### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb G928 (basanízō) is derived from the noun G927 (básanos), which originally referred to a "touchstone"—a hard, black stone used to test the purity of precious metals like gold. This etymological root reveals the core concept of a severe test or examination. From this, the meaning of basanízō evolved to denote "to put to the test by torture," "to torment," "to distress," "to vex," or "to cause severe pain."
Its semantic range includes:
* **Physical Torture or Pain:** The direct infliction or experience of intense bodily suffering.
* **Mental or Emotional Distress:** Profound anguish, vexation, or torment of the mind or spirit, often caused by external pressures or internal conflict.
* **Struggle or Toil:** Intense effort or labor that results in exhaustion or distress, particularly when battling against overwhelming forces.
The common thread across these nuances is a sense of intense, often inescapable, and severe suffering or struggle.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
G928 (basanízō) appears 12 times in the New Testament, consistently conveying a sense of severe distress, pain, or torment.
* **Physical Suffering and Illness:** The term is used to describe intense physical agony. In [[Matthew 4:24]], it refers to those afflicted by various "diseases and pains." Similarly, in [[Matthew 8:6]], a centurion's servant is described as "lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented," emphasizing the severity of his condition.
* **Demonic Fear and Experience of Torment:** A significant usage relates to demons and their fear of divine judgment. In [[Matthew 8:29]], demons cry out to Jesus, "Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?" This is echoed in [[Mark 5:7]] and [[Luke 8:28]] by the Gerasene demoniac, indicating their recognition of Jesus' authority and their dread of impending suffering.
* **Distress in Natural Phenomena:** G928 is also used to describe the struggle against natural forces. In [[Matthew 14:24]] and [[Mark 6:48]], the disciples' boat is described as being "tossed" or "straining" (often translated as "tormented" or "distressed") by strong winds and waves. This conveys the arduous and distressing nature of their struggle.
* **Moral and Spiritual Anguish:** In [[2 Peter 2:8]], Lot is said to have "tormented his righteous soul" day after day by the lawless deeds he witnessed in Sodom. This illustrates the profound moral and spiritual distress experienced by a righteous person in the face of pervasive wickedness.
* **Eschatological and Prophetic Torment:** The most vivid uses appear in the book of Revelation, describing future judgments and suffering.
* [[Revelation 9:5]]: Describes the torment inflicted by the locusts, likened to the pain of a scorpion's sting.
* [[Revelation 11:10]]: The two witnesses "tormented" those who dwell on the earth by their prophetic ministry, suggesting discomfort and distress caused by their truth-telling.
* [[Revelation 12:2]]: The woman (representing God's people) "cries out in labor pains, tormented to give birth," symbolizing intense suffering preceding a significant divine event.
* [[Revelation 14:10]] and [[Revelation 20:10]]: These verses depict the eternal and conscious torment of those who worship the beast and the devil, respectively, in "fire and sulfur" and "the lake of fire." This represents the ultimate and most severe application of basanízō, signifying endless, punitive suffering.
Across these contexts, basanízō consistently denotes a severe and often inescapable form of suffering, ranging from physical pain and natural distress to moral anguish and ultimate divine judgment.
### Related Words & Concepts
G928 (basanízō) operates within a semantic field related to suffering, testing, and judgment.
* **G927 (básanos):** The direct noun root, meaning "touchstone," "test," or "torment." It underscores the idea of a severe trial or the resultant pain.
* **G2347 (thlípsis):** "Tribulation," "affliction," "distress." While thlípsis refers to general hardship and external pressures, basanízō typically implies a more intense, direct, and often painful experience of suffering.
* **G3601 (odýnē):** "Pain," "anguish," "sorrow." Odýnē often focuses on internal, emotional, or physical pain, whereas basanízō can describe both the experience of pain and the act of causing it.
* **G2851 (kolázō):** "To punish," "to chastise." This word often refers to corrective or punitive measures. While basanízō can be the *result* of punishment, its focus is on the *experience* of the pain or torment itself.
