The word basanizo in all of its 12 occurrences in the New Testament means some sort of assault, difficulty, and suffering upon a person or even upon an object such as a boat (Matt. 14:24).  It is something that is experienced by the subject (Matt. 8:6; 2 Pet. 2:8; Rev. 9:5, etc.) or will be experienced by the subject (i.e., demons, Matt. 8:29; Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28).  In no cases is the assault, torture, suffering a state of nonexistence.

• Greek word: βασανίζω, basanizo.
• Meaning:   torment
• Strong’s #: G928
  Frequency:  12 occurrences

Summary of the meaning of the Greek word βασανίζω, basanizo in all verses where it occurs in the New Testament.

• Continual assault, 1 occurrence
  • Matt. 14:24
• Continual suffering, 6 occurrences
  •  Matt. 8:6; Mark 6:48; 2 Pet. 2:8; Rev. 9:5; 11:10; 12:2
• Threatened suffering, 5 occurrences
  • Matt. 8:29; Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28; Rev. 14:10; 20:10

Summary of the meaning of the Greek word βασανίζω, basanizo in all verses, expanded.

• Continual assualt,
  • Boat battered by the waves, Matt. 14:24
• Continual suffering, 6 occurrences
  • Servant is fearfully tormented, Matt. 8:6
  • Straining at the oars, Mark 6:48
  • Lot tormented by wickedness around him, 2 Pet. 2:8
  • Suffering for five months, Rev. 9:5
  • Two prophets tormented those on the earth, Rev. 11:10
  • Woman clothed with the sun, in birth pangs, Rev. 12:2
• Threatened suffering
  • Demons fearful of coming torment, Matt. 8:29; Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28
  • Wicked who worship the beast will be tormented, Rev. 14:10
  • Devil, the beast, and false prophet tormented forever, Rev. 20:10

 

TABLE OF ALL NEW TESTAMENT USAGES OF TORMENT, βασανίζω
Address	Verse	Meaning
Matt. 8:6	and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”	Continually suffering
Matt. 8:29	And they cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”	Threatened suffering
Matt. 14:24	But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.	Continually assualt
Mark 5:7	and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!”	Threatened suffering
Mark 6:48	Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the afourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them.	Continually suffering
Luke 8:28	Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.”	Threatened suffering
2 Pet. 2:8	(for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),	Continually suffering
Rev. 9:5	And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man.	Continually suffering
Rev. 11:10	And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.	Continually suffering
Rev. 12:2	and she was with child; and she acried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.	Continually suffering
Rev. 14:10	he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.	Threatened suffering
Rev. 20:10	And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.	Threatened suffering

 

 

Dictionaries and Lexicons consulted

• “from básanos (931), an examination by torture, torment. To torture, afflict with pain, vex, harass (2 Pet. 2:8); used metaphorically meaning to examine, scrutinize, either by words or physical torment (Rev. 9:5); vex physically with toil (Mark 6:48); of a vessel tossed by the waves (Matt. 14:24); spoken of disease (Matt. 8:6); of the pains of giving birth (Rev. 12:2); of punishment (Matt. 8:29; Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28; Rev. 11:10 [see also Rev. 11:6; 14:10; 20:10]).”
  • Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000
• “to punish by physical torture or torment—‘to torture, to torment.”
  • Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
• “to vex with grievous pains (of body or mind), to torment. 5 to be harassed, distressed. 5A of those who at sea are struggling with a head wind.”
  • Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.