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 perverted the truth of God by falsehood, and worshipped and paid divine honours to the thing created instead of the Creator, who is blessed for evermore. Amen.
Uttering pompous discourses of inanity, ensnaring by the lusts of the flesh, by lascivious impurities, those who had truly escaped from such as live in a course of 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 do they worship me, teaching doctrines the commandments of men.
Now vainly do they worship me, while teaching doctrines the commandments of men."
For the creation was made subject to vanity, not voluntarily, but by him who made it subject,
For the creation was made subject to vanity, not voluntarily, but by him who made it subject,
And again, "The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise, that they are futile."
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was given to me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
and if Christ be not risen, vain indeed is our preaching, and vain also your faith.
and if Christ be not risen, vain indeed is our preaching, and vain also your faith.
and if Christ be not risen, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
and if Christ be not risen, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
This then I urge and testify in the Lord, that ye walk no more as the other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind,
This then I urge and testify in the Lord, that ye walk no more as the other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, darkened in understanding; alienated from the life of God through the ignorance which is in them; through the blindness of their hearts:
But foolish disquisitions, and genealogies, and disputes, and contentions about the law avoid; for they are unprofitable and vain.
If any man thinks he is a religious character among you, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Uttering pompous discourses of inanity, ensnaring by the lusts of the flesh, by lascivious impurities, those who had truly escaped from such as live in a course of delusion. Preaching liberty to them, while they themselves are the slaves of corruption: for by whatever a man is overcome, by that also he is enslaved.