Strong's Lexicon tumpanizó: To torture, to beat, to drum Original Word: τυμπανίζω Word Origin: From τύμπανον (tumpanon), meaning "a drum" or "a tambourine." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of severe punishment or beating can be related to several Hebrew words, such as *nakah* (H5221), meaning "to strike" or "to smite," and *yasar* (H3256), meaning "to discipline" or "to chasten." Usage: The verb τυμπανίζω primarily means to torture or to beat someone as if on a drum. It conveys the idea of severe physical punishment or torment. In the context of the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to describe the extreme suffering or persecution faced by individuals for their faith. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient times, the term τυμπανίζω was associated with a form of punishment where a person was stretched out and beaten, similar to the way a drum is struck. This method of torture was known for its brutality and was often used to extract confessions or as a form of execution. The imagery of being "beaten like a drum" would have been a vivid and terrifying concept for early Christians, who faced persecution for their beliefs. HELPS Word-studies 5178 tympanízō (the root of the English term "tympani-drum") – properly, to torture. 5178 (tympanízō) originally meant "to beat a drum" and was later used for torturing someone in conjunction with the beating of a drum – hence the expression, "beating to death" (cf. B. F. Westcott at Heb 11:35). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tumpanon (a kettle drum) Definition to beat a drum, to torture by beating NASB Translation tortured (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5178: τυμπανίζωτυμπανίζω: (τύμπανον); 1. to beat the drum or timbrel. 2. to torture with the tympanum, an instrument of punishment: ἐτυμπανίσθησαν (Vulg.distenti sunt), Hebrews 11:35 (R. V. were tortured (with margin, Or, beaten to death)) (Plutarch, mor., p. 60 a.; joined with ἀνασκολοπίζεσθαι, Lucian, Jup. trag. 19); the tympanum seems to have been a wheel-shaped instrument of torture, over which criminals were stretched as though they were skins, and then horribly beaten with clubs or thongs (cf. our 'to break upon the wheel'; see English Dicts. under the word STRONGS NT 5178a: τυπικῶςτυπικῶς (from the adjective τυπικος, and this from τύπος); adverb, by way of example (prefiguratively): ταῦτα τυπικῶς συνέβαινον ἐκείνοις, these things happened unto them as a warning to posterity (R. V. by way of example), 1 Corinthians 10:11 L T Tr WH. (Ecclesiastical writings.) From a derivative of tupto (meaning a drum, "tympanum"); to stretch on an instrument of torture resembling a drum, and thus beat to death -- torture. see GREEK tupto |