Original Word: אֲבַדֹּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: abaddoh
Pronunciation: ah-vah-DOHN
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ad-do')
KJV: destruction
Word Origin: [the same as H9 (אֲבֵדָה - lost thing), miswritten for H11 (אֲבַדּוֹן - Abaddon)]

1. a perishing

destruction

The same as 'abedah, miswritten for 'abaddown; a perishing -- destruction.

see HEBREW 'abedah

see HEBREW 'abaddown

Word Origin
the same as abaddon, q.v.

אֲבַדֹּה, אֲבַדּוֺ compare אבדון below

Literary and Canonical Context

The single occurrence of אֲבַדֹּה in the Hebrew Bible (Proverbs 27:20) is situated within the Solomonic collection that contrasts insatiable forces with the desires of the human heart: “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and the eyes of man are never satisfied” (Proverbs 27:20). The verse functions as an aphoristic reminder that just as the grave’s appetite is unending, human covetousness left unchecked likewise knows no limit. Within Proverbs, this becomes a moral warning that only the fear of the LORD can restrain destructive impulses (Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10).

Intertextual Connections

Though spelled slightly differently from the more familiar אֲבַדּוֹן, the concept is continuous with other Wisdom and Poetic passages: Job 26:6, Job 28:22, Job 31:12, Psalm 88:11, and Proverbs 15:11. In each text Abaddon is paired with Sheol to describe the unseen realm of death and ruin. The literary device is intensification—linking two synonymous terms to emphasize total destruction. The New Testament echoes this idea with the angel of the abyss bearing the same name, transliterated “Abaddon” (Revelation 9:11), thereby affirming canonical coherence.

Historical Perspective

In ancient Near Eastern thought, the grave was personified as an ever-hungry entity. Israel’s wisdom writers adopt that imagery while placing it under Yahweh’s sovereignty. Abaddon’s insatiability communicates not dualism but the certainty of death’s reach in a fallen world, heightening the call to wisdom and covenant fidelity.

Theological Themes

1. Mortality and Limitations – Abaddon underscores the transience of life (Psalm 90:10-12).
2. Divine Omniscience – “Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD” (Proverbs 15:11), asserting that even the darkest domain is transparent to God.
3. Justice and Retribution – In Job 31:12 Abaddon consumes moral collapse, portraying destruction as the inevitable consequence of unrepented sin.
4. Eschatological Hope – While Abaddon represents finality for the wicked, Scripture promises deliverance for the righteous: “God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol” (Psalm 49:15).

Practical Ministry Application

• Preaching and Teaching – Proverbs 27:20 offers a pointed illustration of the futility of materialism. Use it to expose the counterfeit promise of endless acquisition and to direct hearers toward contentment in Christ (Philippians 4:11-13).
• Counseling – When addressing addiction or compulsive behaviors, employ the imagery of Abaddon to show how unchecked desires mimic an open grave, always demanding more yet never satisfying.
• Evangelism – The inevitability of Abaddon sets the stage for the gospel’s proclamation that Jesus Christ has “abolished death” (2 Timothy 1:10).
• Funeral Ministry – Acknowledge Abaddon’s reality while proclaiming the believer’s victory over it through resurrection hope (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

Christological Reflection

Jesus used parallel imagery when He spoke of “the worm that never dies” (Mark 9:48). By bearing the curse and rising again, He conquered the domain that Abaddon symbolizes. Thus believers can affirm, “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).

Summary

אֲבַדֹּה in Proverbs 27:20 serves as a vivid reminder of the relentless nature of death and ruin, calling humanity to humility, wisdom, and reliance on divine grace. Its solitary spelling variant does not dilute the unified biblical message: God alone satisfies the soul and delivers from the pit of destruction.

וַ֭אֲבַדֹּו ואבדו Vaavaddov wa’ăḇaddōw wa·’ă·ḇad·dōwInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts