Strong G3152μάταιος
futile
- Transliteration
- mataios
- Pronunciation
- mat'-ah-yos
- Morphology
- Greek Adjective OR Greek Adverb
Definition
From the base of G3155; empty that is (literally) profitless or (specifically) an idol: - vain vanity.
Detailed definition
μάταιος, -ον
(as in Att.., but -αία, -αιον, 1Co.15:17, 1Pe.1:18; μάτην), [in LXX for שָׁוְא, הֶבֶל, כָּזָב, etc.;]
vain, useless: ἀνωφελὴς κ. μ., Tit.3:9; πίστις, 1Co.15:17; θρησκεία, Jas.1:26; διαλογισμοί, 1Co.3:20 (LXX); ἀναστροφή, 1Pe.1:18; of idols and heathen gods, τὰ μ. (Jer.2:5, 4Ki.17:15, al.): Act.14:15
SYN.: κενός, q.v (AS)
(as in Att.., but -αία, -αιον, 1Co.15:17, 1Pe.1:18; μάτην), [in LXX for שָׁוְא, הֶבֶל, כָּזָב, etc.;]
vain, useless: ἀνωφελὴς κ. μ., Tit.3:9; πίστις, 1Co.15:17; θρησκεία, Jas.1:26; διαλογισμοί, 1Co.3:20 (LXX); ἀναστροφή, 1Pe.1:18; of idols and heathen gods, τὰ μ. (Jer.2:5, 4Ki.17:15, al.): Act.14:15
SYN.: κενός, q.v (AS)
In the Bible
Strong G3152 appears in 6 verses of the KJV.
Translated in the KJV by
- vain5
- vanity1
First verses
- Acts 14:15And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
- 1 Corinthians 3:20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
- 1 Corinthians 15:17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
- Titus 3:9But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
- James 1:26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
- 1 Peter 1:18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
Occurrences by book
Related words
Detailed Greek dictionary
μάται-ος [μᾰ], α, ον
[Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 331, “Th.” 442, “Ag.” 422 (Lyric poetry), etc.)]; also ος, ον[Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 1151, “Ch.” 82, “Eu.” 337 (all Lyric poetry), 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Coloneus” 780, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Iphigenia Taurica” 628, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Sophista” 231b, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 1.18)]: (μάτη):—
I vain, empty, idle:
I.1 of words, acts, etc., μάταια νομίζομεν [Refs 6th c.BC+ (6th c.BC: Theognis Elegiacus 141, compare 487, 492, etc.)]; μ. λόγοι idle tales or words, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 7.10)].; μ. ἔπεα[Refs 4th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 11; δόξαι φέρουσαι χάριν μ. 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 422 (Lyric poetry))]; μ. ὑλάγματα, ποιφύγματα,[Refs ([prev. work] 1672, “Th.” 281)]; μ. εὐχή E.[same place]; μάταια βάζειν τινά [Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. author] “Hipp.” 119; μ. τι δρᾶσαί τινα [prev. author] “Cyc.” 662 (Lyric poetry); μ. ἂν εἴη πόνος 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Timaeus” 40d)]; μ. ἡδονή S.[same place]; δοξοσοφία [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Sph.” [same place]; ὄρεξις 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Ethica Nicomachea” 1094a21)]; τὰ μ. ἀναλώματα useless expenses, [Refs 3rd c.AD+ (“POxy.” 58.20 (3rd c.AD))]; but also, μ. ἔπος a word of offence, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.120.)]
I.2 of persons, empty, foolish, ματαιότεροι νόον [Refs 6th c.BC+ (6th c.BC: Theognis Elegiacus 1025, compare 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.173, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 863, 888 (Lyric poetry), 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Vespae” 338, 5th-6th c.BC: Amipsias Comicus 9 (_superlative_))]; φῦλον ματαιότατον [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “P.” 3.21)]; worthless, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 1339 (Lyric poetry).)]
