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אֲבַדּוֹן

𐤀𐤁𐤃𐤅𐤍

Avadon

H11 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אבד to perish, be lost, be destroyed

Definition

A place or state of utter ruin, destruction, or perdition; in poetic and wisdom literature, often personified or used as a cosmic realm associated with death, decay, and the underworld. Sometimes used synonymously with Sheol, but with a greater emphasis on annihilation or obliteration rather than the abode of the dead per se.

Semantic Range

state or realm of destruction, place of annihilation, utter ruin, underworld locus of perdition, abstract concept of irretrievable loss, occasionally personified as a force of destruction

Root / Etymology

From the root אָבַד (avad), 'to perish, be lost, be destroyed'. אֲבַדּוֹן (Abaddon) is a noun formation indicating 'destruction' or 'ruin', often personified as a realm or force.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אֲבַדּוֹן appears primarily in poetic and wisdom contexts (e.g., Job 26:6; 28:22; Proverbs 15:11; Psalm 88:12), where it is often paired with Sheol to evoke the totality of the underworld or the concept of absolute oblivion. In these texts, Abaddon is not simply death, but the dimension of total destruction, finality, or irretrievability. The Septuagint typically renders the term with Greek words for 'perdition' or occasionally transliterates it. In later Jewish literature, including apocalyptic writings, Abaddon develops as a more defined underworld figure or locale. English translations sometimes use 'Destruction' or retain the Hebrew form; the term 'Hades' reflects Greek influence rather than Hebrew nuance. Not originally a personal name but rather an abstract or spatial concept, without the later demonic associations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

intensive from אָבַד; abstract, a perishing; concrete, Hades; destruction.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אבד (ʾ-b-d) — to perish, be lost, be destroyed

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H10 אֲבַדֹּה and destruction-of
H12 אַבְדָן and utter ruin
H13 אׇבְדַן in ruin-of
H5648 עֲבַד he perished
H6 אָבַד utterly destroying

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H11-01 אֲבַדּ֣וֹן avadon HNp Abaddon Realm of Destruction 2
H11-03 לָֽ/אֲבַדּֽוֹן laavadon HRd/Np for Abaddon to the Realm of Destruction 1
H11-04 וַ֭/אֲבַדּוֹן vaavadon HC/Np and Abaddon and Destruction-Realm 1
H11-02 בָּ/אֲבַדּֽוֹן baavadon HRd/Np in Destruction in the Destruction-Realm 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H11-02 Psalms 88:12 בָּ/אֲבַדּֽוֹן baavadon HRd/Np in Destruction in the Destruction-Realm
H11-04 Proverbs 15:11 וַ֭/אֲבַדּוֹן vaavadon HC/Np and Abaddon and Destruction-Realm
H11-03 Job 26:6 לָֽ/אֲבַדּֽוֹן laavadon HRd/Np for Abaddon to the Realm of Destruction
H11-01 Job 28:22 אֲבַדּ֣וֹן avadon HNp Abaddon Realm of Destruction
H11-01 Job 31:12 אֲבַדּ֣וֹן avadon HNp Abaddon Realm of Destruction
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