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ἄβυσσος

ábyssos

G12 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A profound, immeasurable depth; an unfathomable or boundless expanse, originally denoting a vast body of water or the depths of the sea. By extension in Jewish and early Christian literature, it refers to the cosmic underworld, the abode of the dead or demonic spirits, and a prison or holding place for destructive supernatural beings. In some contexts, it becomes a term for an infernal pit or chasm associated with separation from the world above.

Semantic Range

unfathomable depth, bottomless gulf, the sea or deep waters, the underworld or abode of dead, a prison/pit for supernatural beings

Root / Etymology

From the alpha privative (ἀ-, expressing negation) and the root βυσσ- from βυθός ('depth, bottom'). The word thus literally means 'without depth' or 'bottomless.' Related to the Hebrew תְּהוֹם (tehōm) in the Septuagint, where it often translates 'the deep' or primal waters.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek (rare and poetic), ἄβυσσος referred to vast or impassable depths, especially of water. In Jewish Greek (Septuagint and intertestamental literature), it becomes the preferred translation for the Hebrew תְּהוֹם (tehōm), referring to primordial chaos-waters, but also the subterranean deep or underworld. In the New Testament and other Second Temple works, ἄβυσσος designates a cosmic pit or prison—distinct from ᾅδης (Hades), which is more generically the abode of the dead. In apocalyptic contexts (e.g., Revelation), 'the abyss' becomes a place where evil spirits are confined or from which they may arise, a nuance not always adequately captured by traditional English translations such as 'bottomless pit.' The term does not unambiguously refer to a place of punishment, but can denote any vast, deep, or inaccessible place; its specific character derives from context. Later Christian usage solidified its infernal connotations.

Translation Consistency

primary "abyss" 9 occurrences

“Abyss” is the common, natural English noun used across translations for ἄβυσσος and captures the primary semantic range—profound/deep waters and the infernal or prison-like chasm in Jewish–Christian contexts. It is the most frequent and idiomatic choice and works for both literal and figurative uses, ensuring consistent rendering for every form of this lemma.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a negative particle) and a variation of βυθός; depthless, i.e. (specially) (infernal) "abyss":--deep, (bottomless) pit.

Root Family

ἄβυσσος (abyssos) — depth, deep, abyss, bottomless gulf

Root βυσσ- depth, deep, abyss

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G12-02 Ἀβύσσου abussou N GEN F SG abyss of the bottomless depth of the abyss 6
G12-01 Ἄβυσσον abusson N ACC F SG abyss the bottomless depth the bottomless abyss 3

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G12-01 Luke 8:31 Ἄβυσσον abusson N ACC F SG abyss the bottomless depth the bottomless abyss
G12-01 Romans 10:7 Ἄβυσσον abusson N ACC F SG abyss the bottomless depth the bottomless abyss
G12-02 Revelation 9:1 Ἀβύσσου abussou N GEN F SG abyss of the bottomless depth of the abyss
G12-02 Revelation 9:2 Ἀβύσσου abussou N GEN F SG abyss of the bottomless depth of the abyss
G12-02 Revelation 9:11 Ἀβύσσου abussou N GEN F SG abyss of the bottomless depth of the abyss
G12-02 Revelation 11:7 Ἀβύσσου abussou N GEN F SG bottomless pit of the bottomless depth of the abyss
G12-02 Revelation 17:8 Ἀβύσσου abussou N GEN F SG abyss of the bottomless depth of the abyss
G12-02 Revelation 20:1 Ἀβύσσου abussou N GEN F SG abyss of the bottomless depth of the abyss
G12-01 Revelation 20:3 Ἄβυσσον abusson N ACC F SG abyss the bottomless depth the bottomless abyss
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