3155. matén
Lexicon
matén: In vain, to no purpose, without success

Original Word: μάτην
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: matén
Pronunciation: mah-TAYN
Phonetic Spelling: (mat'-ane)
Definition: In vain, to no purpose, without success
Meaning: in vain, in an unreal way, to no purpose.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
in vain.

Accusative case of a derivative of the base of massaomai (through the idea of tentative manipulation, i.e. Unsuccessful search, or else of punishment); folly, i.e. (adverbially) to no purpose -- in vain.

see GREEK massaomai

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 3155 mátēn (an adverb) – properly, "aimlessly"; pointless, without ground or any real purpose (fruitfulness). See 3152 (mataios).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
adverb from acc. of maté (a folly)
Definition
in vain, to no purpose
NASB Translation
vain (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3155: μάτην

μάτην (accusative (cf. Winers Grammar, 230 (216); Buttmann, § 131, 12) of μάτη, equivalent to ματία, a futile attempt, folly, fault), adverb, from Pindar, Aeschylus down, in vain, fruitlessly: Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7, after Isaiah 29:13 the Sept..

Topical Lexicon
Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root word μάταιος (mataios), meaning "vain" or "empty."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of "in vain" or "futility" in the Hebrew Bible is often expressed by words such as שָׁוְא (shav', Strong's Hebrew 7723), which conveys a similar sense of emptiness or vanity. Another related term is הֶבֶל (hebel, Strong's Hebrew 1892), which is frequently used in Ecclesiastes to describe the fleeting and meaningless nature of life without God. These Hebrew terms parallel the Greek μάτην in their emphasis on the futility of actions or beliefs that lack divine purpose or truth.

Usage: The term μάτην appears in the New Testament to describe actions or efforts that are futile or without meaningful outcome. It emphasizes the lack of effectiveness or purpose in the context it is used.

Context: The Greek adverb μάτην is employed in the New Testament to underscore the futility or ineffectiveness of certain actions or beliefs. It is often used in contexts where human efforts or intentions are contrasted with divine purpose or truth. The term highlights the emptiness or vanity of actions that do not align with God's will or that are based on human wisdom rather than divine revelation.

In the Berean Standard Bible, μάτην is used in passages such as Matthew 15:9, where Jesus quotes Isaiah, saying, "They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men." Here, μάτην underscores the futility of worship that is based on human traditions rather than God's commandments. Similarly, in Romans 13:4, the term is used to describe the futility of resisting authority, as it is established by God for a purpose.

The use of μάτην serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning one's actions and beliefs with divine truth, as efforts contrary to God's will are ultimately unproductive and empty.

Forms and Transliterations
ματην μάτην maten matēn máten mátēn
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 15:9 Adv
GRK: μάτην δὲ σέβονταί
NAS: BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP
KJV: But in vain they do worship me,
INT: in vain moreover they worship

Mark 7:7 Adv
GRK: μάτην δὲ σέβονταί
NAS: BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP
KJV: Howbeit in vain do they worship me,
INT: in vain moreover they worship

Strong's Greek 3155
2 Occurrences


μάτην — 2 Occ.















3154
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