Word Studies¶
G928 basanizo -- "to test/torment/torture/distress"¶
Lexicon Data¶
- Original: basanizo (betaalphasigmaalphanuiota-zeta-omega)
- Transliteration: basanizo
- Pronunciation: bas-an-id'-zo
- Part of Speech: verb
- Definition: From G931 (basanos); to torture: pain, toil, torment, toss, vex
- Total Occurrences: 12
Translation Distribution¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| tormented | 2 | 16.7% |
| to torment | 1 | 8.3% |
| tossed | 1 | 8.3% |
| that thou torment | 1 | 8.3% |
| toiling | 1 | 8.3% |
| torment | 1 | 8.3% |
| vexed | 1 | 8.3% |
| they should be tormented | 1 | 8.3% |
| pained | 1 | 8.3% |
| he shall be tormented | 1 | 8.3% |
| shall be tormented | 1 | 8.3% |
All 12 Occurrences by Category¶
Physical Illness/Pain (1): - Matt 8:6 -- "grievously tormented" (servant sick of palsy)
Waves/Weather (1): - Matt 14:24 -- "tossed with waves" (ship in a storm)
Physical Exertion (1): - Mark 6:48 -- "toiling in rowing" (disciples straining at oars)
Moral/Emotional Distress (1): - 2 Pet 2:8 -- "vexed his righteous soul" (Lot's distress)
Childbirth/Labor (1): - Rev 12:2 -- "pained to be delivered" (woman in labor)
Demonic Fear of Judgment (3): - Matt 8:29 -- "art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" (demons speaking) - Mark 5:7 -- "I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not" (demon speaking) - Luke 8:28 -- "I beseech thee, torment me not" (demon speaking)
Apocalyptic Judgment Contexts (4): - Rev 9:5 -- "they should be tormented five months" (5-month time limit) - Rev 11:10 -- "tormented them that dwelt on the earth" (two prophets = prophetic witness causing distress) - Rev 14:10 -- "he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone" (beast-worshippers in apocalyptic vision) - Rev 20:10 -- "shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (devil, beast, false prophet)
Key Observations¶
- Semantic range is wide: pain, toil, torment, toss, vex -- NOT a technical eschatological term
- 7 of 12 uses are non-judgment contexts (illness, waves, rowing, emotional distress, childbirth, demonic fear)
- All 5 judgment uses are in Revelation's apocalyptic framework (plus Matt 8:29 where demons speak of their own future judgment)
- When humans use basanizo for eschatological fear, the speakers are demons (Matt 8:29; Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28) -- supernatural entities, not humans
- Rev 9:5 uses basanizo with an explicit 5-month time limit -- the word itself does not inherently mean eternal
- Rev 11:10 uses basanizo for prophetic witness causing distress -- the "torment" is the prophets' testimony, not fire
- No epistle, no Gospel, and no OT passage uses basanizo for the final fate of generic human wicked
G929 basanismos -- "torment/torture"¶
Lexicon Data¶
- Original: basanismos
- Transliteration: basanismos
- Pronunciation: bas-an-is-mos'
- Part of Speech: masculine noun
- Definition: From G928 (basanizo); torture: torment
- Total Occurrences: 6
Translation Distribution¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| torment | 5 | 83.3% |
| the torment | 1 | 16.7% |
All 6 Occurrences (ALL in Revelation)¶
- Rev 9:5 -- "their torment was as the torment of a scorpion" (5-month time limit)
- Rev 14:11 -- "the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever"
- Rev 18:7 -- "so much torment and sorrow give her" (Babylon)
- Rev 18:10 -- "for the fear of her torment" (Babylon)
- Rev 18:15 -- "for the fear of her torment" (Babylon)
Key Observations¶
- All 6 occurrences are in Revelation -- entirely within apocalyptic genre
- Three of six (50%) describe Babylon's "torment" which IS Babylon's completed destruction (Rev 18:8,21-23: "utterly burned," "found no more at all")
- One has an explicit time limit (Rev 9:5: 5 months)
- The word is NOT exclusively an eternal-torment word -- Babylon's "torment" describes a completed, irreversible destruction event
G931 basanos -- "touchstone/torment"¶
Lexicon Data¶
- Original: basanos
- Transliteration: basanos
- Pronunciation: bas'-an-os
- Part of Speech: masculine noun
- Definition: Perhaps remotely from the same as G939; a touchstone
- Total Occurrences: 3
Translation Distribution¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| torments | 2 | 66.7% |
| of torment | 1 | 33.3% |
All 3 Occurrences¶
- Matt 4:24 -- "divers diseases and torments" (physical diseases/pains)
- Luke 16:23 -- "being in torments" (Rich Man -- parabolic context)
- Luke 16:28 -- "this place of torment" (Rich Man -- parabolic context)
Key Observations¶
- NOT used in any eschatological judgment passage
- Luke 16 is parabolic -- uses basanos, NOT basanizo/basanismos
- Matt 4:24 is physical illness -- not judgment
G2342 therion -- "wild beast/dangerous animal"¶
Lexicon Data¶
- Original: therion
- Transliteration: therion
- Pronunciation: thay-ree'-on
