βάσανος, βασάνου, ἡ (Curtius, p. 439); a. the touchstone (called also basanite, LatinlapisLydius), by which gold and other metals are tested. b. the rack or instrument of torture by which one is forced to divulge the truth. c. torture, torment, acute pains: used of the pains of disease, Mat_4:24; of the torments of the wicked after death, ἐν βασάνοις ὑπάρχειν, Luk_16:23 (Wis_3:1; 4Ma_13:14); hence, ὁ τόπος τῆς βασάνου is used of Gehenna, Luk_16:28. (In Greek writings from (Theognis), Pindar down.)

βάσανος basanos 3x pr. lapis Lydius, a species of stone from Lydia, which being applied to metals was thought to indicate any alloy which might be mixed with them, and therefore used in the trial of metals; hence, examination of a person, especially by torture; in NT torture, torment, severe pain, Mat_4:24 ; Luk_16:23 ; Luk_16:28

βάσανος , -ου , ὁ (of Oriental origin), [in LXX chiefly for H817 , H3639 , and freq . in 4 Mac;] 1. prop ., touchstone , a dark stone used in testing metals. 2. examination by torture. 3. torment, torture: Mat_4:24 , Luk_16:23 ; Luk_16:28 .†

βάσανος [page 104] The original sense of touchstone, test, appears in P Oxy I. 58 .25 (A.D. 288), where provision is made that only such persons are appointed to certain offices as are in a position to stand the test οἳ καὶ βασάνοις ὑποκείσονται . In P Leid W vii. 26 ff. (ii/iii A.D.) λέγε· Κλῦτι μοι , ὁ χρηστὸς ἐν βαζάνοις , βοήθησον ἐν ἀνάγκαις , ἐλεήμων ἐν ὥραις βιαίος ( i.e. -αις ), πολοὶ ( i.e. -ὺ ) δυνάμενος ἐν κόσμῳ , ὁ κτίσας τὴν ἀναγκὴ (καὶ ) τιμωρίαν , καὶ τὴν βάσανον , Leemans renders exploratio. For the derived sense, reference may be made to the fragment of a legal code of iii/B.C., P Lille I. 29 i. 22 , where the judges are empowered to employ torture in the case of slaves giving evidence, should it be found necessary τῶν δὲ δούλων τῶν μαρτυρησάντων , οἱ δικασταὶ τὴν βάσανον ἐκ τῶν σωμάτων ποείσθωσαν , παρόντων τῶν ἀντιδίκων , ἐὰμ μὴ ἐκ τῶν τιθέντων δικαιωμάτων δύνωνται κρίνειν . So in a rescript of Augustus, Syll 356 .12 (B.C. 6) ἐξετάσαι προστάξας . . . διὰ βασάνων = quaerere tormentis , of slaves after the murder of their master. See also the new uncanonical Gospel, P Oxy V. 840 .6 κόλασιν ὑπομένουσιν καὶ πολ [λ ]ὴν βάσανον , where the editors strangely remark that this use of β ., as relating to punishment in the next world, is not found in NT : but cf. Luk_16:23 ; Luk_16:28 . Vettius Valens, p. 182 .19 , has the phrase ψυχικὰς βασάνους : cf. p. 201 .32 ἐπὶ βασάνῳ καὶ ζημίᾳ καὶ κινδύνῳ , and p. 211 .28 ὀδυνηρὰν ἐπάγρυπνον βάσανον .

βάσανος [Etym: deriv. uncertain] "the touch-stone", Lat. lapis Lydius, a dark-coloured stone on which pure gold, when rubbed, leaves a peculiar mark, Theogn. : hence. generally, "a test, trial whether a thing be genuine or real", Hdt. , Soph. "inquiry by torture, the "question, " torture", used to extort evidence from slaves, Oratt. "torture of disease", NTest.

βάσανος, -ου, ὁ (of Oriental origin), [in LXX chiefly for כְּלִמָּה ,אָשָׁם, and frequently in 4Mac ;] __1. prop., touchstone, a dark stone used in testing metals. __2. examination by torture. __3. torment, torture: Mat.4:24, Luk.15:23, 28. † (AS)