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

Word Origin: From the Greek prefix ἀ- (a-, "not") and χρήσιμος (chreismos, "useful" or "profitable").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἀχρεῖστος, similar concepts can be found in Hebrew words that convey worthlessness or lack of profit, such as:

• Strong's Hebrew 7385 (רֵיק, req): Meaning "empty" or "vain," often used to describe actions or things that are without substance or value.
• Strong's Hebrew 8414 (תֹּהוּ, tohu): Meaning "formless" or "void," used to describe chaos or emptiness, particularly in a moral or existential sense.

These Hebrew terms, like ἀχρεῖστος, highlight the futility of actions or states that do not align with God's purposes or standards.

Usage: The term ἀχρεῖστος is used in the New Testament to describe something or someone that is without value or utility, often in a moral or spiritual sense.

Context: The Greek word ἀχρεῖστος appears in the New Testament to convey the idea of being without use or profit, particularly in a spiritual or moral context. This term is used to describe individuals or actions that fail to meet the standards of usefulness or righteousness expected by God.

In the Berean Standard Bible, ἀχρεῖστος is found in the parable of the unworthy servant in Luke 17:10: "So you also, when you have done everything commanded you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’" Here, the term underscores the humility and recognition of one's position before God, acknowledging that even when fulfilling all commands, one remains an "unworthy" or "unprofitable" servant, emphasizing the grace and mercy of God rather than human merit.

The concept of being ἀχρεῖστος is a reminder of the inherent limitations of human efforts in achieving righteousness apart from divine grace. It serves as a call to humility and reliance on God's provision and strength, rather than on one's own abilities or accomplishments.

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").]

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

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

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts