Strong's Lexicon battalogeó: To babble, to speak vainly, to use empty repetitions Original Word: βατταλογέω Word Origin: Derived from a presumed compound of the Aramaic "battah" (meaning "idle" or "vain") and the Greek "logos" (meaning "word" or "speech"). Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "battalogeó," the concept of vain or empty speech can be related to Hebrew terms such as "שָׁוְא" (shav', Strong's H7723), meaning "vain" or "worthless," often used in the context of false or insincere speech. Usage: The verb "battalogeó" is used in the New Testament to describe the act of speaking without purpose or using repetitive, meaningless words. It implies a lack of sincerity or depth in communication, particularly in the context of prayer or religious practice. The term suggests a focus on form rather than substance, where the speaker is more concerned with the quantity of words rather than their quality or heartfelt intention. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, eloquence and rhetoric were highly valued, and public speaking was an art form. However, the use of excessive or ornate language without meaningful content was often criticized. In Jewish and early Christian contexts, prayer was seen as a sincere communication with God, and the use of empty phrases was discouraged. Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount reflects this cultural backdrop, emphasizing the importance of genuine, heartfelt prayer over ritualistic or formulaic expressions. HELPS Word-studies 945 battologéō – properly, to blubber nonsensical repetitions; to chatter (be "long-winded"), using empty (vain) words (Souter). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom battos (stammerer) and logos Definition to stammer NASB Translation use meaningless repetition (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 945: βαττολογέωβαττολογέω (T WH βατταλογέω (with א B, see WH's Appendix, p. 152)), βαττολόγω: 1 aorist subjunctive βαττολογήσω; a. to stammer, and, since stammerers are accustomed to repeat the same sounds, b. to repeat the same things over and over, to use many and idle words, to babble, prate; so Matthew 6:7, where it is explained by ἐν τῇ πολυλογία, (Vulg.multumloqui; (A. V. to use vain repetitions)); cf. Tholuck at the passage Some suppose the word to be derived from Battus, a king of Cyrene, who is said to have stuttered (Herodotus 4, 155); others from Battus, an author of tedious and wordy poems; but comparing βατταρίζειν, which has the same meaning, and βάρβαρος (which see), it seems fax more probable that the word is onomatopoetic. (Simplicius, in Epictetus (ench. 30 at the end), p. 340, Schweigh edition.) From Battos (a proverbial stammerer) and logos; to stutter, i.e. (by implication) to prate tediously -- use vain repetitions. see GREEK logos |
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