basanizō (to torture)

Meaning

Usually translated “being tormented”, “torment” and “being tossed”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated

being tormented 1
to torment 1
being tossed 1
may torment 1
straining 1
you may torment 1
was tormented 1
they will torment 1

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most

Revelation 5
Matthew 3
Mark 2
Luke 1
2 Peter 1

5 books in all.

Related words

Explore in Scripture

Matthew 8:6And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
Matthew 8:29And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Matthew 14:24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
Mark 5:7And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
Mark 6:48And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
Luke 8:28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

All 12 verses, by book

Matthew 3: 8:6 8:29 14:24
Mark 2: 5:7 6:48
Luke 1: 8:28
2 Peter 1: 2:8
Revelation 5: 9:5 11:10 12:2 14:10 20:10

Greek dictionary

βασανίζω basanizō · to torture

βασανίζω (βάσανος), [in LXX: 1Ki.5:3, Sir.4:17, and frequently in Wi, II, 4Mac ;] 1. prop., to rub on the touchstone, put to the test. 2. to examine by torture, hence, generally, to torture, torment, distress: Mat.8:6, 29 14:24, Mrk.5:7 6:48, Luk.8:28, 2Pe.2:8, Rev.9:5 11:10 12:2 14:10 20:10. † (AS)

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “torture” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

TORT'URE, noun

[Latin tortus, torqueo, to twist.]

Extreme pain; anguish of body or mind; pang; agony; torment.
Severe pain inflicted judicially, either as a punishment for a crime, or for the purpose of extorting a confession from an accused person. torture may be and is inflicted in a variety of ways, as by water or fire, or by the boot or thumbkin.

All definitions and other forms of “torture”

TORT'URE, verb transitive

To pain to extremity; to torment.

To punish with torture; to put to the rack; as, to torture an accused person.
To vex; to harass.
To keep on the stretch, as a bow. [Not in use.]

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.