Worthlessness and Vanity

II. אַל adv. of negation (so Ph. e.g. CIS i.3,4.5.8, Bi Aramaic, Sab. (DHMZMG 1875, 596), and in the Eth. አልቦ albo, is not), denying however, not objectively as a fact (like לֹא, οὐ), but subjectively as a wish (like μή), expressing therefore a deprecation or prohibition: a. (a) with a verb, which is then always an impf. (never an imperative), by preference in the cohort. or jussive mood, where this is in use, and may be of any person or number; Gn 15:1 and often אַל־תִּירָא fear not! 22:12 אַל־תִּשְׁלַח יָֽדְךָ put not forth thy hand, 37:27 וְיָדֵנוּ אַל־תְּהִי־בוֹ and let not our hand be upon him, 21:16 אַל־אֶרְאֶה let me not look upon the death of the lad! ψ 25:2 אַל־אֵבוֹשָׁה let me not be ashamed; with 1 pl. (rare) 2 S 13:25 Je 18:18 Jon 1:14. In an imprecation: Gn 49:4 אַל־תּוֹתַר have not thou the excellency! ψ 109:12 Jb 3:4, 6. Sometimes strengthened by נָא: Gn 13:8 18:3 al. (b) without a verb, (α) 2 S 1:21 let (there be) not dew & not rain upon you! Is 62:6 ψ 83:2. (β) used absol., in deprecation Gn 19:18 2 S 13:16 (v. sub אוֹדָה) 2 K 3:13; 4:16; 6:27 (v. RVm: but possibly to be expl. by Dr§ 152 iii; so Th Ke: hardly as Ew§ 355b) Ru 1:13 אַל בְּנֹתַי Nay, my daughters, cf. Ju 19:23; (γ) after a preceding imper. Am 5:14 Jo 2:13 Pr 8:10, a juss. 27:2, an inf. abs. 17:12. (c) in poetry אַל sometimes expresses vividly the emotion or sympathy of the poet (v. Dr§ 56–8); Is 2:9 וְאַל־תִּשָּׂא לָהֶם and forgive them not! (with a touch of passion), ψ 41:3 Pr 3:25 Jb 5:22; ψ 34:6 (but 𝔊 𝔖 Ew Che here rd. וּפְנֵיכֶם, prob. rightly); 50:3a may our God come וְאַל־יֶ֫חֱרָ֥שׁ and not be silent! (the psalmist identifying himself with a spectator of the scene v 2, 3b–c) 121:3 (contrast v 4 לֹא) Je 46:6 +., b. once Pr 12:28 joined closely to a subst. (cf. לֹא 2b): In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof אַל־מָוֶת there is no-death!; but error for אֶל־ ‘unto’ Capp 𝔊 𝔙 𝔗 𝔅. c. once Jb 24:25 used poet. as a subst., And bring my words לְאַל to nought!—N.B. 1 S 27:10 אַל־פְּשַׁטְתֶּם הַיּוֹם, אַל with the pf. is against all analogy; and either אֶל־מִי (with 𝔊 𝔙), or better אָן whither? (with 𝔖 𝔗: v. 1 S 10:14) must be read.

לָא (לָה †Dn 4:32) adv. not (BH לא; Aramaic of Têma, Egyptian, etc., לא; Nerab ל (Lzb 301 CookGl. 67); 𝔗 לָא; Syriac ܠܴܐ );—not Je 10:11; Dn 2:5, 9, 10, etc.; before a ptcp. (so rarely in BH, 1 b c), 2:27, 43; 3:16; 4:4, 6, 15 +, so v 32 וְכָל־דָּאְרֵי אַרְעָא כְּלָה חֲשִׁיבִין are as men not accounted of (so Bev Behrm Marti, cf. Is 53:3 𝔗 בסירין ולא חשׁיבין; > most ‘accounted as nothing,’ for which no analogy, yet cf. ψ 39:6 𝔗); sq. אִיתַי, v. אִיתַי. With inf. and לְ Dn 6:9 דִּי לָא לִהַשְׁנָיָה which it is not to alter = which is not to be altered (cf. v 16), Ezr 6:8 (K§ 67, 1 Dr§ 202, 2; cf. Is 35:6 𝔗, DAramaic Dialektproben, p. 1). With interr. הֲלָא †Dn 3:24; 4:27; 6:13.

אָ֫וֶן85 n.m. Jb 5:6 trouble, sorrow, wickedness—abs. Nu 23:21 +; sf. אוֹנִי Gn 35:18 etc.; pl. אוֹנִים Ho 9:4— 1. trouble, sorrow בֶּן־אוֹנִי son of my trouble or sorrow Gn 35:18 (E); לֹא הִבִּיט אָוֶן בְּיַעֲקֹב Nu 23:21 (song of Balaam), he doth not behold trouble in Jacob (‖ he doth not see mischief— עָמָל—in Isr.); often ‖ עָמָל, ψ 7:15 (הִנֵּה יְחַבֶּל־אָוֶן lo he travaileth with trouble ‖ וְהָרָה עָמָל וְיָלַד שָׁ֑קֶר, yea he hath conceived misery & brought forth a lie), prob. thence Jb 15:35 (הָרֹה עָמָל וְיָלֹד אָוֶן) = Is 59:4; cf. עָמָל וָאָוֶן ψ 10:7; 55:11; 90:10; Jb 4:8; 5:6 Is 10:1 (v. עָמָל); also זוֹרֵעַ עַוְלָה יִקְצָר־אָוֶן Pr 22:8 the sower of iniquity shall reap trouble; in this sense elsewhere only Dt 26:14 Pr 12:21 Je 4:15 Hb 3:7 Am 5:5, pl. intens. לֶחֶם אוֹנִים bread of trouble, sorrow, or mourning Ho 9:4. 2. idolatry Ho 12:12; אָוֶן וּתְרָפִים הַפְצַ֑ר stubbornness is idolatry & (the use of) teraphim 1 S 15:23 (poet. source); בֵּית אָוֶן Ho 4:15 (for בֵּית אֵל because Bethel, house of God, is given over to idolatry) so also 5:8; 10:5 cf. בָּמוֹת א׳ Ho 10:8; בִּקְעַת א׳ Am 1:5 (Baalbek); בַּחוּרֵי א׳ read אוֹן, אֹן = On, Heliopolis Ez 30:17;—abstr. for concr. = idols Is 41:29; 66:3. 3. trouble of iniquity, wickedness, מְתֵי אָוֶן Jb 22:15; אַנְשֵׁי א׳ 34:36 = men of trouble, troublers, wicked men; cf. אִישׁ" dir="rtl" >אִישׁ א׳ Pr 6:12; Is 55:7; פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן workers of trouble, evil-doers, workers of iniquity Jb 31:3; 34:8, 22 ψ 5:6 + (16 times chiefly late ψ) Pr 10:29; 21:15 Is 31:2 Ho 6:8; מַחְשְׁבוֹת אָוֶן thoughts of trouble, wicked imaginations Pr 6:18 Is 59:7 Je 4:14; often of words & thoughts Jb 11:11 + (5 times) ψ 36:5 + (9 times) Pr 17:4; 19:28; 30:20 Is 29:20; 32:6; 58:9; 59:6 Ez 11:2 Mi 2:1 Hb 1:3 Zc 10:2; לֹא אוּכַל אָוֶן וַעֲצָרָה Is 1:13 I cannot bear iniquity with the solemn meeting (RV & most mod.; AV it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting).

