What was Abaddon?

[tonychanyt]

Pr 15:

11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of man!

Strong's Hebrew: 11. אֲבַדּוֹן (abaddon) — 5 Occurrences

Brown-Driver-Briggs:

proper name (place of) Destruction, Ruin

Job 28:

22 Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’

In the OT, Abaddon was a place name but personified in Job 28.

In the NT, John took it one step further in Revelation 9:

7 In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces.

11 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."

Abaddon was an angel of Sheol.

Strong's Greek: 3. Ἀβαδδών (Abaddón) — 1 Occurrence

BDAG:

Ps 87:12; Theod. Job 26:6; 28:22 Abaddon, name of the ruling angel in hell Rv 9:11, explained as Ἀπολλύων Destroyer.

Strong's Greek: 623. Ἀπολλύων (Apolluón) — 1 Occurrence

BDAG:

Apollyon, the Destroyer

Whether the writer of Rv implied a connection with the deity Apollo cannot be determined. Indeed, it is questionable, for Apollo was the god of purity and recognized for his civilizing influence.

For ancient association of Apollo with the theme of retribution, … destroy them [the guilty ones] even as you do destroy!

Abaddon seems to be a powerful angel of destruction, associated with Sheol, death, and ruin.