◄ 3155. matén ►
Strong's Lexicon matén: In vain, to no purpose, without success Original Word: μάτην Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: matén Pronunciation: mah-TAYN Phonetic Spelling: (mat'-ane) Definition: in vain, in an unreal way, to no purpose. Meaning: The adverb μάτην is used to convey the sense of "in vain," "to no purpose," or "without result." Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root word μάταιος (mataios), meaning "vain" or "empty." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of "in vain" or "futility" in the Hebrew Bible is often expressed by words such as שָׁוְא (shav', Strong's Hebrew 7723), which conveys a similar sense of emptiness or vanity. Another related term is הֶבֶל (hebel, Strong's Hebrew 1892), which is frequently used in Ecclesiastes to describe the fleeting and meaningless nature of life without God. These Hebrew terms parallel the Greek μάτην in their emphasis on the futility of actions or beliefs that lack divine purpose or truth. Usage: The term μάτην appears in the New Testament to describe actions or efforts that are futile or without meaningful outcome. It emphasizes the lack of effectiveness or purpose in the context it is used. Context: The Greek adverb μάτην is employed in the New Testament to underscore the futility or ineffectiveness of certain actions or beliefs. It is often used in contexts where human efforts or intentions are contrasted with divine purpose or truth. The term highlights the emptiness or vanity of actions that do not align with God's will or that are based on human wisdom rather than divine revelation. In the Berean Standard Bible, μάτην is used in passages such as Matthew 15:9, where Jesus quotes Isaiah, saying, "They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men." Here, μάτην underscores the futility of worship that is based on human traditions rather than God's commandments. Similarly, in Romans 13:4, the term is used to describe the futility of resisting authority, as it is established by God for a purpose. The use of μάτην serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning one's actions and beliefs with divine truth, as efforts contrary to God's will are ultimately unproductive and empty. HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 3155 mátēn (an adverb) – properly, "aimlessly"; pointless, without ground or any real purpose (fruitfulness). See 3152 (mataios). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin adverb from acc. of maté (a folly) Definition in vain, to no purpose NASB Translation vain (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3155: μάτην μάτην (accusative (cf. Winers Grammar, 230 (216); Buttmann, § 131, 12) of μάτη, equivalent to ματία, a futile attempt, folly, fault), adverb, from Pindar, Aeschylus down, in vain, fruitlessly: Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7, after Isaiah 29:13 the Sept.. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance in vain. Accusative case of a derivative of the base of massaomai (through the idea of tentative manipulation, i.e. Unsuccessful search, or else of punishment); folly, i.e. (adverbially) to no purpose -- in vain. see GREEK massaomai Forms and Transliterations ματην μάτην maten matēn máten mátēn Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance Matthew 15:9 Adv GRK: μάτην δὲ σέβονταί NAS: BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP KJV: But in vain they do worship me, INT: in vain moreover they worship Mark 7:7 Adv GRK: μάτην δὲ σέβονταί NAS: BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP KJV: Howbeit in vain do they worship me, INT: in vain moreover they worship Strong's Greek 3155 2 Occurrences μάτην — 2 Occ.