- Part of Speech: neuter noun
- Definition: Diminutive from the same as G2339; a dangerous animal: (venomous, wild) beast
- Total Occurrences: 45-46 (BLB count 46)
Translation Distribution¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| beast | 36 | 80.0% |
| wild beasts | 3 | 6.7% |
| beasts | 2 | 4.4% |
| a beast | 2 | 4.4% |
| The beast / the beast | 2 | 4.4% |
Distribution by Context¶
Literal animals (8 occurrences): - Mark 1:13; Acts 10:12; 11:6; 28:4,5; Titus 1:12; Heb 12:20; James 3:7; Rev 6:8
Revelation's apocalyptic "beast" (38+ occurrences): - Rev 11:7; 13:1-18 (multiple); 14:9,11; 15:2; 16:2,10,13; 17:3,7,8,11-13,16,17; 19:19,20; 20:4,10
Key Observations¶
- The Revelation "beast" is a symbolic entity: rises from the sea (13:1), has seven heads and ten horns, receives authority from the dragon (13:2), is identified by a number (13:18)
- Rev 17:8 says the beast "was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit" -- this is not a literal human being
- Rev 17:11 says the beast "is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition"
- The beast is paired with the dragon/devil and the false prophet as a triad of symbolic entities in Revelation's apocalyptic framework
G5578 pseudoprophetes -- "false prophet"¶
Lexicon Data¶
- Original: pseudoprophetes
- Transliteration: pseudoprophetes
- Pronunciation: psyoo-dop-rof-ay'-tace
- Part of Speech: masculine noun
- Definition: From G5571 and G4396; a spurious prophet, i.e. pretended foreteller
- Total Occurrences: 11 (BLB count 11)
Translation Distribution¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| false prophets | 6 | 60.0% |
| false prophet | 3 | 30.0% |
| a false prophet | 1 | 10.0% |
Distribution by Context¶
Generic false prophets (plural, a class of humans -- 8 occurrences): - Matt 7:15; 24:11,24; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26; Acts 13:6; 2 Pet 2:1; 1 John 4:1
THE false prophet (singular, specific apocalyptic figure -- 3 occurrences): - Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:10
Key Observations¶
- Two distinct usages: generic false prophets (plural, a class) vs. THE false prophet (singular, Revelation-specific)
- In Revelation, the false prophet = the second beast of Rev 13:11-17 who works miracles, makes fire come down, gives life to the beast's image
- The Revelation false prophet is a specific symbolic figure in the apocalyptic narrative, not a generic human false prophet
- All three "false prophet" (singular) occurrences are in Revelation's apocalyptic framework (16:13; 19:20; 20:10)
G1228 diabolos -- "slanderer/devil"¶
Lexicon Data¶
- Original: diabolos
- Transliteration: diabolos
- Pronunciation: dee-ab'-ol-os
- Part of Speech: adjective
- Definition: From G1225; a traducer; specially, Satan
- Total Occurrences: 38 (BLB count 38)
Translation Distribution¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| devil | 23 | 76.7% |
| false accusers | 2 | 6.7% |
| the Devil | 2 | 6.7% |
| of the devil | 1 | 3.3% |
| slanderers | 1 | 3.3% |
| the devil | 1 | 3.3% |
Distribution¶
As "the Devil/Satan" (supernatural entity): Matt 4:1,5,8,11; 13:39; 25:41; Luke 4:2,3,5,6,13; 8:12; John 6:70; 8:44; 13:2; Acts 10:38; 13:10; Eph 4:27; 6:11; 1 Tim 3:6,7; 2 Tim 2:26; Heb 2:14; James 4:7; 1 Pet 5:8; 1 John 3:8,10; Jude 1:9; Rev 2:10; 12:9,12; 20:2,10 As "false accusers/slanderers" (human trait): 1 Tim 3:11; 2 Tim 3:3; Titus 2:3
Key Observations¶
- The devil/Satan is consistently presented as a non-human spirit being throughout the NT
- Rev 12:9 provides the identification chain: "the great dragon... that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan"
- Rev 20:2 repeats: "the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan"
- Matt 25:41 specifies "the devil and his angels" -- the devil is a being with angels under his command
- Heb 2:14 states Christ came to "destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" -- destruction language for the devil
- A non-human supernatural entity, not a human being
G1404 drakon -- "dragon"¶
Lexicon Data¶
- Original: drakon
- Transliteration: drakon
- Pronunciation: drak'-own
- Part of Speech: masculine noun
- Definition: Probably from an alternate form of derkomai (to look); a fabulous kind of serpent
- Total Occurrences: 13
Translation Distribution¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| dragon | 12 | 92.3% |
| a dragon | 1 | 7.7% |
All Occurrences (ALL in Revelation)¶
- Rev 12:3,4,7(x2),9,13,16,17; 13:2,4; 16:13; 20:2
Key Observations¶
- ALL 13 occurrences are in Revelation -- entirely within the apocalyptic framework
- Rev 12:9 explicitly identifies the dragon: "the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan"
- Rev 20:2 confirms: "the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan"
- The dragon is a symbolic representation of the devil/Satan -- a non-human supernatural entity depicted in apocalyptic imagery
