Armageddon
/ˌɑːr.məˈɡɛd.ən/noun
A final, catastrophic conflict or destruction, especially one imagined as ending the world.
Did you know?The word appears only once in the Bible, in Revelation 16:16, where the Greek form Harmagedōn names the gathering place of the forces opposing God.
Etymological Timeline
Late 1st Century CE
Greek
Ἁρμαγεδών (Harmagedōn)
“The name of the place where apocalyptic forces are gathered in the Book of Revelation.”
1st Century CE
Koine Greek
τόπος ὁ καλούμενος Ἁρμαγεδών
““The place called Harmagedon,” as described in Revelation 16:16.”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
הַר מְגִדּוֹ (Har Megiddo)
““Mount of Megiddo” or “mountain of Megiddo”; the proposed Hebrew source of the Greek form.”
Ancient Period
Hebrew
מְגִדּוֹ (Megiddo)
“Megiddo, an ancient fortified city and strategic site in northern Israel.”
14th–16th Century
English
Armageddon
“A biblical name associated with the final battle or destruction at the end of the world.”
Modern English
English
Armageddon
“Any utterly destructive conflict, catastrophe, or perceived end-of-the-world event.”
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