verb
basanizomō
Strong’sG928
I torment, torture, buffet
stem basaniz-12 times in the New Testamentin 5 of 27 books10 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
βασανίζω means to torment or torture — to cause someone severe pain, distress, or suffering 124. In the New Testament it describes people or beings being afflicted with pain or distress, tormented by evil spirits, tortured, or buffeted (as by disease or by rough waves at sea) 12. Strong's likewise glosses it as pain, toil, torment, toss, or vex 2.
The word derives from basanos, a touchstone used to test metal, and originally meant to rub something on such a stone to test its genuineness 13. From this it came to mean examining or questioning someone under torture, and more generally to torture or torment 13 — the sense that carries over into its biblical use.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
βασανίζω
(< βάσανος), [in LXX: I Ki 5:3, Si 4:17, and freq. in Wi, II, IV Mac;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G928 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidbas-an-id'-zo
to torture
Fromfrom G931;
King Jamespain, toil, torment, toss, vex.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Attic dialect future -ῐῶRefs 5th c.BC+aorist ἐβασάνισα, subjunctive βασανίσω variant in Refs —passive, aorist ἐβασανίσθην: perfect βεβασάνισμαι:—rub upon the touch-stone (βάσανος), χρυσόν Refs 5th c.BC+: hence, put to the test, prove, Refs 4th c.BC+; investigate scientifically, Refs 5th c.BC+ of the instances used in inductive inference, ἀπὸ τῶν πανταχόθεν βεβασανισμένων [μεταβαίνομεν] Refs 1st c.BC+
II of persons, examine closely, cross-question, Refs 5th c.BC+; βεβασανισμένος εἰς δικαιοσύνην having his love of justice put to the test, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὑπὸ δακρύων βασανίζεσθαι, i.e. to be convicted of being painted by tears (washing off the cosmetic), Refs 5th c.BC+
II.2 question by applying torture, torture, rack (see. βάσανοςIII), Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, to be put to the torture, Refs 5th c.BC+; to be tortured by disease (censured by NT+2nd c.AD+; of animals, Refs 2nd c.AD+: metaphorically of the earth,Refs
II.3 metaphorically of style, strain, Refs 3rd c.AD+forced, unnatural, Refs 1st c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| basanizateἐβασάνιζεν | was happening · he/she/itimperfect active indicative 3rd person singular | tormented | 1× |
| basanizitiβασανισθήσεται | will happen · he/she/itfuture passive indicative 3rd person singular | tormented | 1× |
| basaniziliβασανισθήσονται | will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural | torment | 2× |
| basanizalaἐβασάνισαν | happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural | tormented | 1× |
| basanizaseiaβασανίσῃς | happened · youaorist active subjunctive 2nd person singular | torment | 2× |
| basanizaraβασανίσαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive | torment | 1× |
| basanizorōntosβασανιζόμενος | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine | tormented | 1× |
| basanizorōntasβασανιζομένη | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular feminine | agony | 1× |
| basanizorōntemβασανιζόμενον | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle direct singular neuter | battered | 1× |
| basanizorōntoinβασανιζομένους | happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative plural masculine | straining | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 5 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | basanizamō | basanizame | basanizami | basanizama | basanizamē | basanizamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | basanizasō | basanizase | basanizasi | basanizasa | basanizasē | basanizaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | basanizatō | basanizate1×ἐβασάνιζεν | basanizati | basanizata | basanizatē | basanizatelē |
| we 1st person plural | basanizanō | basanizane | basanizani | basanizana | basanizanē | basanizanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | basanizavō | basanizave | basanizavi | basanizava | basanizavē | basanizavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | basanizalō | basanizale | basanizali | basanizala1×ἐβασάνισαν | basanizalē | basanizalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | basanizomō | basanizome | basanizomē | basanizomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | basanizosō | basanizose | basanizosē | basanizoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | basanizotō | basanizote | basanizotē | basanizotelē |
| we 1st person plural | basanizonō | basanizone | basanizonē | basanizonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | basanizovō | basanizove | basanizovē | basanizovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | basanizolō | basanizole | basanizolē | basanizolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | basanizimi | basanizima |
| you 2nd person singular | basanizisi | basanizisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | basaniziti1×βασανισθήσεται | basanizita |
| we 1st person plural | basanizini | basanizina |
| ye 2nd person plural | basanizivi | basaniziva |
| they 3rd person plural | basanizili2×βασανισθήσονται | basanizila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 2 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | basanizameiō | basanizameia | basanizameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | basanizaseiō | basanizaseia2×βασανίσῃς | basanizaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | basanizateiō | basanizateia | basanizateiē |
| we 1st person plural | basanizaneiō | basanizaneia | basanizaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | basanizaveiō | basanizaveia | basanizaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | basanizaleiō | basanizaleia | basanizaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | basanizomeiō | basanizomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | basanizoseiō | basanizoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | basanizoteiō | basanizoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | basanizoneiō | basanizoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | basanizoveiō | basanizoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | basanizoleiō | basanizoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | basanizimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | basaniziseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | basaniziteia |
