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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1"/><title>Strong's Greek: 3152. μάταιος (mataios) -- Vain, futile, worthless, empty</title></title><link rel="canonical" href="http://biblehub.com/greek/3152.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/strongsnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/interlinear/vmenus/luke/19-42.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmstrongs/greek/3152.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's</a> > <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Greek</a> > 3152</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../greek/3151.htm" title="3151">◄</a> 3152. mataios <a href="../greek/3153.htm" title="3153">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Strong's Lexicon</div><div align="left"><span class="toptitle2">mataios: Vain, futile, worthless, empty</span></div><p><span class="tophdg">Original Word: </span><span class="greek">μάταιος</span><br><span class="tophdg">Part of Speech: </span>Adjective<br><span class="tophdg">Transliteration: </span>mataios<br><span class="tophdg">Pronunciation: </span>MAH-tah-yos<br><span class="tophdg">Phonetic Spelling: </span>(mat'-ah-yos)<br><span class="tophdg">Definition: </span>Vain, futile, worthless, empty<br><span class="tophdg">Meaning: </span>vain, unreal, ineffectual, unproductive; practically: godless.<p><span class="tophdg">Word Origin: </span>Derived from the Greek root "μάτην" (matēn), meaning "in vain" or "futile."<p><span class="tophdg">Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: </span>The Hebrew equivalent often associated with "μάταιος" is "הֶבֶל" (hebel), Strong's Hebrew #1892, which also means vanity or emptiness, as seen in Ecclesiastes.<p><span class="tophdg">Usage: </span>The Greek word "μάταιος" (mataios) is used in the New Testament to describe something that is devoid of truth, purpose, or value. It often conveys the idea of emptiness or futility, particularly in the context of human endeavors or beliefs that are not grounded in God’s truth. In a biblical sense, it highlights the contrast between the eternal significance of God's word and the transient, often deceptive nature of worldly pursuits.<p><span class="tophdg">Cultural and Historical Background: </span>In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of "vanity" or "futility" was often associated with the philosophical understanding of the transient nature of life and the ultimate meaninglessness of pursuits that are not aligned with divine or higher purposes. The biblical authors, writing within this cultural milieu, used "μάταιος" to critique idolatry, false teachings, and the empty rituals that characterized much of pagan worship. This term served as a reminder to early Christians to focus on the eternal truths of the Gospel rather than the fleeting and often deceptive allure of worldly wisdom and practices.<div class="vheading2">HELPS Word-studies</div><p class="discovery"><b>3152</b> <i>mátaios</i> (an adjective derived from <a href="/greek/3155.htm">3155</a> <i>/mátēn</i>, "without purpose or ground") – properly, <i>aimless</i> (vain), without purpose; (figuratively) without profit because without basis, i.e. fleeting (transitory), ineffectual ("groundless").</p><p class="discovery"><a href="/greek/3152.htm">3152</a> <i>/mátaios</i> ("aimless") emphasizes the "<i>absence of purpose</i> or failure to attain any true purpose" (Moulton and Milligan). <a href="/greek/3152.htm">3152</a> (<i>mátaios</i>) refers to what is "vain, unreal, ineffectual, unproductive" (Souter).</p><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/discovery.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">NAS Exhaustive Concordance</div><span class="hdg">Word Origin</span><br>from the same as <a href="/greek/3155.htm">matén</a><br><span class="hdg">Definition</span><br>vain, useless<br><span class="hdg">NASB Translation</span><br>futile (1), useless (1), vain things (1), worthless (3).<p><div align="center"><span class="smalltext"><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/nasec.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe></span></div><div class="vheading2">Thayer's Greek Lexicon</div><span class="maintitle">STRONGS NT 3152: μάταιος</span><br><br><span class="arttitle"><span class="grktitle">μάταιος</span></span>, <span class="greek2">μάταια</span> (<a href="/interlinear/1_corinthians/15-17.htm">1 Corinthians 15:17</a>; (<a href="/interlinear/1_peter/1-18.htm">1 Peter 1:18</a>)), <span class="greek2">μάταιον</span>, also <span class="greek2">μάταιος</span>, <span class="greek2">μάταιον</span> (<a href="/interlinear/james/1-26.htm">James 1:26</a>; <a href="/interlinear/titus/3-9.htm">Titus 3:9</a>) (cf. <span class="manuref">WH</span>s Appendix, p. 157; <span class="abbreviation">Winer</span>'s Grammar, § 11, 1) (from <span class="greek2">μάτην</span>), the <span class="manuref">Sept.