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Abadon, Hades, Hell
Job 26:6 “The grave is naked before Him, and destruction has no covering.” Another translations says, “Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.”
When you read Scripture, and see that something like verb or a noun is talked about like a person – then you should have a look at the Hebrew. And in the case, (and also in the next topic of Rahab the Sea Monster in verse 12 – translated as “proud”), Destructions’ Hebrew word is actually Abadon H11 – ‘ăḇadôn, meaning a place of destruction. It is interesting to note how similar the english word abandon is with “abadon”.
Where Sheol is the resting place for souls, Abaddon is the place of destruction. In greek Abadon G3 – abaddōn is Apollyon G623 – apollyōn, also sometimes described as the angel of the abyss. Abaddon is also sometimes used to reference a bottomless pit, often appearing alongside the place Sheol. A classic verse of Abaddon / Apollyon is in Revelation 9:11, “And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.”
- Job 26:6: Sheol is naked before Him; Abaddon has no cover.
- Job 28:22: Abaddon and Death say, “We have only a report of it.”
- Job 31:12: A fire burning down to Abaddon, Consuming the roots of all my increase.
- Psalm 88:11: Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
- Proverbs 15:11: Sheol and Abaddon lie exposed to YHWH, How much more the minds of men!
- Proverbs 27:20: Sheol and Abaddon cannot be satisfied, Nor can the eyes of man be satisfied.
Rahab the Sea Monster
Job 26:12 “By His power He has calmed the sea, and by His understanding He struck down Rahaḇ.” Again another translation says, “He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.“
Just like in the case with the word destruction explained above, in Hebrew being Abadon/Apollyon, so we have Pride, or rather in Hebrew Rahab H7293 – rahaḇ / H7294 – rahaḇ. Translations could also use a storm or arrogance, even strength. In Jewish and biblical lore, Rahab is a mythical sea monster, often depicted as a dragon of the waters, representing chaos and the primordial abyss. It is also sometimes used as a symbol of Egypt and its ruler, particularly in relation to the Exodus narrative. Rahab is associated with darkness, insolence, pride, storms, and arrogance. In some interpretations, Rahab is also portrayed as a demonic angel of the sea. The verse in Job 26:12 reminds us of how YHWH divided, or struck down the “sea” so that the Israelites could pass on dry ground.
In Isaiah 30:7 we read, “For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength H7293 is to sit still.”, which could be translated to, “the Egyptians’ pride was made still“. Another verse in Isaiah 51:9, “Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of YHWH; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, H7294 and wounded the dragon?”
In the Psalms we also read about Rahab,
- Psalm 87:4 I will make mention of Rahab H7294 and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
- Psalm 89:10 Thou hast broken Rahab H7294 in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.