- Rev 13:2: "the dragon gave him [the beast] his power, and his seat, and great authority" -- the dragon is the power behind the beast
- The dragon, beast, and false prophet form a triad (Rev 16:13) -- all three are symbolic/supernatural entities within Revelation's apocalyptic framework
G2673: katargeo — Full Semantic Range¶
Lexicon Data¶
- Original: katargeo (kataalpha-rho-gammaepsilonomega)
- Transliteration: katargeo
- Pronunciation: kat-ar-geh'-o
- Part of Speech: verb
- Definition: From G2596 (kata) and G691 (argeo); to render idle, to make ineffective, to abolish, to do away with
- Louw-Nida: Includes "cause to cease to exist" as one of several definitions
- Total Occurrences: 27
NT Usage Distribution¶
"Abolish/destroy" (clear cessation): - 1 Cor 15:24 — "when he shall have put down [katargese] all rule and all authority and power" - 1 Cor 15:26 — "The last enemy that shall be destroyed [katargeitai] is death" - 2 Tim 1:10 — Christ "hath abolished [katargesantos] death" - Heb 2:14 — "that through death he might destroy [katargese] him that had the power of death, that is, the devil"
"Set aside/nullify" (invalidate, make void): - Rom 3:3 — "shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect [katargesei]?" - Rom 3:31 — "Do we then make void [katargoumen] the law through faith?" - Rom 4:14 — "faith is made void [kekenōtai]... promise made of none effect [katērgētai]" - Gal 3:17 — the law cannot "make the promise of none effect [katargesai]" - Gal 5:4 — "Christ is become of no effect [katērgēthēte] unto you" - Gal 5:11 — "then is the offence of the cross ceased [katērgētai]" - Eph 2:15 — "having abolished [katargēsas] in his flesh the enmity"
"Cease/pass away" (come to an end): - 1 Cor 2:6 — "the princes of this world, that come to nought [katargoumenōn]" - 1 Cor 13:8 — "whether there be prophecies, they shall fail [katargēthēsontai]" - 1 Cor 13:10 — "that which is in part shall be done away [katargēthēsetai]" - 1 Cor 13:11 — "I put away [katērgēka] childish things" - 2 Cor 3:7,11,13,14 — "that which is done away [katargoumenon]" (the old covenant glory)
Key Observations¶
-
The word has genuine lexical ambiguity. Katargeo does not exclusively mean "annihilate" or "destroy completely." Its semantic range includes "render powerless," "abolish," "nullify," "make ineffective," "do away with," and "cause to cease." Context determines which meaning applies.
-
For Heb 2:14 specifically: Both "destroy" and "render powerless" are lexically possible readings. "That through death he might destroy [katargese] him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Conditionalists read this as the actual destruction/annihilation of the devil. ECT proponents read this as rendering the devil's power ineffective. Both readings are within the word's documented semantic range.
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E386 classifies Heb 2:14 as Neutral — not Conditionalist. This is methodologically sound because of the genuine lexical ambiguity. The word's other uses include "nullify" (Rom 3:3,31), "make void" (Rom 4:14), "become of no effect" (Gal 5:4) — none of which mean annihilation. The Heb 2:14 usage must be interpreted in light of this full range.
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However: When katargeo is applied to death (1 Cor 15:26; 2 Tim 1:10), the meaning is clear — death is abolished/destroyed. Death ceases to exist (confirmed by Rev 21:4: "no more death"). This establishes that katargeo CAN mean complete cessation. Whether it means this when applied to the devil in Heb 2:14 depends on contextual interpretation.
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The honest assessment: Heb 2:14 alone does not prove the devil's annihilation because katargeo has too wide a semantic range. But it is consistent with the devil's destruction, especially when combined with Ezek 28:18-19 ("ashes... never shalt thou be any more") and the broader pattern of destruction vocabulary in the NT.
Summary: The Nature of Rev 20:10's Three Subjects¶
| Subject | Strong's | Nature | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| The devil | G1228 diabolos | Non-human supernatural spirit being | 38 NT occurrences; consistently a spirit being; Rev 12:9 = dragon/serpent/Satan |
| The beast | G2342 therion | Symbolic apocalyptic entity | Rises from sea, 7 heads, 10 horns, identified by number; "was, and is not" (Rev 17:8) |
| The false prophet | G5578 pseudoprophetes | Symbolic apocalyptic entity | = second beast of Rev 13:11-17; singular, specific Revelation figure; works miracles, gives life to image |
None of the three subjects of Rev 20:10 is a literal human being. The torment formula ("tormented day and night for ever and ever") is predicated of these three non-human/symbolic entities, not of human beings.