Bible Dictionary
BOTTOMLESS, PIT
The pit of the abyss, a term used in older English versions for what later translations call the Abyss. It denotes the deep realm associated with demonic confinement and judgment.
Definition
The bottomless pit is the pit of the abyss. In older English versions, “bottomless” translates an expression meaning “the pit of the abyss”; later versions regularly render the term “the Abyss.”
Biblical Usage
The Abyss is associated in the supplied passages with demonic confinement, judgment, and the activity of the beast. The expression occurs in Luke, Romans, and Revelation.
Historical Background
The Greek term was an adjective meaning “bottomless” in classical usage, but in the cited biblical passages it functions as the designation of the Abyss.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>bot'-um-les, (to phrear tes abussou, "the pit of the abyss," Re 9:1,2 the King James Version): In the Revised Version (British and American), he abussos (always an adjective in classical authors = "bottomless") is uniformly rendered "the ABYSS" (which see) (Lu 8:31; Ro 10:7; Re 9:11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1,3).</p>