I. הֶ֫בֶל73 n.m. vapour, breath (NH id., Syriac ܗܰܒܳܠܴܐ id.) fig. vanity (so NH, Syriac ܗܶܒܠܴܐ )—הָ֑בֶל Ec 1:2 +; cstr. הֲבֵל †Ec 1:2(×2); 12:8, sf. הֶבְלִי etc. Ec 6:12; 7:15; 9:9(×2); pl. הֲבָלִים Je 10:8 +; cstr. הַבְלֵי Je 8:19 +, sf. הַבְלֵיהֶם Dt 32:21 +;— 1. lit. Is 57:13 all of them (the idols) יִשָּׂא־רוּחַ יִקַּח הָ֑בֶל a breath (𝔙 aura) will carry away, Pr 21:6, the getting of treasures by a lying tongue is הֶבֶל נִדָּף, a vapour driven away. Elsewhere always 2. fig. of what is evanescent, unsubstantial, worthless, vanity, as of idols Je 10:15 = 51:18; 16:19 הֶבֶל וְאֵין בָּם מוֹעִיל (‖ שֶׁקֶר), heathen observances 10:3, and in phr. הָלַךְ אַחֲרֵי הַהֶבֶל 2:5 2 K 17:15; Pr 13:11 הוֹן מֵהֶבֶל wealth (gotten) out of vanity (i.e. not by solid toil, opp. קֹבֵץ עַל יָד) is minished (but 𝔊 𝔙 Ew מְבֹהָל, v. 20:21 Qr), 31:30 שֶׁקֶר הַחֵן וְהֶבֶל הַיֹּ֑פִי, La 4:17 אֶל עֶזְרָתֵנוּ הֶבֶל to our vain (Dr§ 193 n.) help; of life Jb 7:16 כִּי הֶבֶל יָמָֽי׃, ψ 78:33 וַיְכַל בַּהֶבֶל יְמֵיהֶם consumed their days as (בְּ I7d) vanity, man ψ 39:6, 12; 62:10 הֶבֶל בְּנֵי אָדָם … הֵמָּה מֵהֶבֶל יָחַֽד׃ they are altogether (made) of vanity, 94:11: 144:4, especially in Ec (31 times + הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים 1:2(×2); 12:8) of the fruitlessness of all human enterprise and endeavour, 1:2 הַכֹּל הֶבֶל, v 14 הַכֹּל הֶבֶל וּרְעוּת רוּחַ all was vanity and the pursuit of wind, 2:1, 14, 15 etc., 6:4 (of an abortion) בַּהֶבֶל בָּא i.e. into a lifeless existence, v 11 יֵשׁ דְּבָרִים הַרְבֵּה מַרְבִּים הָ֑בֶל (of discussions leading to no result), note also the phrases יְמֵי (הֶבְלוֹ, הֶבְלְךָ) הֶבְלִי 7:15; 9:9, יְמֵי חַיֵּי ה׳ 6:12; 9:9; Jb 27:12 (v. הָבַל), Is 49:4 לְתֹהוּ וָהֶבֶל for nought and vanity have I spent my strength; as adv. accus. vainly, to no purpose Is 30:7 הֶבֶל וָרִיק יַעְזֹ֑רוּ, ψ 39:7 אַךְ הֶבֶל יֶהֱמָיוּן they disquiet themselves to no purpose, Jb 9:29 הֶבֶל אִיגָֽע 35:16, with נִחַם to comfort 21:34 Zc 10:2. Pl. †הֲבָלִים of false gods, Dt 32:21 כִּעֲסוּנִי בְהַבְלֵיהֶם (‖ בְּלֹא־אֵל) 1 K 16:13, 26 Je 8:19 הַבְלֵי נֵכָר (‖ בִּפְסִילֵיהֶם), 10:8; 14:22 הַבְלֵי הַגּוֹיִם, ψ 31:7 הַשֹּׁמְרִים הַבְלֵי־שָׁוְא empty vanities Jon 2:9; in more general sense Ec 1:2(×2); 12:8 הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים, 5:6.

