The word Armageddon has captured popular apocalyptic imagination since ancient times. Armageddon, which is mentioned in the Book of Revelation, became synonymous with the final battle between good and evil (this idea itself is present often in the writings of the second Temple period).
While the word “Armageddon” comes from Greek New Testament it is in fact a Hebrew phrase הַר מְגִּדו – Har Meggido, meaning “Mount of Maggido.” (Rev.16.16) It was an artificial hill (still in existence today) which Solomon’s northern cavalry used to guard the borders of his kingdom.
Armageddon is just one example of transliteration that took place in the Greco-Roman world. For example, before being transliterated into Greek, the word “Capernaum” was for many centuries simply, כְּפָר-נָחוּם Kfar Nachum, meaning “Nahum’s Village.”
It’s time for you to better engage with the ancient world; don’t leave it to others to make all the translation choices for you – you can make many of those decisions yourself. Are you ready to begin your journey of deeper engagement with the Bible? If so, click HERE.
