Vain

Vain - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

VAIN, a. [L. vanus; Eng. wan, wane, want.]

1. Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance. 1 Pet 1.

To your vain answer will you have recourse.

Every man walketh in a vain show. Psa 39.

Why do the people imagine a vain thing? Psa 2.

2. Fruitless; ineffectual. All attempts, all efforts were vain.

Vain is the force of man.

3. Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; elated with a high opinion of one's own accomplishments, or with things more showy than valuable; conceited.

The minstrels play'd on every side, vain of their art -

4. Empty; unreal; as a vain chimers.

5. Showy; ostentatious.

Load some vain church with old theatric state.

6. Light; inconstant; worthless. Prov 12.

7. Empty; unsatisfying. The pleasures of life are vain.

8. False; deceitful; not genuine; spurious. James 1.

9. Not effectual; having no efficacy

Bring no more vain oblations. Isa 1.

In vain, to no purpose; without effect; ineffectual.

In vain they do worship me. Mat 15.

To take the name of God in vain, to use the name of God with levity or profaneness.

Vanity - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

VAN'ITY, n. [L. vanitas, from vanus, vain.]

1. Emptiness; want of substance to satisfy desire; uncertainty; inanity.

Vanity of vanities, said the preacher; all is vanity. Eccl 1.

2. Fruitless desire or endeavor.

Vanity possesseth many who are desirous to know the certainty of things to come.

3. Trifling labor that produces no good.

4. Emptiness; untruth

Here I may well show the vanity of what is reported in the story of Walsingham.

5. Empty pleasure; vain pursuit; idle show; unsubstantial enjoyment.

Sin with vanity had fill'd the works of men.

Think not when woman's transient breath is fled, that all her vanities at once are dead; succeeding vanities she still regards.

6. Ostentation; arrogance.

7. Inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty pride, inspired by an overweening conceit of one's personal attainments or decorations. Fops cannot be cured of their vanity.

Vanity is the food of fools.

No man sympathizes with the sorrows of vanity.

van: The adjective of "vanity," and representing the same Hebrew and Greek words as does the latter, with a few additions (chiefly kenos, "empty," and its compounds in the New Testament). And "vain" can always be replaced by its synonym "empty," often with advantage in modern English (Job 15:2; 1Co 15:14, etc.). The exception is the phrase "in vain," and even there the interchange can be made if some (understood) noun such as "ways" be added. So "to take God's name in vain" (Ex 20:7; De 5:11) means simply to take it for an "empty" ("not good") purpose.

Definition

The terms “vain” and “vanity” describe something that is useless or extremely temporary.

• In the Old Testament, idols are sometimes described as “vain” things that are worthless and cannot do anything.
• If something is done “in vain,” it means that there the effort or action did not accomplish what was intended. The phrase “in vain” might be translated in various ways, including: “without result;” “with no result;” “for no reason;” “for no purpose,” or “with no purpose.”
• Depending on the context, the term “vain” could be translated as “empty,” “useless,” “hopeless,” “worthless,” “meaningless,” etc.

(See also: false god, worthy)

Bible References

• 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
• 1 Samuel 25:21-22
• 2 Peter 2:18
• Isaiah 45:19
• Jeremiah 2:29-31
• Matthew 15:9

Word Data

• Strong’s: H1891, H1892, H2600, H7307, H7385, H7387, H7723, H8193, H8267, H8414, G09450, G15000, G27560, G27580, G27610, G31510, G31520, G31530, G31550