† שָׁוְא n.[m.] emptiness, vanity;—שׁ׳ abs. Ex 23:1 + 51 times, שָׁו Jb 15:31 (Kt);— 1. emptiness, nothingness, vanity: שׁ׳ תְּשׁוּעַת אָדָם ψ 60:13 vain (is) man’s deliverance, = 108:13; שׁ׳ לָכֶם 127:2 it is vain (useless) for you; 89:48 for (עַל) what nothingness hast thou created man? cf. שׁ׳ יַרְחֵי Jb 7:3; הַבְלֵי שׁ׳ ψ 31:7 (idols) = Jon 2:9, cf. Je 18:15; מִנְחַת שׁ׳ Is 1:13 of ineffective offering to י׳; נשׂא לַשּׁ׳ (לֹא) Ex 20:7(×2) take up name of God in vain (to no good purpose) = Dt 5:11(×2), cf. ψ 24:4; 139:20 [MT lifted up in vain are thy foes; היה שׁ׳ Ho 12:12 become nothing (We עשׂה שׁ׳, and so 3); ראה שׁ׳ ψ 119:37; adv. לַשּׁ׳ in vain Je 2:30; 4:30; 6:29; 46:11; שׁ׳ ψ 127:1(×2); Mal 3:14; Jb 35:13. 2. emptiness of speech, שׁ׳ וּדְבַר כָּזָב Pr 30:8; דבּר שׁ׳ ψ 12:3; 41:7; 144:8, 11; Is 59:4; Ez 13:8; אָלוֹת שׁ׳ Ho 10:4 + 12:2 𝔊 We al. (for שֹׁד); הָלַךְ עִם־שׁ׳ Jb 31:5 (‖ מִרְמָה); עֵד שׁ׳ Dt 5:17 = עֵד שָֽׁקֶר Ex 20:16); cf. שֵׁמַע שׁ׳ Ex 23:1 (E); of false (empty) prophecy חֲזוֹן שׁ׳ Ez 12:24, חָזוּ שׁ׳ La 2:14; v. also Ez 13:6, 7, 9, 23; 21:34; 22:28; Jb 35:13 (or empty complaint) La 2:14(×2); קסם שׁ׳ Ez 21:28; חֲלמוֹת הַשּׁ׳ Zc 10:2. 3. of conduct, worthlessness (Buhl sub 1, 2); מְתֵי שׁ׳ worthless men ψ 26:4; Jb 11:11; worthless motives (in fig.) חֵבְלֵי הַשּׁ׳ Is 5:18; נָפַת שׁ׳ 30:28 (i.e. sifting out the worthless; al. sieve of (bringing) disappointment); play on meanings in Jb 15:31(×2), cf. DrJob, Psalt. 464.

חִנָּם subst., used chiefly in the accus. as adv. (cf. Assyrian annáma, in vain, DlK 7, Pr 44; from חֵן, with aff. ָם, which is sometimes found in substantives proper, as סֻלָּם, and pr. names, but is more partic. used with substs. applied adverbially, as יוֹמָם, אָמְנָם, דּוּמָם, רֵיקָם: Sta§ 293 BaNB § 216)—lit. out of favour; i.e. a. gratis, gratuitously, for nothing, עָבַד חִנָּם to serve for nought Gn 29:15; Jb 1:9, Is 52:3 to be sold (fig.) for nought v 5; Ex 21:2, 11 יָצָא חִנָּם to go out (from slavery) freely, for nothing, Nu 11:5 which we used to eat in Egyptian for nought, Je 22:13; 1 Ch 21:24; in the genitive 2 S 24:24 עלוֹת חִנָּם i.e. burntofferings which cost nothing (in the ‖ 1 Ch 21:24 the constr. is changed). b. for no purpose, in vain Pr 1:17; Mal 1:10: once אֶל חִנָּם (cf. אֶל 7) Ez 6:10. c. gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly, especially of groundless hostility or attack 1 S 19:5 לְהָמִית חִנָּם to slay David without cause, 25:31 ψ 35:7(×2); 109:3; 119:161 רְדָפוּנִי חִנָּם, Pr 1:11; 3:30; 23:29; Jb 2:3 לְבַלְּעוֹ ח׳, 9:17; 22:6; Ez 14:23, ψ 35:19 and 69:5 שׂנְאַי חִנָּם my haters without cause, La 3:52 אֹיְבַי חִנָּם; in the genitive 1 K 2:31 דְּמֵי חִנָּם blood shed without cause (cf. 1 S 25:31), Pr 24:28 אַל־תְּהִי עֵד ח׳ בְּרֵעֶ֑ךָ, 26:2 קִלְלַת ח׳ the causeless curse.

