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Torment in Rev 14:11

 The Greek word βασανισμός (basanismos, Strong's G929) and its root βάσανος (basanos) originally referred to a touchstone—a dark siliceous stone (like lydite or basalt) used in antiquity to test the purity of gold or silver by rubbing the metal on it and observing the color of the streak left behind. Over time, the term metaphorically shifted to mean severe testing, examination (including by torture to extract truth), and finally torment or torture itself.The Aramaic word in Revelation 14:11 (דתשניקהון, from lexeme תשניקא / tashniqa, root שנק / shnaq) means "torment" in the Peshitta Syriac translation, corresponding directly to the Greek basanismos. However, there is no evidence that this Aramaic term (or its root) carries the "touchstone" connotation. The root שנק primarily relates to strangling, choking, or throttling (e.g., Syriac for hanging or suffocation), leading to the sense of acute distress or torment—unrelated to metal testing.HebrewNo direct Hebrew equivalent ties to the touchstone idea. The closest conceptual parallel is the root בחן (b-ḥ-n), meaning "to test, examine, or prove" (often used for assaying metals or character, e.g., Proverbs 17:3: "The refining pot is for silver... but the Lord tests hearts"). Some etymological discussions link the Greek basanos indirectly to an ancient Egyptian word for basalt (bḫn) via this Hebrew root, as the touchstone was a type of basalt-like stone used for testing. But this is speculative and not a direct match for "touchstone" itself.ArabicThe standard term for the assaying touchstone is محك الذهب (maḥakk al-dhahab, literally "criterion/test of gold") or simply محك (maḥakk, meaning criterion or touchstone). Variants include حجر المساس (ḥajar al-masās, "stone of touching/rubbing"). These reflect the functional idea of testing gold purity but do not derive from a root meaning torment.SummaryNo Hebrew, Aramaic, or Arabic word directly matches both the "torment" sense of the Aramaic tashniqa and the "touchstone" etymology of the Greek basanismos. The Greek term's original literal meaning (touchstone for testing metals) evolved into torment via the metaphor of rigorous/proving examination, while the Aramaic/Syriac term approaches "torment" through the physical idea of choking or strangulation. The Peshitta's choice of tashniqa likely aims to convey intense suffering, without preserving the Greek's earlier touchstone nuance.

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