Tormented (928) (basanizo from basanos - see below) means literally to rub on the touchstone (basanos) or to test by means of the touchstone and then to test or make proof of anything. In some contexts basanizo conveys the idea of subjecting to punitive judicial torture or to question by judicial torture (2Macc 7:13 "When he too had died, they maltreated and tortured the fourth the same way", 4Macc 6:5 "But the courageous and noble man, as a true Eleazar, was unmoved as though being tortured by a dream".). Figuratively, basanizo refers to any severe distress, and so means to afflict, to harass, to vex, to torment. Basanizo then can mean to subject one to severe torment or distress, as with diseases (Mt 8:6), with birth pangs (Re 12:2), by the threat of Jesus' punishment of demonic spirits (Mt 8:29, Mk 5:7, Lk 8:28), by prophetic warnings (Re 11:10), of the torment associated with God's righteous judgment (Re 14:10, 20:10) The cognate noun basanismos is used in Rev 9:5; 14:11; 18:7, 10, 15 and means testing by torture and then the extreme distress of this torture (thus the torment) or the severe suffering and pain associated with the torture. Basanizo is derived from basanos which describes severe pain brought about by punitive torture [Lk 16:23]. Basanos conveys the original idea of a "touchstone" or a black Lydian stone used to test the purity of precious metals such as gold and which came to describe the testing procedures by which the quality of something was tried and figuratively was used to describe procedures used to torture or torment by which one would be forced to give a confession or speak the truth! One gets an accurate picture of the meaning of basanizo in the descriptions of Jesus' disciples in the boat that was being battered by the waves (Mt 14:24), of the servant who was tormented by paralysis (Mt 8:6) and of the pain of childbirth as used figuratively in (Rev 12:2-note). Webster's Dictionary helps paint the picture of Lot's sad, dismal condition, defining the verb "torment" as... to inflict torture (as by rack or wheel), to cause severe usually persistent or recurrent distress of body or mind or to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear!!! THE TORMENT OF AN UNFORGIVING HEART Comment: As an aside, the related noun form basanistes is used once in Scripture in the the parable of the unforgiving servant (Mt 18:34) who his lord (kurios - master) handed over to the torturers (basanistes) until the debt should be paid in full (Note the "time phrase" until - which could range from few seconds to one's entire life, in the case of unyielding unforgiveness!). The picture is clearly that the sin of unforgiveness extracts a fearful toll on the one who chooses to hold tight to their unforgiveness and not to "cancel the debt" of the one who has "injured" them in thought, word or deed. For more discussion of this vitally important topic of forgiveness/unforgiveness see notes on Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13, Matthew 6:12. As discussed in those notes, the number one problem in Christian churches in America is UNFORGIVENESS (from Bryon Paulus, director of Life Action Revival Ministries, a revival oriented ministry, who based his conclusion is based on their experience with 100's of churches and millions of believers over the past several decades). It follows that it behooves every shepherd to (in my humble opinion) to lead his flock at least once a year back into the green pastures and refreshing waters of the doctrinal truths on forgiveness (doctrine directs duty, revelation calls for a reasoned response, creed calls for conscious conduct, precepts precede and lead to appropriate practice), so that the sheep might be set free from their entrapment in the "brambles and thorns" wrought by a spirit of unforgiveness. I dare say that there would be families and marriages restored and revived, "factious friends" once again made friends, walls of resentment ripped down by the Word and Spirit of Truth, etc, etc. Jesus came to set the captives free (cf Lk 4:18, Jn 8:31, 32, 36) and unforgiveness is the number "prison" of each person's own making, and will yield rotten fruit "until" the debt has been paid from the heart (cf Mt 18:34, 35). Torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance (as a horse tormented by flies). Basanizo is in the imperfect tense which clearly conveys the idea of Lot's soul tortured and tormented over and over, again and again! His witness or awareness of every "lawless deed" of the Sodomites was like a "dagger" in his soul! Just when he was recovering from one "wave" of wickedness so to speak, another came crashing down on him (cp the picture of the boat in Mt 14:24). Lot was undoubtedly the most pained man in Sodom. Basanizo is used of literal torture in a judicial examination, although here Peter uses it figuratively describing the severe mental pain which Lot continued to inflict upon himself. As alluded to earlier, it was this pain which was one "proof" of his inner righteousness. Basanizo - 12x in 12v - Mt 8:6, 29; 14:24; Mark 5:7; 6:48; Luke 8:28; 2 Pet 2:8; Rev 9:5; 11:10; 12:2; 14:10; 20:10. NAS = battered(1), felt...tormented(1), pain(1), straining(1), torment(4), tormented(4). Matthew 8:6 and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented." Matthew 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?" Matthew 14:24 But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. 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!" Mark 6:48 Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 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." 2 Peter 2:8-note (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), Revelation 9:5-note And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment (basanismos) of a scorpion when it stings a man. Revelation 11:10-note 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 (not just their deeds but their words of truth were received even as torture in the souls of the earth dwellers! The Word of God comforts the afflicted but afflicts the "comfortable" [comfortable in their sin]) those who dwell on the earth. Revelation 12:2-note and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain (basanizo) to give birth. Revelation 14:10-note he ("beast worshipers" Re 14:9-note, cf Re 21:8-note, 2Th 1:7, Re 19:20-note) 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. Revelation 20:10-note 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. Day after day (hemeran ex hemeras) is like our colloquial expression "day in, day out" and this small detail makes it quite clear that Lot did not isolate himself from normal contact with his neighbors. "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2_peter_26-8.htm#t