890. achréstos
Berean Strong's Lexicon
achréstos: Useless, unprofitable

Original Word: ἀχρεῖστος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: achréstos
Pronunciation: ah-KHRAY-stos
Phonetic Spelling: (akh'-race-tos)
Definition: Useless, unprofitable
Meaning: unprofitable, useless, detrimental.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek prefix ἀ- (a-, "not") and χρηστός (chrēstos, "useful" or "good")

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with the concept of being useless or unprofitable is בְּלִיַּעַל (beliyya'al, Strong's Hebrew 1100), which is used to describe worthlessness or wickedness.

Usage: The term "achréstos" is used to describe something or someone that is not useful or beneficial. In the context of the New Testament, it often carries a moral or spiritual connotation, indicating a lack of value or purpose in the eyes of God.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of usefulness was highly valued, both in terms of material goods and personal virtues. A person or object deemed "achréstos" would be considered without purpose or value, often leading to social or economic exclusion. In a biblical context, this term underscores the importance of living a life that is fruitful and aligned with God's will.

HELPS Word-studies

890 áxrēstos (an adjective, derived from 1 /A "not" and 5532 /xreía, "usefulness") – properly, "not useful," i.e. failing to execute duty and therefore unprofitable (useless); unuseful, lacking utility (used only in Phm 11).

Phm 11: "Formerly he was useless (890 /áxrēstos) to you, but now he is indeed useful (2173 /eúxrēstos) to you and to me."

[Both terms come from the same root (5532 /xreía, "profitable").]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and chréstos
Definition
useless
NASB Translation
useless (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 890: ἄχρηστος

ἄχρηστος, ἄχρηστον (χρηστός, and this from χράομαι), useless, unprofitable: Philemon 1:11 (here opposed to εὔχρηστος). (In Greek writings from Homer (i. e. Batrach. 70; Theognis) down.) (Synonyms: cf. Tittmann ii. 11f; Trench, § c. 17; Ellicott on Philemon 1:11.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
unprofitable, useless

From a (as a negative particle) and chrestos; inefficient, i.e. (by implication) detrimental -- unprofitable.

see GREEK a

see GREEK chrestos

Forms and Transliterations
αχρηστον άχρηστον ἄχρηστον achreston achrēston áchreston áchrēston
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Philemon 1:11 Adj-AMS
GRK: ποτέ σοι ἄχρηστον νυνὶ δὲ
NAS: who formerly was useless to you, but now
KJV: was to thee unprofitable, but now
INT: once to you useless now moreover

Strong's Greek 890
1 Occurrence


ἄχρηστον — 1 Occ.

















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