* **G5098 (timōría):** "Punishment," "vengeance." Similar to kolázō, timōría emphasizes the act of retribution, whereas basanízō describes the suffering endured.
* **G4928 (synéchō):** "To hold fast," "to press together," "to distress." In some contexts, it can overlap with the idea of being distressed or constrained by circumstances, similar to the "tossing" of the boat.
* **G4530 (skorpíos):** "Scorpion." Used in [[Revelation 9:5]] to describe the *type* of pain basanízō can inflict.
The cluster of words around basanízō emphasizes a suffering that is not merely inconvenient but deeply distressing, often agonizing, and sometimes justly deserved.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of G928 (basanízō) is profound, touching upon divine justice, the reality of evil, and the nature of suffering in God's sovereign plan.
* **Divine Justice and Ultimate Judgment:** The most prominent theological use of basanízō is in the context of eternal punishment. The "torment" of the wicked and the devil in Revelation ([[Revelation 14:10]], [[Revelation 20:10]]) underscores the absolute righteousness and holiness of God, who will not allow sin to go unpunished. This torment is depicted as conscious, eternal, and a just consequence for rebellion against the Creator. It serves as a solemn warning and affirms God's ultimate victory over all evil.
* **The Reality of Demonic Power and Subjugation:** The demons' fear of basanízō ([[Matthew 8:29]]) highlights their awareness of God's superior power and their destined fate. It affirms the existence of spiritual evil and its ultimate subjugation under divine authority. Even spiritual beings are subject to God's judgment and the torment that accompanies it.
* **Suffering in the Present Age:** The application of basanízō to physical illness ([[Matthew 4:24]], [[Matthew 8:6]]) and natural calamities ([[Matthew 14:24]]) reminds believers of the reality of severe suffering in a fallen world. While not always punitive, such "torment" can serve as a severe test of faith, a reminder of human frailty, and a pointer to the need for divine intervention and healing.
* **The Cost of Righteousness:** Lot's "torment" by the unrighteousness of Sodom ([[2 Peter 2:8]]) illustrates the spiritual and emotional burden of living righteously in a corrupt society. It shows that genuine faith can lead to profound internal anguish when confronted with pervasive sin, underscoring the sensitivity of a righteous soul to evil.
* **The Discomfort of Divine Truth:** The idea that the two witnesses "tormented" those on earth by their prophecies ([[Revelation 11:10]]) suggests that God's truth, when proclaimed, can be a source of profound discomfort and distress for those who reject it. It is a "torment" not of physical pain, but of conscience and exposure to divine judgment.
In its various uses, basanízō consistently points to severe, often inescapable, and sometimes divinely appointed suffering, serving to highlight the consequences of sin, the power of God, and the reality of both present and future trials.
### Summary
The Greek word G928 (basanízō), derived from the concept of a "touchstone" (G927), signifies "to torture," "to torment," "to vex," or "to cause severe pain." Its semantic range encompasses intense physical suffering, profound mental or emotional anguish, and the distress caused by overwhelming forces.
In the New Testament, basanízō is used to describe:
* The severe physical pain of the sick ([[Matthew 4:24]]).
* The fear and experience of torment by demons under divine authority ([[Matthew 8:29]]).
* The intense struggle and distress of disciples in a storm ([[Matthew 14:24]]).
* The moral anguish of a righteous soul in a corrupt world ([[2 Peter 2:8]]).
* Most significantly, the severe, often punitive, and eternal torment of divine judgment awaiting the wicked and the devil ([[Revelation 14:10]], [[Revelation 20:10]]).
Theologically, basanízō underscores the absolute justice and holiness of God, the ultimate defeat of evil, and the severe consequences of rebellion against divine will. It serves as a powerful reminder of both the present reality of suffering in a fallen world and the ultimate, inescapable nature of eschatological judgment. The word consistently denotes a high degree of suffering, often directly or indirectly linked to divine power or judgment, making it a term of significant theological weight.
TRV