Revelation 9:11 - Exposition

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit; they have over them as king the angel of the abyss (Revised Version). Most commentators contrast with the condition of the natural locusts, who have no king ( Proverbs 30:7 ). "The angel" evidently, points to the star of verse l, who is Satan himself. Some think a particular angel, not Satan, is intended. Alford unnecessarily hesitates to decide that Satan is meant, owing to Revelation 12:3 , Revelation 12:9 . Whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. Abaddon is the Hebrew נוֹדּבַאֲ , a noun representing the abstract idea "destruction" ( Job 31:12 ), but more frequently employed to designate the netherworld ( Job 26:6 ; Job 28:22 ; Proverbs 15:11 ; Psalms 88:12 ). Apollyon ( ἀπολλύων , present participle) is the Greek ἀπώλεια (by which the LXX . renders נוֹדּבַאֲ ) personified. It is in conformity with St. John's usual practice to give the two forms of the name (cf. John 1:38 , John 1:42 ; John 4:25 ; John 9:7 ; John 11:16 ; John 19:13 , John 19:17 ). In the name we have summed up the character of him who bears it. He is the "destroyer," the one who causes "perdition'' to mankind. Cf. the words of our Lord given by St. John ( John 8:44 ), "He was a murderer from the beginning." Bengel and others contrast with "Jesus" the "Saviour." Perhaps the height of absurdity is reached by those writers (Bleek, Volkmar) who see in the name Apollyon a reference to (N)apoleon.