| we 1st person plural | basanizineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | basaniziveia |
| they 3rd person plural | basanizileia |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | basanizasōr | basanizasar | basanizasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | basanizatōr | basanizatar | basanizatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | basanizavōr | basanizavar | basanizavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | basanizalōr | basanizalar | basanizalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | basanizosōr | basanizosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | basanizotōr | basanizotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | basanizovōr | basanizovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | basanizolōr | basanizolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | basanizisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | basanizitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | basanizivar |
| they 3rd person plural | basanizilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | basanizamoiō | basanizamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | basanizasoiō | basanizasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | basanizatoiō | basanizatoia |
| we 1st person plural | basanizanoiō | basanizanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | basanizavoiō | basanizavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | basanizaloiō | basanizaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | basanizomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | basanizosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | basanizotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | basanizonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | basanizovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | basanizoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | basanizimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | basanizisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | basanizitoia |
| we 1st person plural | basanizinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | basanizivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | basaniziloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 1 occurrence
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | basanizarō | basanizari | basanizara1×βασανίσαι | basanizarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | basanizorō | basanizorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | basaniziri | basanizira |
Used as an adjective — participle, 4 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | basanizarōntos | basanizarintos | basanizarantos | basanizarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | basanizorōntos4×βασανιζόμενος | basanizorēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | basanizirintos | basanizirantos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
basaniz is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
12 occurrences, every one of them listed
basanizate“tormented”was happening · he/she/itimperfect active indicative 3rd person singular1×
2 Peter 2:8… ek hēmerau psuchan dikaian anomei ergei basanizate… among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the …
basaniziti“tormented”will happen · he/she/itfuture passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Revelation 14:10… te potērie tau orgau autou, kai basaniziti en pure kai theie enōpion angeloiu …… His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the …
basanizili“torment”will happen · theyfuture passive indicative 3rd person plural2×
Revelation 9:5… hina mē apoktenaleia autoin, alla hina basanizili mēnoin pente; kai tos basanismos autaiu …… to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their …
Revelation 20:10… tem thērem kai tos pseudoprofētos, kai basanizili hēmerau kai nuktau eis toin aiōnoin …… been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
basanizala“tormented”happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural1×
Revelation 11:10… allēloi, hoti houtois tois duo profētois basanizala toin katoikarōntoin epi tau gēau.… gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.
basanizaseia“torment”happened · youaorist active subjunctive 2nd person singular2×
Mark 5:7“torment”… horkizamō sin ton theon, mē min basanizaseia.… I beg You before God not to torture me!”
Luke 8:28“torment”… tou hupsistou? domō su, mē min basanizaseia;When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”
basanizara“torment”happened · the “to …” formaorist active infinitive1×
Matthew 8:29“torment”… tou theou? erchasa hōde pro kairou basanizara nin?… Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
basanizorōntos“tormented”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine1×
Matthew 8:6“tormented”… balotē en ta oikia paralutikos, deinōs basanizorōntos.… servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.”
basanizorōntas“agony”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular feminine1×
Revelation 12:2… gastra echarōntas; kai krazatō ōdinarōntas kai basanizorōntas tiktara.… crying out in the pain and agony of giving birth.
basanizorōntem“battered”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle direct singular neuter1×
Matthew 14:24“battered”… stadioin polloin apo tau gēau apechate, basanizorōntem hupo teiu kumeiu, ate gar enantios …… the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
basanizorōntoin“straining”happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative plural masculine1×
Mark 6:48kai horarantos autoin basanizorōntoin en te elaunarō, ate gar tos …… could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was …