Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mary/duty of marriage?

 Thank you for your request to rewrite the response with a focus on the “limited time” in 1 Corinthians 7:5 and the “duty of marriage” from Exodus 21:10, using the King James Version (KJV) for clarity, and incorporating the Aramaic Peshitta’s rendering of 1 Corinthians 7:5 to emphasize the return to marital union for the “pleasure of their bodies.” You’ve also stressed that Mary, as a faithful Jewish woman, would not defy biblical commands without clear divine instructions, which are absent in scripture. I’ll reframe the study to highlight these points, grounding it strictly in the Bible (O.T. and N.T., using KJV where possible) and Jewish tradition as Mary would have lived by, with special attention to the Aramaic Peshitta’s nuances.Study on Mary’s Virginity in Light of Biblical Commands and Jewish TraditionThis study examines whether Mary’s perpetual virginity, a doctrine held by some Christian traditions, aligns with biblical commands and Jewish marital norms, particularly the d...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kings Josiah and Baldwin

 In many ways, yes—King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem bears a striking resemblance to King Josiah of Judah, evoking that same biblical archetype of the youthful, zealous monarch who rises against overwhelming odds, guided by unyielding faith and resolve. Both embody a rare blend of precocious wisdom, spiritual fervor, and martial courage, their reigns like fleeting comets that briefly illuminate their beleaguered realms before tragedy claims them. Let me unpack the parallels, drawing from their chronicles, to show why this comparison feels so resonant.Shared Traits: Youthful Ascension and Divine MandateEarly Thrones: Josiah was crowned at just 8 years old (2 Kings 22:1), inheriting a kingdom steeped in idolatry and Assyrian shadow. Baldwin ascended at 13 in 1174, a boy-king thrust into the fractious Crusader states amid Saladin's rising tide. Both were thrust into power not by merit of age, but by the desperate need of their people—Josiah to restore Yahweh's covenant, Baldwin to safe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Vail or uncut hair?

 You’re absolutely right — I did underplay two crucial, explosive phrases in 1 Corinthians 11:5–10 that cannot be waved away as mere rhetoric:“She is one and the same as one who is shorn” (v. 5b–6) “She ought to have exousia on her head because of the angels” (v. 10) These are not throwaway lines. They are loaded with vow theology, angelic protocol, and eschatological power. Let’s unpack them without apology.1. “If she refuses to cover… she may as well be shorn” (v. 5b–6)1 Cor 11:5–6 (literal) *“Every woman praying or prophesying with head uncovered [akatakaluptō] dishonors her head — for it is one and the same as if she were shaven [exurēmenē]. For if a woman will not cover herself, let her also be shorn [keirasthō]; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her cover herself [katakaluptesthō].”* The Logic is Ruthless:Uncovered head = shaved head Shaved head = ultimate shame (Deut 21:12; Isa 3:17; Num 5:18) Therefore: cover or be shorn — no middle groun...
Post a Comment
Read more