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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: The Abyss</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/t/the_abyss.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/genesis/1-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/a/abyss.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > The Abyss</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/t/the_abusive_man.htm" title="The Abusive Man">◄</a> The Abyss <a href="/topical/t/the_abyss_and_its_key.htm" title="The Abyss and Its Key">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>The term "Abyss" in biblical literature refers to a profound depth or bottomless pit, often associated with the abode of demonic spirits and a place of confinement for evil. The concept of the Abyss is primarily found in the New Testament, though it has roots in Old Testament imagery.<br><br><b>Old Testament Background</b><br><br>While the specific term "Abyss" is not used in the Old Testament, the concept is related to the Hebrew word "tehom," which means "deep" or "depths." This term is used in <a href="/genesis/1-2.htm">Genesis 1:2</a> to describe the primordial waters over which the Spirit of God hovered. The imagery of deep waters often symbolizes chaos and disorder, which God brings into order through creation.<br><br><b>New Testament References</b><br><br>1. <b><a href="/luke/8-31.htm">Luke 8:31</a></b> · In the account of Jesus casting out the Legion of demons from a man, the demons beg Him not to send them into the Abyss: "And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss" . This passage suggests that the Abyss is a place of torment and imprisonment for demonic beings.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/romans/10-7.htm">Romans 10:7</a></b> · The Apostle Paul uses the term metaphorically when discussing the righteousness based on faith: "or, 'Who will descend into the Abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)" . Here, the Abyss is associated with the realm of the dead, emphasizing the power of Christ's resurrection.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/revelation/9.htm">Revelation 9:1-11</a></b> · The Abyss is vividly depicted in the apocalyptic visions of John. A star falls from heaven and is given the key to the Abyss, releasing a swarm of locusts with the power to torment those without the seal of God. The Abyss is described as a smoke-filled pit, and its opening brings darkness upon the earth. This imagery underscores the Abyss as a source of evil and chaos.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/revelation/11-7.htm">Revelation 11:7</a>; 17:8</b> · The Beast that rises from the Abyss is mentioned as waging war against the two witnesses and as an entity that astonishes the inhabitants of the earth. The Abyss is portrayed as the origin of malevolent forces that oppose God's purposes.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/revelation/20.htm">Revelation 20:1-3</a></b> · In the eschatological vision, an angel descends from heaven with the key to the Abyss and chains Satan, casting him into the Abyss for a thousand years. This act signifies a temporary restraint of evil before the final judgment.<br><br><b>Theological Significance</b><br><br>The Abyss represents the antithesis of God's order and goodness, a place where evil is contained and from which it emerges to challenge divine authority. It is a realm of chaos, darkness, and punishment, contrasting with the light and life found in God's presence. The New Testament portrayal of the Abyss emphasizes the ultimate victory of Christ over evil, as He has authority over the Abyss and its inhabitants. The temporary nature of the Abyss's power, as seen in Revelation, assures believers of the eventual triumph of God's kingdom.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/a/abyss.htm">Abyss</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/ethiopic.htm">Ethiopic</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/ethiopia.htm">Ethiopia (26 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/n/nile.htm">Nile (37 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/language.htm">Language (112 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abyss.htm">Abyss (11 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/acacia.htm">Acacia (28 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/z/zebub.htm">Zebub (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/onycha.htm">Onycha (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/j/jackal.htm">Jackal (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/myrrh.htm">Myrrh (22 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/papyrus.htm">Papyrus (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/balm.htm">Balm (7 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/candace.htm">Candace (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/cush.htm">Cush (31 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/sheep.htm">Sheep (413 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/put.htm">Put (13688 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/alexandria.htm">Alexandria (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/apocalyptic.htm">Apocalyptic</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/literature.htm">Literature (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt (596 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/d/dispersion.htm">Dispersion (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/v/versions.htm">Versions</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/t/the_abusive_man.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="The Abusive Man"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="The Abusive Man" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/t/the_abyss_and_its_key.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="The Abyss and Its Key"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="The Abyss and Its Key" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>