1. Overview

βασανίζω (basanízō), transliterated as “bah-sah-NEE-zo,” is a Greek verb derived from the noun βάσανος (básanos), meaning “a touchstone” or “a test.” Originally, a básanos was a stone used to test the purity of gold, but the term evolved to mean “torment” or “torture” as it metaphorically represented a test of suffering. The primary meanings of basanízō include “to test,” “to examine,” “to torment,” and “to torture.” It is used in the New Testament to describe both physical suffering and mental or spiritual anguish. The word often carries the connotation of severe distress or suffering inflicted by an external force.

2. Lexical Details

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BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich) defines basanízō as “to subject to severe distress, to torment,” and “to torture.” BDAG emphasizes the word’s use in contexts involving extreme suffering, whether physical or psychological. The word is used in the New Testament in various contexts, including descriptions of demonic torment, the suffering of individuals, and even natural phenomena such as storms.

Thayer’s Lexicon provides a similar definition, noting that basanízō primarily means “to torture” and “to torment.” Thayer’s highlights the word’s association with testing and examination, as it was originally used to describe the testing of metals. The lexicon also notes that the term can be applied to both physical and mental suffering.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary also emphasizes the idea of “torment” and “torture” in its definition of basanízō, pointing out that the term is used in the New Testament to describe both physical suffering and emotional or spiritual anguish. Vine’s notes that the word is often used in the context of divine judgment or demonic activity.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones) provides additional context by noting that basanízō was used in classical Greek literature to describe both literal and figurative testing or torment. The lexicon points out that the term could refer to the physical act of torture as well as metaphorical suffering or hardship.

Biblical references:

• Matthew 8:29: “And behold, they cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment (βασανίσαι) us before the time?'”
• Revelation 9:5: “They were allowed to torment (βασανισθῶσιν) them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone.”
• Mark 5:7: “And crying out with a loud voice, he said, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment (βασανίσῃς) me.'”

These verses demonstrate the use of basanízō in contexts involving demonic torment and divine judgment, highlighting the intense suffering associated with the term.

3. Classical Usage

In classical Greek literature, basanízō was used to describe both literal and figurative forms of torment. The term was often associated with the physical act of torture, particularly in legal or judicial contexts, where it was used to describe the examination of individuals through physical pain to extract information or confessions.

Examples include:

• Plato’s “Gorgias”: In this dialogue, basanízō is used to describe the process of testing or examining a person’s soul or character, often through suffering or hardship.
• Homer’s “Odyssey”: The term is employed metaphorically to describe the