Revelation 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.

And {G2532} they had {G2192} a king {G935} over {G1909} them {G848}, which is the angel {G32} of the bottomless pit {G12}, whose {G846} name {G3686} in the Hebrew tongue {G1447} is Abaddon {G3}, but {G2532} in {G1722} the Greek tongue {G1673} hath {G2192} his name {G3686} Apollyon {G623}.

They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is “Abaddon” and in our language, “Destroyer.”

They were ruled by a king, the angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek it is Apollyon.

They have over them as king the angel of the abyss: his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek tongue he hath the name Apollyon.

Commentary

Context

Revelation 9:11 is found within the highly symbolic and prophetic book of Revelation, specifically describing the events following the sounding of the fifth trumpet judgment. This judgment unleashes a plague of supernatural "locusts" from the bottomless pit (Abyssos), which are not natural insects but demonic entities given power to torment humanity for five months. Unlike natural locusts, they do not harm vegetation but are directed only at those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. This verse specifically introduces the leader of these destructive forces, revealing his identity and names.

Key Themes

  • Demonic Authority and Leadership: The verse explicitly states that these tormenting entities "had a king over them," emphasizing a hierarchical structure within the forces of evil. This highlights that evil is not chaotic but can be organized and led by specific, powerful beings.
  • The Destructive Nature of Evil: The names given to this king—Abaddon and Apollyon—are profoundly significant. They directly mean "destruction" or "destroyer," underscoring the ultimate goal and character of these demonic forces: to bring ruin, torment, and desolation.
  • Personified Evil: While "Abaddon" in the Old Testament can refer to the place of destruction or the realm of the dead (e.g., Job 26:6), here it is clearly personified as a specific angelic being, the leader of these tormenting entities.

Linguistic Insights

  • Abaddon (Hebrew: אֲבַדּוֹן): This Hebrew word means "destruction," "ruin," or "place of perishing." In the Old Testament, it often refers to the underworld or the realm of the dead, synonymous with Sheol. Its use here as a proper name for the king of the demonic locusts emphasizes his role as an agent of ultimate destruction.
  • Apollyon (Greek: Ἀπολλύων): This Greek name is derived from the verb apollymi, meaning "to destroy" or "to perish." Thus, Apollyon translates directly as "Destroyer." The dual naming in both Hebrew and Greek underscores the universal and pervasive nature of this destructive entity and his influence, reaching both Jewish and Gentile audiences. It also highlights the destructive power of this angel from the bottomless pit.

Practical Application

Revelation 9:11, while describing future prophetic events, offers insights into the nature of spiritual warfare and the character of evil forces. It reminds believers that:

  • Evil Has Leadership and Purpose: There are organized spiritual forces of wickedness, led by powerful beings whose nature is destructive. This aligns with the New Testament's warnings about battling against "principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world" (Ephesians 6:12).
  • God Remains Sovereign: Despite the terrifying nature of Abaddon/Apollyon and the forces he commands, they are released and operate only under God's ultimate permission and within His divine timetable. This provides comfort that no evil power is outside of God's control, and He uses even these judgments to accomplish His purposes.
  • The Importance of God's Seal: The context of Revelation 9 shows that these demonic locusts are restricted from harming those who have the seal of God on their foreheads. This underscores the importance of spiritual protection and being identified as God's own, a theme consistent throughout the Bible.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Job 26:6

    Hell [is] naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

  • Revelation 9:1

    ¶ And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

  • Revelation 9:2

    And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

  • John 8:44

    Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

  • Ephesians 2:2

    Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

  • John 16:11

    Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:4

    In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
← Back