† בְּלִיַּ֫עַל27 n.[m.] worthlessness (cpd. בְּלִי not, without and יַעַל worth, use, profit)—בּ׳ Dt 13:14 + 20 times; בְּלִיָּ֑עַל ψ 101:3 + 5 times;—the quality of being useless, good for nothing. 1. abstr. אִישׁ (ה)בליעל, אַנְשֵׁי הבליעל, worthless, good-for-nothing, base fellows 1 S 25:25; 2 S 16:7; 20:1; 1 K 21:13; Pr 16:27; = בֶּן־ב׳ 1 S 25:17, בְּנֵי ב׳ Dt 13:14; Ju 19:22; 20:13; 1 S 2:12; 10:27; 1 K 21:10, 13; 2 Ch 13:7; בַּת ב׳ 1 S 1:16 (drunken woman); עֵד ב׳ base witness Pr 19:28; דְּבַר ב׳ base, wicked thing ψ 41:9 (yet cf. 3 infr.), 101:3 (add prob. also 1 S 29:10, so 𝔊 We Dr); דָּבָר … ב׳ (elliptical and in apposition) Dt 15:9. 2. concr. elliptical of אישׁ ב׳ 2 S 23:6 Jb 34:18; כָּל־אִישׁ רַע וּבְלִיַּעַל 1 S 30:22; אָדָם בְּלִיַּעַל Pr 6:12. 3. ruin, destruction: so ψ 41:9 according to De Che al., but v. supr.; יֹעֵץ ב׳ counsellor of ruin Na 1:11; ב׳ alone a man of ruin, destroyer Na 2:1; נַחֲלֵי ב׳ floods of destruction (‖ שְׁאוֹל) 2 S 22:5 = ψ 18:5.

† אֱלִיל n.m. (etym. uncertain: most prob. akin to Syriac ܐܰܠܻܝܠ weak, feeble, poor; perhaps also in usage [cf. b.] felt to suggest אַל not; cf. Che on Is 2:8) insufficiency, worthlessness. a. Zc 11:17 רֹעִי הָאֱלִיל the shepherd of worthlessness = the worthless shepherd, Jb 13:4 רֹפְאֵי אֱלִל worthless physicians (‖ טֹפְלֵי־שֶׁקֶר), Je 14:14 Qr concr. a thing of nought (uttered by prophets), but here קֶסֶם אֱלִיל a worthless divin. (‖ חֲזוֹן שֶׁקֶר, תַּרְמִית לִבָּם) should perhaps be read (cf. Gf). b. especially pl. אֱלִילִים concr. worthless gods, idols (cf. הֲבָלִים) (possibly orig. an indep. word = gods, cf. Sab. אלאלת, & v. NöSBAk 1882, p. 1191, but even if so, associated by the prophets with idea of worthlessness, & used by them in iron. contrast with אֵלִים, אֱלֹהִים) Lv 19:4 (not to be made) 26:1 (both H), Is 2:8, 18, 20(×2) (of silver & gold), 10:10 מַמְלְכֹת הָאֱלִיל (coll.) kingdoms of idolatrous worthlessness, v 11; 19:1, 3 (of Egypt) 31:7(×2) Ez 30:13 (Egypt), Hb 2:18 א׳ אִלְּמִים dumb idols, ψ 96:5 (= 1 Ch 16:26) all the gods of the nations are א׳ vain, worthless gods 97:7.

