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Greek

In vain

μάτηνStrong’s G3155

matēn

Appears in 2 verses of the New Testament

In short

Matēn is the Greek word usually translated “vain”. It appears in 2 verses of the New Testament.

“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Matthew 15:9 KJV
Meaning

Usually translated “vain”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated
  • in vain 2

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most
  • Matthew 1
  • Mark 1

2 books in all.

Related words
Explore in Scripture
Greek dictionary

μάτην matēn · in vain

μάτην (prop. accusative of μάτη, a fault, folly), adv., [in LXX for הָבַל, שָׁוְא, etc. ;] in vain, to no purpose: Mat.15:9, Mrk.7:7" (LXX) .† (AS)

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “vain” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

VAIN, adjective

[Latin vanus; Eng. wan, wane, want.]

  1. Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance. 1 Peter 1:18“Every man walketh in a vain show” Psalms 39:6“Why do the people imagine a vain thing?” Psalms 2:1
  2. Fruitless; ineffectual.
  3. Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; elated with a high opinion of one's own accomplishments, or with things more showy than valuable; conceited.
  4. Empty; unreal; as a vain chimers.
All definitions
  1. Showy; ostentatious.
  2. Light; inconstant; worthless. Proverbs 12:11
  3. Empty; unsatisfying.
  4. False; deceitful; not genuine; spurious. James 1:26
  5. Not effectual; having no efficacy“Bring no more vain oblations” Isaiah 1:13“In vain they do worship me” Matthew 15:9

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.

Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.