II rash, irreverent, profane, frequently in [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus, μ. γλῶσσα “Pr.” [same place], “Ag.” 1662 (troch.); φρονήματα “Th.” 438)]; αὐτουργίαι μ., of matricide and the like, “Eu.” [same place]; χαρὰ μ. mad merriment, [Refs (“Th.” 442; μ. ἀνοσίων τε κνωδάλων “Supp.” 762)]; τὸ μὴ μ. seriousness, gravity,[Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 198; ψαύειν ματαίαις χερσί 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 565.)]
III adverb -ως idly, without ground,[Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 940, 5th c.BC: Empedocles Poeta Philosophus 39.2, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Fragmenta” 908.4; ὀχλεῖν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις 4th c.BC: Aeneas Tacticus 6.1)]; μ. ἐρεῖν to no purpose, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Epistulae” 331d; ταλαιπωρῆσαι Polystr. p.31 W.)]
[Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 331, “Th.” 442, “Ag.” 422 (Lyric poetry), etc.)]; also ος, ον[Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 1151, “Ch.” 82, “Eu.” 337 (all Lyric poetry), 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Oedipus Coloneus” 780, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Iphigenia Taurica” 628, 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Sophista” 231b, 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 1.18)]: (μάτη):—
I vain, empty, idle:
I.1 of words, acts, etc., μάταια νομίζομεν [Refs 6th c.BC+ (6th c.BC: Theognis Elegiacus 141, compare 487, 492, etc.)]; μ. λόγοι idle tales or words, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 7.10)].; μ. ἔπεα[Refs 4th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 11; δόξαι φέρουσαι χάριν μ. 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 422 (Lyric poetry))]; μ. ὑλάγματα, ποιφύγματα,[Refs ([prev. work] 1672, “Th.” 281)]; μ. εὐχή E.[same place]; μάταια βάζειν τινά [Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. author] “Hipp.” 119; μ. τι δρᾶσαί τινα [prev. author] “Cyc.” 662 (Lyric poetry); μ. ἂν εἴη πόνος 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Timaeus” 40d)]; μ. ἡδονή S.[same place]; δοξοσοφία [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Sph.” [same place]; ὄρεξις 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Ethica Nicomachea” 1094a21)]; τὰ μ. ἀναλώματα useless expenses, [Refs 3rd c.AD+ (“POxy.” 58.20 (3rd c.AD))]; but also, μ. ἔπος a word of offence, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.120.)]
I.2 of persons, empty, foolish, ματαιότεροι νόον [Refs 6th c.BC+ (6th c.BC: Theognis Elegiacus 1025, compare 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 2.173, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 863, 888 (Lyric poetry), 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Vespae” 338, 5th-6th c.BC: Amipsias Comicus 9 (_superlative_))]; φῦλον ματαιότατον [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “P.” 3.21)]; worthless, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 1339 (Lyric poetry).)]
II rash, irreverent, profane, frequently in [Refs 4th c.BC+ (4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus, μ. γλῶσσα “Pr.” [same place], “Ag.” 1662 (troch.); φρονήματα “Th.” 438)]; αὐτουργίαι μ., of matricide and the like, “Eu.” [same place]; χαρὰ μ. mad merriment, [Refs (“Th.” 442; μ. ἀνοσίων τε κνωδάλων “Supp.” 762)]; τὸ μὴ μ. seriousness, gravity,[Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 198; ψαύειν ματαίαις χερσί 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Trachiniae” 565.)]
III adverb -ως idly, without ground,[Refs 5th c.BC+ ([prev. work] 940, 5th c.BC: Empedocles Poeta Philosophus 39.2, 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Fragmenta” 908.4; ὀχλεῖν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις 4th c.BC: Aeneas Tacticus 6.1)]; μ. ἐρεῖν to no purpose, [Refs 5th c.BC+ (5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Epistulae” 331d; ταλαιπωρῆσαι Polystr. p.31 W.)]