† תֹּ֫הוּ n.m. 1 S 12, 21 (AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 112) formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness (primary meaning difficult to seize; Vrss usually κενόν, οὐδέν, μάταιον, inane, vacuum, vanum; cf. LagOr. ii. 60; BN 144);— 1. formlessness, of primaeval earth Gn 1:2 (P), of land reduced to primaeval chaos Je 4:23 (both + וָבֹהוּ and voidness), Is 34:11 קַו־תֿ׳ (‖ אבְנֵי בֹהוּ), 45:18 לֹא ת׳ בְרָאָהּ (‖ לָשֶׁבֶת יְצָרָהּ); 24:10 קִרְיַת־תּ׳ city of chaos (of ruined city); = nothingness, empty space, Jb 26:7 נֹטֶה צָפן עַל־תּ׳; of empty, trackless waste Dt 32:10 (‖ מִדְבָּר), Jb 6:18; 12:24 = ψ 107:40. 2. fig. of what is empty, unreal, as idols 1 S 12:21 (coll.: אַחֲרֵי הַתּ׳ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יוֹעִילוּ), v 21 Is 41:29 רוּחַ וָת׳ נִסְכֵּיהֶם, 44:9 (of idol-makers), groundless arguments or considerations, Is 29:21 וַיַּטּוּ בַתּ׳ צַדִּיק, 59:4 moral unreality or falsehood בָּטוֹהַ עַל־תּ׳ (‖ וְדַבֶּר־שָׁוְא); = a thing of nought (cf. Ecclus 41:10 מתהו אל תהו), Is 40:17 (‖ אַיִן, אֶפֶס), v 23 שֹׁפְטֵי אֶרֶץ כַּתּ׳ עָשָׂה (‖ לְאַיִן), worthlessness 49:4 לְת׳ וְהֶבֶל כֹּחִי כִלֵּיתִי (‖ לְרִיק יָגַעְתִּי); as adv. acc. 45:19 I said not, תֹּהוּ בַקְּשׁוּנִי seek me emptily, to no purpose. cf. 29:13 𝔊 וְתֹהוּ for וַתֹּהִי.

κενός, ή, όν, Ionic dialect and poetry κεινός Refs 8th c.BC+; Epic dialect also κενεός, as always in Refs 8th c.BC+ (except in Il.[same places], and κενός Refs 8th c.BC+, and in Doric dialect, Refs 4th c.BC+; Aeolic dialect κέννος, accusative to Greg. Cor.p.610 Refs 5th c.BC+; but οἱ Αἰολεῖς.. οὐ λέγουσι κέννος Choerob.in Refs, from κενϝος, kenevos,Refs 5th c.AD+ κενευϝός Refs __I mostly of things, empty, opposed to πλέως, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to πλήρης, Refs; opposed to μεστός, Refs 8th c.BC+; τὸ κ. (i.e. τάλαντον) the empty one, Refs 5th c.BC+; χώματα κεινά, ={κενοτάφια}, Refs 5th c.BC+; κατέθισαν ἐπὶ κενευϝῶν (i.e. τάφων genitive singular) Refs 5th c.AD+; κ. χρόνος a pause in music, Anon.Refs 1st c.AD+; of wool and wine, uncertain meaning in Refs 2nd c.AD+; τὸ κ. the void of space, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ κ., ={τόπος ἐστερημένος σώματος}, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἢν κενεὸν λάβῃ [ἡ διακοπή] if it penetrates the (brain-) cavity, Refs 5th c.BC+[same place]; especiallyAstrology texts, not occupied by a planet, κ. δρόμος Refs 4th c.AD+; compare κενοδρομέω. __I.2 empty, fruitless, void, κενὰ εὔγματα εἰπών Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐλπίς, ἐλπίδες, Refs 5th c.BC+; τέρψιςRefs 5th c.BC+; ἀπόντων κενὴν κατηγορεῖν bring an idle charge, Refs 4th