Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A bottomless or unfathomed depth, gulf, or chasm; specifically, hell, or the bottomless pit. 2. (n.) Infinite time; a vast intellectual or moral depth. 3. (n.) The center of an escutcheon. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ABYSS a-bis', (he abussos): In classical Greek the word is always an adjective, and is used (1) literally, "very deep," "bottomless"; (2) figuratively, "unfathomable," "boundless." "Abyss" does not occur in the King James Version but the Revised Version (British and American) so transliterates abussos in each case. The the King James Version renders the Greek by "the deep" in two passages (Luke 8:31 Romans 10:7). In Revelation the King James Version renders by "the bottomless pit" (Revelation 9:1, 2, 11; Revelation 11:7; Revelation 17:8; 20:1, 3). In the Septuagint abussos is the rendering of the Hebrew word tehom. According to primitive Semitic cosmogony the earth was supposed to rest on a vast body of water which was the source of all springs of water and rivers (Genesis 1:2 Deuteronomy 8:7 Psalm 24:2; Psalm 136:6). This subterranean ocean is sometimes described as "the water under the earth" (Exodus 20:4 Deuteronomy 5:8). According to Job 41:32 tehom is the home of the leviathan in which he plows his hoary path of foam. The Septuagint never uses abussos as a rendering of sheol (= Sheol = Hades) and probably tehom never meant the "abode of the dead" which was the ordinary meaning of Sheol. In Psalm 71:20 tehom is used figuratively, and denotes "many and sore troubles" through which the psalmist has passed (compare Jonah 2:5). But in the New Testament the word abussos means the "abode of demons." In Luke 8:31 the King James Version renders "into the deep" (Weymouth and The Twentieth Century New Testament = "into the bottomless pit"). The demons do not wish to be sent to their place of punishment before their destined time. Mark simply says "out of the country" (Luke 5:10). In Romans 10:7 the word is equivalent to Hades, the abode of the dead. In Revelation (where the King James Version renders invariably "the bottomless pit") abussos denotes the abode of evil spirits, but not the place of final punishment; it is therefore to be distinguished from the "lake of fire and brimstone" where the beast and the false prophet are, and into which the Devil is to be finally cast (Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10). See also ASTRONOMY, sec. III, 7. Thomas Lewis

Multi-Version Concordance Abyss (11 Occurrences) Luke 8:31 They begged him that he would not command them to go into the abyss. (WEB ASV YLT NAS RSV NIV) Romans 10:7 or,'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)" (WEB WEY ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV) Revelation 9:1 The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. (WEB ASV DBY YLT NIV) Revelation 9:2 He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit. (WEB ASV DBY YLT NIV) Revelation 9:11 They have over them as king the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is "Abaddon," but in Greek, he has the name "Apollyon." (WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS NIV) Revelation 11:7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them. (WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS NIV) Revelation 17:8 The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present. (WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS NIV) Revelation 20:1 I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. (WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS NIV) Revelation 20:3 and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. (WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS NIV) Psalms 104:6 The abyss! as with clothing Thou hast covered it, Above hills do waters stand. (YLT) Jeremiah 48:28 You inhabitants of Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock; and be like the dove that makes her nest over the mouth of the abyss. (WEB ASV)