Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Abaddon

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For works with similar titles, see Abaddon.
89199Catholic Encyclopedia — AbaddonAnthony John Maas


Abaddon, a Hebrew word signifying (1) ruin, destruction (Job, xxxi, 12); (2) place of destruction; the Abyss, realm of the dead (Job, xxvi, 6; Prov., xv, 11); (3) it occurs personified (Apoc., ix, 11) as Ἀββαδών, and is rendered in Greek by Ἀπολλυών, denoting the angel-prince of hell, the minister of death and author of havoc on earth. The Vulgate renders the Greek Apollyon by the Latin Exterminans (that is, "Destroyer"). The identity of Abaddon with Asmodeus, the demon of impurity, has been asserted, but not proved. In Job, xxvi, 6, and Proverbs, xv, 11, the word occurs in conjunction with Sheol.