</span> for <span class="hebrew">הֶבֶל</span>, <span class="hebrew">שָׁוְא</span>, <span class="hebrew">כָּזָב</span> (a lie), etc.; as in secular authors (Latin<span class="latin">canus</span>) <span class="accented">devoid of force, truth, success, result</span> (<span class="abbreviation">A. V.</span> uniformly <span class="accented">vain</span>): universally, <span class="greek2">ἡ</span> <span class="greek2">θρησκεία</span>, <a href="/interlinear/james/1-26.htm">James 1:26</a>; <span class="accented">useless, to no purpose,</span> <span class="greek2">ἡ</span> <span class="greek2">πίστις</span>, <a href="/interlinear/1_corinthians/15-17.htm">1 Corinthians 15:17</a>; foolish, <span class="greek2">διαλογισμοί</span>, <a href="/interlinear/1_corinthians/3-20.htm">1 Corinthians 3:20</a>; <span class="greek2">ζητήσεις</span>, <a href="/interlinear/titus/3-9.htm">Titus 3:9</a>; given to vain things and leading away from salvation, <span class="greek2">ἀναστροφή</span>, <a href="/interlinear/1_peter/1-18.htm">1 Peter 1:18</a>. <span class="greek2">τά</span> <span class="greek2">μάταια</span>, <span class="accented">vain things, vanities,</span> of heathen deities and their worship (<span class="hebrew">הֶבֶל</span>, <a href="/interlinear/jeremiah/2-5.htm">Jeremiah 2:5</a>; <a href="/interlinear/jeremiah/10-3.htm">Jeremiah 10:3</a>; <span class="hebrew">הַהֶבֶל</span> <span class="hebrew">אַחֲרֵי</span> <span class="hebrew">יָלַך</span>, <span class="greek2">πορεύεσθαι</span> <span class="greek2">ὀπίσω</span> <span class="greek2">τῶν</span> <span class="greek2">ματαίων</span>, <a href="/interlinear/2_kings/17-15.htm">2 Kings 17:15</a>; <span class="hebrew">הֲבָלִים</span>, <span class="greek2">μάταια</span>, <a href="/interlinear/jeremiah/8-19.htm">Jeremiah 8:19</a>; <span class="greek2">εἴδωλα</span>, <a href="/interlinear/deuteronomy/32-21.htm">Deuteronomy 32:21</a>; <a href="/interlinear/jeremiah/14-22.htm">Jeremiah 14:22</a>): <a href="/interlinear/acts/14-15.htm">Acts 14:15</a>. (Cf. <span class="abbreviation">Trench</span>, Synonyms, § xlix.)<FOOTNOTE:1> <br><br><iframe width="100%" height="85" scrolling=no src="/bsoft.htm" frameborder=0 cellpadding=0></iframe><div class="vheading2">Strong's Exhaustive Concordance</div>vain, vanity. <p>From the base of <a href="/greek/3155.htm">maten</a>; empty, i.e. (literally) profitless, or (specially), an idol -- vain, vanity. <p>see GREEK <a href="/greek/3155.htm">maten</a> <div class="vheading2">Forms and Transliterations</div>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<div class="vheading2">Links</div><a href="/interlinear/matthew/1-1.htm">Interlinear Greek</a> • <a href="/interlinear/genesis/1-1.htm">Interlinear Hebrew</a> • <a href="/strongs.htm">Strong's Numbers</a> • <a href="/englishmans_greek.htm">Englishman's Greek Concordance</a> • <a href="/englishmans_hebrew.htm">Englishman's Hebrew Concordance</a> • <a href="/texts/matthew/1-1.htm">Parallel Texts</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="vheading">Englishman's Concordance</div><b><a href="/text/acts/14-15.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Acts 14:15</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural">Adj-GMP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/acts/14.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">τούτων τῶν <b>ματαίων</b> ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/acts/14.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> from these <span class="itali">vain things</span> to a living<br><a href="/kjvs/acts/14.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> from these <span class="itali">vanities</span> unto the living<br><a href="/interlinear/acts/14-15.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> these <span class="itali">vanities</span> to turn to<p><b><a href="/text/1_corinthians/3-20.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">1 Corinthians 3:20</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural">Adj-NMP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/1_corinthians/3.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ὅτι εἰσὶν <b>μάταιοι</b> </span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/1_corinthians/3.