βάσανος (G931) — Greek Lexicon

βάσανος

básanos

G931 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A testing stone or touchstone, especially for proving gold or silver by rubbing; by extension, a means of testing or examination. In later and figurative uses, a severe trial, torment, or torture—particularly forms of suffering that test integrity or endurance, both physical and mental. In literary Greek and in Hellenistic texts, can refer specifically to judicial torture, interrogation under duress, or spiritual/psychological torment.

Semantic Range

testing stone, touchstone, means of testing, ordeal, judicial (especially torturous) interrogation, severe trial, torment, physical or mental torture, spiritual anguish

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Greek βάσις ('a step, a base, foundation') with probable connection by way of an original sense of 'going to the bottom' or 'something used for testing.' The earliest uses refer to a touchstone for testing precious metals, then extended by analogy to other forms of testing, especially trials by ordeal; some etymological detail remains uncertain regarding the earliest root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek (5th–4th centuries BCE), βάσανος denotes a touchstone for testing metals and, by metaphorical extension, the process and means of testing authenticity or quality. From the Hellenistic period onward, it often comes to signify judicial torture (including methods used by authorities to extract information), particularly as applied to slaves, reflecting Greek and later Roman legal practices. In the Septuagint, the word is rare but can refer to grievous suffering or punishment. In the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 4:24; Luke 16:23,28; Revelation 9:5), βάσανος designates either extreme physical or spiritual torment, not always tied to judicial contexts. English translations often render the word as 'torment' or 'torture,' which captures later but not original senses; its semantic progression from neutral 'testing' to severe suffering is not always clear in translation. Contrasts with other Greek words for suffering (πόνος, ὀδύνη) in that βάσανος frequently retains the nuance of enforced or interrogative testing.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps remotely from the same as βάσις (through the notion of going to the bottom); a touch-stone, i.e. (by analogy) torture:--torment.

Root Family

βάσανος (basanos) — testing stone, examination, ordeal, severe trial, torment, torture

Root βασαν- to test, to examine, to prove by trial

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G931-01`	βασάνοις	basanois	`N DAT F PL`	torments	by torments	torments	2
`G931-02`	βασάνου	basanou	`N GEN F SG`	torment	of testing-ordeal	torment	1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G931-01`	Matthew 4:24	βασάνοις	basanois	`N DAT F PL`	torments	by torments	torments
`G931-01`	Luke 16:23	βασάνοις	basanois	`N DAT F PL`	torments	by torments	torments
`G931-02`	Luke 16:28	βασάνου	basanou	`N GEN F SG`	torment	of testing-ordeal	torment

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