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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they changed the true God for an idol, and adored and served the creature more than the creator, who is blessed for ever.
when their language swells with vanity, by applying to the sensual passions of the licentious, they allure those who were escap'd for a while, from such deceivers:
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 for doctrines the institutions of men."
in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men."
who were not, by their own choice, expos'd to this uncertain state, but by virtue of him, who subjected them thereto:
who were not, by their own choice, expos'd to this uncertain state, but by virtue of him, who subjected them thereto:
and again, "the Lord knows, that the thoughts of the wise are vain."
it is by the divine favour that I am what I am: and his favour to me was not in vain; no, I laboured more than they all: yet it was not I, it was the divine favour which assisted me.
and if Christ be not risen, then our preaching is empty talk, and your faith even meer amusement.
and if Christ be not risen, then our preaching is empty talk, and your faith even meer amusement.
and if Christ was not raised, your faith is meer illusion, your sins are not yet forgiven.
and if Christ was not raised, your faith is meer illusion, your sins are not yet forgiven.
therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye inflexibly steady, and continually surpass others in the work of the Lord, knowing that he will not leave your christian labour unrewarded.
This I say therefore, and conjure you by the Lord not to live for the future as other Gentiles do, in the vanity of their minds,
This I say therefore, and conjure you by the Lord not to live for the future as other Gentiles do, in the vanity of their minds, which are overspread with darkness, and averse to a religious life, thro' their innate ignorance and obduracy:
but avoid frivolous enquiries about genealogies, and vexatious disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
If a person of an ungovernable tongue pretends to religion, he abuses himself: for his religion is meer illusion.
Vain man, must I show you how lifeless a thing faith is, without its effects?
when their language swells with vanity, by applying to the sensual passions of the licentious, they allure those who were escap'd for a while, from such deceivers: whilst they promise others liberty, they themselves are slaves to their corrupt passions. for he that is vanquished, is a slave to the conqueror.