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> of the wise, <span class="itali">THAT THEY ARE USELESS.</span><br><a href="/kjvs/1_corinthians/3.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> that they are <span class="itali">vain.</span><br><a href="/interlinear/1_corinthians/3-20.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> that they are <span class="itali">futile</span><p><b><a href="/text/1_corinthians/15-17.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">1 Corinthians 15:17</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular">Adj-NFS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/1_corinthians/15.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">οὐκ ἐγήγερται <b>ματαία</b> ἡ πίστις</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/1_corinthians/15.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> your faith <span class="itali">is worthless;</span> you are still<br><a href="/kjvs/1_corinthians/15.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> your faith <span class="itali">[is] vain;</span> ye are yet<br><a href="/interlinear/1_corinthians/15-17.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> not has been raised <span class="itali">vain</span> the faith<p><b><a href="/text/titus/3-9.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">Titus 3:9</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural">Adj-NMP</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/titus/3.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ <b>μάταιοι</b> </span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/titus/3.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> for they are unprofitable <span class="itali">and worthless.</span><br><a href="/kjvs/titus/3.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> unprofitable and <span class="itali">vain.</span><br><a href="/interlinear/titus/3-9.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> unprofitable and <span class="itali">worthless</span><p><b><a href="/text/james/1-26.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">James 1:26</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular">Adj-NMS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/james/1.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">αὐτοῦ τούτου <b>μάταιος</b> ἡ θρησκεία</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/james/1.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> this man's religion <span class="itali">is worthless.</span><br><a href="/kjvs/james/1.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> this man's religion <span class="itali">[is] vain.</span><br><a href="/interlinear/james/1-26.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> of himself of this one <span class="itali">worthless [is]</span> the religion<p><b><a href="/text/1_peter/1-18.htm" title="Biblos Lexicon">1 Peter 1:18</a> <a href="/abbrev.htm" title="Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular">Adj-GFS</a></b><br><a href="/interlinear/1_peter/1.htm" title="Greek">GRK:</a> <span class="greek3">ἐκ τῆς <b>ματαίας</b> ὑμῶν ἀναστροφῆς</span><br><a href="http://biblehub.com/nas/1_peter/1.htm" title="New American Standard Bible">NAS:</a> gold <span class="itali">from your futile</span> way of life<br><a href="/kjvs/1_peter/1.htm" title="King James Bible with Strong's">KJV:</a> your <span class="itali">vain</span> conversation<br><a href="/interlinear/1_peter/1-18.htm" title="Biblos Interlinear Bible">INT:</a> from the <span class="itali">futile</span> of you manner of life<p><b><a href="/greek/3152.htm">Strong's Greek 3152</a><br><a href="/greek/strongs_3152.htm">6 Occurrences</a></b><br><br><a href="/greek/mataia_3152.htm">ματαία — 1 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/mataias_3152.htm">ματαίας — 1 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/mataio_n_3152.htm">ματαίων — 1 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/mataioi_3152.htm">μάταιοι — 2 Occ.</a><br><a href="/greek/mataios_3152.htm">μάταιος — 1 Occ.</a><br><br></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script><br /><br /> </div> <div id="left"><a href="/greek/3151.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="3151"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="3151" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/greek/3153.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="3153"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="3153" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>