Word Study · Strong's G3152 · Greek

μάταιος

mataios

mat'-ah-yos

Strong's 1890 spelling: mátaios

“empty, i.e. (literally) profitless, or (specially), an idol”

Strong's Dictionary · 1890 · public domain

empty, i.e. (literally) profitless, or (specially), an idol

Rendered in the KJV as

vain, vanity.

6
occurrencesin the New Testament
5 of 27
New Testament bookswhere the word stands
6
inflected formsdistinct spellings

Across 6 occurrences

The word itself

Inflected forms · 6

ματαία1
ματαίας1
μάταιοι.1
μάταιοι.¶1
μάταιος1
ματαίων1

How it is rendered · 6

[is] futile1
futile1
futile.1
vanities1
worthless [is]1
worthless.1

The sense the word carries at each spot — how the translators read it there, not a fixed translation.

How it parses · 5

adjective · nominative (subject) · feminine singular2
adjective · genitive (“of”) · neuter plural1
adjective · genitive (“of”) · feminine singular1
adjective · nominative (subject) · feminine plural1
adjective · nominative (subject) · masculine plural1

Show the grammar codes as tagged

A-NSF · 2
A-GPN · 1
A-GSF · 1
A-NPF · 1
A-NPM · 1

All 6, in canonical order

The ledger of occurrences

Where this word lives

1 Corinthians2 of 6 · 33%
Acts1 of 6 · 17%
Titus1 of 6 · 17%
James1 of 6 · 17%
1 Peter1 of 6 · 17%

1 Corinthians carries the most and opens below; every other book is one click.

Acts1 occurrence

Acts 14:15ματαίωνmataiōnadjective · genitive (“of”) · neuter plural“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.here: vanities

1 Corinthians2 occurrences

Titus1 occurrence

Titus 3:9μάταιοι.mataioiadjective · nominative (subject) · feminine pluralBut avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law, because these things are pointless and worthless.here: worthless.

James1 occurrence

James 1:26μάταιοςmataiosadjective · nominative (subject) · feminine singularIf anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.here: worthless [is]

1 Peter1 occurrence

1 Peter 1:18ματαίαςmataiasadjective · genitive (“of”) · feminine singularFor you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,here: futile

Read Acts 14:15 in context →