FOR BY WHAT HE
SAW AND HEARD THAT RIGHTEOUS MAN WHILE
LIVING AMONG THEM: blemmati gar kai akoe o dikaios egkatoikon (PAPMSN):
(Pr 25:26; 28:12; 1Ti 1:9; Jas 5:16)
Pr 25:26 Like a trampled spring and a
polluted well Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. (Mt
Henry "When the righteous are led into sin, it is as hurtful as if
the public fountains were poisoned." If the godly compromise
with the wicked, it is like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.)
(gar) introduces an added explanation of the situation
that caused Lot such pain. "By
what he saw and heard"
is placed first in the Greek for emphasis and underscores the cause of
his distress: he saw evil and he heard evil over and over (as imperfect
tense below suggests)
(blemma from blepo = to see) describes the act of seeing
or what is seen.
(akoe from akouo =
to hear; see related verb
is the act, the sense or the thing heard.
from dike = right, just) defines that which is in
accordance with high standards of rectitude. It is that which is in
right relation to another and so in reference to persons defines the one
who is morally and ethically righteous, upright or just.
If we had only the OT account of Lot,
we might not think Lot was a true believer at all. In Genesis he almost
appears as a status-seeking opportunist, willing to put up with sin and
corruption in order to make a place and name for himself in the world.
But Peter under the inspiration of the Spirit reiterates (3x) that he
was a righteous
Wiersbe has an interesting analysis of
When Lot had to choose a new area for his home, he measured it by
what he had seen in Egypt (Ge 13:10). Abraham took Lot out of Egypt, but he could not take Egypt out of
Lot. Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Ge 13:12), and then finally moved into Sodom (Ge
God even used a local war to try to get Lot out of Sodom, but he went
right back. That is where his heart was.
W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor
(egkatoikeo from en
= in or among + katoikeo = to dwell) used only here in the
NT and indicating that Lot had permanently settled "down among them."
Lot had chosen his "bed" and now was forced to live with the mental
anguish that decision was reaping. Lot could have voluntarily moved out
of this sexual cesspool had he so chosen but even when confronted with
God's decree against the city he "hesitated" and finally God's divine
emissaries had to seize him by the hand to extirpate him from Sodom! (Gen 19:16)
FELT HIS RIGHTEOUS SOUL TORMENTED DAY AFTER DAY WITH THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS: en autois hemeran
ex hemeras psuchen dikaian anomois ergois ebasanizen (3SIAI) : (Ps
119:136, 139;158 Ps 101:3, Ezek 9:4; 9:6 Mal 3:15,16, 17)
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".).
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
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
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
tormented by paralysis (Mt 8:6) and of the pain of childbirth
as used figuratively in (Rev 12:2-note).
Dictionary helps paint the picture of Lot's sad, dismal condition, defining the verb "torment"
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)
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
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
the debt has been paid from the heart (cf Mt 18:34, 35).
persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance (as a
horse tormented by flies).
Basanizo is in the
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.
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
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.
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.
(anomos from a = without + nomos
= law; see study of related word
anomia) means literally without law and
thus lawless. Recognizing no law in 1Ti 1:8. In 1Co 9:21 anomos refers
to not so much to those who transgress the law but those who either do
not have, know or acknowledge the law (i.e., Gentiles). It describes
transgressors, those who step across the the line (law), thus passing
over or beyond a limit. They live without regard to law, in the sense of
refusing to obey laws.
Not subject to law; unrestrained by law, disobedient to the law,
contrary to or heedless of the law, uncontrolled; unbridled. Synonyms
of lawless = anarchic, chaotic, disorderly, insubordinate,
insurgent, mutinous, rebellious, reckless, riotous, seditious,
ungoverned, unrestrained, unruly, wild
Vine notes that in 2Peter
the thought is not simply that of
doing what is unlawful, but of flagrant defiance of the known will of
writes that anomos...
has the objective sense of “having no
law” and the subjective sense of “paying no heed to law.” The Jews often
use the term for the Gentiles with some vacillation of sense.
G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New
explains that anomos refers to...
actions that are not outside the
governance of law but are in active violation of either divine or innate
moral principles. The apostle John says, "Everyone who sins breaks the
law; in fact, sin is lawlessness (related word
anomia)" (1Jn 3:4). The seriousness of
lawlessness is seen in its association with the virulent outbreak of
Satanic power destined for history's end (2Th 2:3, 7, 8).
UBS Handbook says anomos...
is used of people who disregarded
divine and human laws and ordinances.
United Bible Societies' New Testament Handbook Series
Jamieson writes that anomos
describes those who...
set at defiance the laws of nature,
as well as man and God.
describes the consequence of having no fear of God and therefore
feeling completely free to live without constraining laws, indulging our
sinful desires. Day in and day out Lot observed their deeds
characterized as anomos, as contrary to and in defiance of
the known will of God. Lot saw and heard this "in your face" attitude
and actions every day and it tortured his righteous soul
which is another reference to the inner moral condition of Lot. Peter
uses the "soul"
to describe the seat and center of the inner man and especially the
center of one's feelings and emotions.
NIDNTT has an informative note
on the root word "nomos" which means law or norm...
The noun nomos is formed from the vb.
nemo, distribute, deal out, assign, grant, especially in the sense of
assigning property, apportioning pasture or agricultural land (cf. nome,
pasture). In other words, the reference is to those processes which are
essential whenever men live together in a community, whether small or
great. Relationships to earthly possessions have to be determined in a
legally binding fashion, so that private and communal ownership may
become a reality. Thus the basic vb. covers all shades of meaning from
merely handing something over for a given period of time, right through
to transferring something, once and for all, to the ownership of another
person. By means of appropriate prepositions, personal or non-personal
objects, and other qualifying phrases, ethical value-judgment can be
expressed: to grant equally, exercise fairness, be impartial, also to
favour, pass over, reject. The same vb. can also indicate the result of
distributing property: to appropriate, own or possess, occupy, utilize;
pass. to belong to. The communal aspect can still be seen in the mid.:
to distribute (e.g. an inheritance) between one another.
Anomos - 9x in 6v (not
counting Mk 15:28 because it is not in all manuscripts) - Mark
15:28, Luke 22:37; Acts 2:23; 1 Cor 9:21; 2 Thess 2:8; 1 Tim 1:9; 2 Pet
2:8. NAS = godless men(1), lawless(2), lawless one(1), transgressors(2),
without the law(1), without law(1), without law(2).
Mark 15:28 [And the Scripture was
fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with transgressors.”] (Not
in all Greek manuscripts which is why it is in brackets)
Luke 22:37 "For I tell you that this
which is written must be fulfilled in Me, 'AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH
TRANSGRESSORS'; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment."
Acts 2:23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and
foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless
men (in context refers primarily to the Romans, i.e. Gentiles) and put Him to death.
1 Corinthians 9:21 to those who are without law, as without
law, though not being without the law of God but under the
law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 Then that lawless one (the Antichrist) will be revealed whom the Lord
will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the
appearance of His coming;
1 Timothy 1:9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous
person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the
ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill
their fathers or mothers, for murderers
2 Peter 2:8 (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),
The contemporary application is
plain. To what extent are Christians living today in a godless and thus
lawless society "tormented" and "tortured" by what they see.