Reference: Vanity
American
Does not usually denote, in Scripture, self-conceit or personal pride, 2Pe 2:18, but sometimes emptiness and fruitlessness, Job 7:3; Ps 144:4; Ec 1. It often denotes wickedness, particularly falsehood, De 32:21; Ps 4:2; 24:4; 119:37, and sometimes idols and idol-worship, 2Ki 17:15; Jer 2:5; 18:15; Jon 2:8. Compare Paul's expression, "they turned the truth of God into a lie," Ro 1:25. "In vain," in the second commandment, Ex 20:7, is unnecessarily and irreverently. "Vain men," 2Sa 6:20; 2Ch 13:7, are dissolute and worthless fellows.
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who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for evermore: amen.
For speaking swelling words of vanity, in the lusts of the flesh they beguile with their impurities, those that have but partially escaped, who are still moving about in their delusion;
Hastings
The root-idea of the word is 'emptiness.' Skeat suggests that the Lat. vanus (perhaps for vac-nus) is allied to vacuus 'empty.' In English literature 'vanity' signifies (1) emptiness, (2) falsity, (3) vainglory. The modern tendency is to confine its use to the last meaning. But 'vanity' in the sense of 'empty conceit' is not found in the English Bible.
1. In the OT.
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But in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
For the creature has been subordinated to mortality, not willingly, but through Him who subordinated it;
For the creature has been subordinated to mortality, not willingly, but through Him who subordinated it;
And again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace was not vain toward me; but I have labored more abundantly than they all: and not I, but the grace of God with me.
but if Christ is not risen, then indeed is our preaching vain, and your faith is vain.
but if Christ is not risen, then indeed is our preaching vain, and your faith is vain.
But if Christ is not risen, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins.
But if Christ is not risen, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins.
So, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Therefore I say this, and witness in the Lord, that you no longer walk about as the Gentiles also walk about in the vanity of their mind,
Therefore I say this, and witness in the Lord, that you no longer walk about as the Gentiles also walk about in the vanity of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God through the ignorance being in themselves, on account of the blindness of their heart;
but reject foolish questions, and genealogies, and strife, and controversies about law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
But if any one seems to be religious, bridling not his own tongue, but deceiving his own heart, the religion of that man is vain.
Do you wish to know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is inefficient?
For speaking swelling words of vanity, in the lusts of the flesh they beguile with their impurities, those that have but partially escaped, who are still moving about in their delusion; promising them liberty, they themselves being the slaves of corruption: for to whatsoever any one has been subordinated, to this he has become enslaved.