3152. mataios

Lexicon

mataios: Vain, futile, worthless, empty

Original Word: μάταιος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: mataios
Pronunciation: MAH-tah-yos
Phonetic Spelling: (mat'-ah-yos)
Definition: Vain, futile, worthless, empty
Meaning: vain, unreal, ineffectual, unproductive; practically: godless.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

vain, vanity.

From the base of maten; empty, i.e. (literally) profitless, or (specially), an idol -- vain, vanity.

see GREEK maten

HELPS Word-studies

3152 mátaios (an adjective derived from 3155 /mátēn, "without purpose or ground") – properly, aimless (vain), without purpose; (figuratively) without profit because without basis, i.e. fleeting (transitory), ineffectual ("groundless").

3152 /mátaios ("aimless") emphasizes the "absence of purpose or failure to attain any true purpose" (Moulton and Milligan). 3152 (mátaios) refers to what is "vain, unreal, ineffectual, unproductive" (Souter).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as matén
Definition
vain, useless
NASB Translation
futile (1), useless (1), vain things (1), worthless (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3152: μάταιος

μάταιος, μάταια (1 Corinthians 15:17; (1 Peter 1:18)), μάταιον, also μάταιος, μάταιον (James 1:26; Titus 3:9) (cf. WHs Appendix, p. 157; Winer's Grammar, § 11, 1) (from μάτην), the Sept. for הֶבֶל, שָׁוְא, כָּזָב (a lie), etc.; as in secular authors (Latincanus) devoid of force, truth, success, result (A. V. uniformly vain): universally, ἡ θρησκεία, James 1:26; useless, to no purpose, ἡ πίστις, 1 Corinthians 15:17; foolish, διαλογισμοί, 1 Corinthians 3:20; ζητήσεις, Titus 3:9; given to vain things and leading away from salvation, ἀναστροφή, 1 Peter 1:18. τά μάταια, vain things, vanities, of heathen deities and their worship (הֶבֶל, Jeremiah 2:5; Jeremiah 10:3; הַהֶבֶל אַחֲרֵי יָלַך, πορεύεσθαι ὀπίσω τῶν ματαίων, 2 Kings 17:15; הֲבָלִים, μάταια, Jeremiah 8:19; εἴδωλα, Deuteronomy 32:21; Jeremiah 14:22): Acts 14:15. (Cf. Trench, Synonyms, § xlix.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root word "μάτην" (matēn), meaning "in vain" or "to no purpose."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek "μάταιος" is conceptually similar to several Hebrew terms that convey vanity or emptiness, such as:
• Strong's Hebrew 1892: הֶבֶל (hebel) – often translated as "vanity" or "breath," used extensively in Ecclesiastes to describe the fleeting nature of life.
• Strong's Hebrew 7385: רִיק (riq) – meaning "empty" or "vain," used in contexts describing futile actions or efforts.

These Hebrew terms, like "μάταιος," emphasize the transient and insubstantial nature of pursuits that are not rooted in divine purpose.

Usage: The word "μάταιος" is used in the New Testament to describe things that are ineffectual or without true significance. It is often applied to human endeavors or beliefs that are not grounded in divine truth or purpose.

Context: The Greek term "μάταιος" appears in several New Testament passages, highlighting the futility of certain human actions and beliefs when they are not aligned with God's will. In Romans 1:21, the apostle Paul uses "μάταιος" to describe the futile thinking of those who, despite knowing God, fail to honor Him, leading to darkened hearts. Similarly, in Titus 3:9, Paul advises believers to avoid "foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the Law, because these are unprofitable and useless" (BSB), where "useless" translates "μάταιος."

The term also appears in James 1:26, where it is used to describe the religion of someone who does not bridle their tongue: "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless" (BSB). Here, "worthless" is the translation of "μάταιος," emphasizing the emptiness of religious practice that lacks genuine control and integrity.

In 1 Peter 1:18, believers are reminded that they were redeemed from the "empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers" (BSB), with "empty" translating "μάταιος." This underscores the contrast between the futile traditions of men and the redemptive work of Christ.

The use of "μάταιος" in these contexts serves as a caution against investing in pursuits that do not yield eternal value and encourages a focus on what is spiritually substantial and aligned with God's truth.

Forms and Transliterations

ματαια ματαία μάταια μάταιά μάταιαι ματαίαν ματαιας ματαίας ματαιοι μάταιοι ματαίοις μάταιον ματαιος μάταιος ματαίους ματαίω ματαιων ματαίων mataia mataía mataias mataías mataioi mátaioi mataion mataiōn mataíon mataíōn mataios mátaios

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 14:15 Adj-GMP
GRK: τούτων τῶν ματαίων ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ
NAS: from these vain things to a living
KJV: from these vanities unto the living
INT: these vanities to turn to

1 Corinthians 3:20 Adj-NMP
GRK: ὅτι εἰσὶν μάταιοι
NAS: of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.
KJV: that they are vain.
INT: that they are futile

1 Corinthians 15:17 Adj-NFS
GRK: οὐκ ἐγήγερται ματαία ἡ πίστις
NAS: your faith is worthless; you are still
KJV: your faith [is] vain; ye are yet
INT: not has been raised vain the faith

Titus 3:9 Adj-NMP
GRK: ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι
NAS: for they are unprofitable and worthless.
KJV: unprofitable and vain.
INT: unprofitable and worthless

James 1:26 Adj-NMS
GRK: αὐτοῦ τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία
NAS: this man's religion is worthless.
KJV: this man's religion [is] vain.
INT: of himself of this one worthless [is] the religion

1 Peter 1:18 Adj-GFS
GRK: ἐκ τῆς ματαίας ὑμῶν ἀναστροφῆς
NAS: gold from your futile way of life
KJV: your vain conversation
INT: from the futile of you manner of life

Strong's Greek 3152
6 Occurrences

ματαία — 1 Occ.
ματαίας — 1 Occ.
ματαίων — 1 Occ.
μάταιοι — 2 Occ.
μάταιος — 1 Occ.