βᾰσᾰν-ος G0931
torment, torture, severe pain or anguish
This noun denotes torment, torture, or severe suffering. Matthew summarizes Jesus's ministry of healing, including those suffering from various diseases and 'torments' (Matt 4:24). The rich man in Hades cries out that he is in agony in 'this torment' (Luke 16:23, 28). Originally referring to a touchstone for testing gold's purity, the word evolved to mean the torture used to test slaves' testimony, then more broadly, any severe affliction. In NT usage it describes both physical affliction and eschatological anguish.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Describes severe suffering, both physical and eschatological. Matthew 4:24 mentions those afflicted with 'torments' (βασάνοις)—severe diseases Jesus healed. Luke 16:23 and 16:28 use it twice in the rich man and Lazarus parable: the rich man suffers in 'this torment' (βασάνῳ/βασάνου), pleading for relief and warning his brothers. The classical background of testing by torture enriches the metaphor of purifying or agonizing affliction. Spanish 'tormento,' French 'tourment' preserve the sense of severe, testing anguish. 3×
AR["آلَامٍ", "العَذَابِ", "عَذَابٍ"]·ben["যন্ত্রণায়", "যন্ত্রণার"]·DE["βασάνοις", "βασάνου"]·EN["torment", "torments"]·FR["tourment"]·heb["יִסּוּרִים", "עִנּוּי", "עִנּוּיִים"]·HI["पीड़ाओं-से", "यातना-के।", "यातनाओं"]·ID["kesakitan", "siksaan"]·IT["basanois", "basanou"]·jav["sangsara", "siksa,", "siksa."]·KO["고통들", "고통들에서", "고통의"]·PT["tormento", "tormentos"]·RU["мучения", "мучениях"]·ES["tormento", "tormentos"]·SW["mateso"]·TR["acılarla", "işkence", "işkencelerde"]·urd["تکلیفوں", "عذاب-کی", "عذابوں"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
βᾰσᾰν-ος, ἡ, touchstone, on which pure gold leaves a yellow streak, ἐς βάσανον δ᾽ ἐλθὼν παρατρίβομαι ὥστε μολύβδῳ χρυσός Refs 6th c.BC+ __II the use of this as a test, χρυσὸς ἐν β. πρέπει Refs 5th c.BC+: generally, test, trial of genuineness, οὐκ ἔστιν μείζων β. χρόνου [Refs 5th c.BC+; εἰς β. εἶ χερῶν wilt come to a trial of strength, Refs 5th c.BC+; [νόσου] ἔσχ᾽ ἐπὶ σοὶ βάσανον had experienced…