Lexicon basanos: a touchstone (a dark stone used in testing metals), hence examination by torture, torture Original Word: βάσανος, ου, ἡPart of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: basanos Phonetic Spelling: (bas'-an-os) Short Definition: torture, torment Definition: torture, torment, examination by torture. HELPS word-Studies Cognate: 931 básanos – originally, a black, silicon-based stone used as "a touchstone" to test the purity of precious metals (like silver and gold). See 928 (basanízō). [In the papyri, basanos also means, "touchstone," "test" (so P Oxy I. 58.25, ad 288). 931 (basanois) was "originally (from oriental origin) a touchstone; a 'Lydian stone' used for testing gold because pure gold rubbed on it left a peculiar mark. Then it was used for examination by torture. Sickness was often regarded as 'torture' " (WP, 1, 37).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Oriental origin Definitiona touchstone (a dark stone used in testing metals), hence examination by torture, torture NASB Translationpains (1), torment (2).
Thayer's STRONGS NT 931: βάσανοςβάσανος, βασάνου, ἡ ( Curtius, p. 439); a. the touchstone (called also basanite, LatinlapisLydius), by which gold and other metals are tested. b. the rack or instrument of torture by which one is forced to divulge the truth. c. torture, torment, acute pains: used of the pains of disease, Matthew 4:24; of the torments of the wicked after death, ἐν βασάνοις ὑπάρχειν, Luke 16:23 (Wis. 3:1; 4 Macc. 13:14); hence, ὁ τόπος τῆς βασάνου is used of Gehenna, Luke 16:28. (In Greek writings from (Theognis), Pindar down.)
Strong's torment. Perhaps remotely from the same as basis (through the notion of going to the bottom); a touch-stone, i.e. (by analogy) torture -- torment. see GREEK basis |
    |