden of these depths. Revelation 9:11 gathers these threads, naming the warden and emphasizing his function as the executor of God-permitted destruction. Role in Apocalyptic Imagery 1. Judicial Release: The angel of the abyss does nothing on his own initiative; the sounding of the fifth trumpet authorizes his activity. This highlights God’s sovereignty even over demonic agents. Theological Implications • Divine Restraint and Release: Apollyon’s emergence illustrates a pattern found throughout Scripture—evil powers are restrained until released for specific purposes (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). Historical Interpretations • Early Church: Writers such as Tertullian viewed Apollyon as a literal demonic prince whose activity would peak near the end of the age. Practical Ministry Application 1. Spiritual Warfare: Awareness that destructive forces remain under God’s leash strengthens confidence in prayer and proclamation. Related Concepts and Texts • The Destroyer of the Firstborn (Exodus 12:23) foreshadows a personal agent of judgment. In summary, Strong’s Greek 623 presents Apollyon as the divinely limited yet terrifying king of the abyss, whose brief reign of destruction serves God’s overarching plan to vindicate righteousness and unveil the supremacy of the Lamb. Forms and Transliterations Απολλυων Ἀπολλύων Apolluon Apolluōn Apollyon Apollyōn Apollýon ApollýōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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