c.BC+; ineffectual, λύγξ Refs 5th c.BC+; πουλυμαθημοσύνης, τῆς οὐ κενεώτερον ἄλλο Timo [same place]; πολλὰ κ. τοῦ πολέμου Refs 4th c.BC+; ἐπιθυμίαι, opposed to φυσικαί, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ διὰ κενῆς ἐπανάσεισις τῶν ὅπλων empty flourishing of arms, Refs 5th c.BC+; διὰ κενῆς ῥίπτειν throw without a projectile, Refs 4th c.BC+; κεκλάγγω διὰ κενῆς ἄλλως to no purpose, Refs 5th c.BC+; κατὰ κενοῦ χανεῖν Suid. see at {λύκος ἔχανε; κατὰ κενοῦ φέρειν τὰς χεῖρας} Refs 1st c.AD+; κατὰ κ. βαίνειν, ={κενεμβατεῖν}, Refs 1st c.AD+: regular adverb κενῶς, διαλεκτικῶς καὶ κ. Refs 4th c.BC+ __II of persons and things, __II.1 c.genitive, destitute, bereft, τοῦ νοῦ Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. φρονήσεως, ἐπιστήμης, Refs; κ. πόνου without the fruits of toil, Refs 4th c.BC+ __II.2 absolutely, empty-handed, αἰσχρόν τοι δηρόν τε μενειν κενεόν τε νέεσθαι Refs 8th c.BC+; ἀπίκατο, οἱ μὲν κεινοί, οἱ δὲ φέροντες κτλ. Refs 5th c.BC+; of camels, without burdens, unloaded, opposed to ἔγγομοι, Refs 2nd c.AD+; κ. ἂν ἴῃ.., κ. ἄπεισιν LXX+5th c.BC+; bereft of her mate, λέαινα Refs 5th c.BC+; orphan, Ἔρωτες Refs 2nd c.BC+; ὑπ᾽ ἄσθματος κενοί exhausted.., Refs 4th c.BC+; of places, without garrison, χῶραι Refs 5th c.BC+; of the body, without flesh, Refs 1st c.AD+ __II.2.b devoid of wit, vain, pretentious, κεινὸς εἴην NT+5th c.BC+ __III comparative and superlative, κενότερος Refs 5th c.BC+; -ότατος Refs 5th c.BC+; κενώτερος, -ώτατος, Refs 5th c.BC+; κενεώτερος Timo (see. above); κενεώτατος variant in Refs 5th c.BC+

† רֵיקָם adv. emptily, vainly;— 1. in empty condition, empty = with empty hands; c. vb. of sending Gn 31:42 (E), Dt 15:13 1 S 6:3 Jb 22:9; of going forth Ex 3:21, returning Ru 1:21; 3:17; = without an offering, לֹא יֵרָאוּ פָנַי ר׳ Ex 23:15 (E) = 34:20 (J), more fully Dt 16:16 (cf. [פָּנֶה] II. 2, ראה Niph. 1 b). 2. in vain, without effect: c. שׁוּב 2 S 1:22 (poem), Is 55:11 Je 14:3 (but v. רֵיק 1), 50:9; prob. also צוֹרֲרִי ר׳ ψ 7:5 those who were my adversaries in vain (without success); הַבּוֹגְדִים ר׳ 25:3 that deal treacherously in vain (in both most without cause).

† [רֵיק], רֵק adj. empty, vain;—m. abs. רֵק Gn 37:24 + 2 times; f. רֵקָה Ez 24:11 Is 29:8; mpl. רֵ(י)קִים Ju 7:16 +; fpl. רֵקוֹת Gn 41:27;— 1. empty, of vessels 2 K 4:3 Ju 7:16 Ez 24:11 + (prob.) Je 14:3 (רֵ��קִים for רֵיקָם), 51:34 (רֵיק for רִיק); of pit Gn 37:24 (J), lap Ne 5:13, ears of grain Gn 41:27 (E; דַּקּוֹת v 6, 7, 23, 24); רֵקָה נַפְשׁוֹ Is 29:8 (cf. 32:6 √ 1). 2. empty, idle, worthless, ethically; אנשׁים ריקים worthless fellows Ju 9:4; 11:3 2 Ch 13:7, so הָרֵקִים alone (as subst.) 2 S 6:20; מְרַדֵּף רֵיקִים Pr 12:11 AV RV of persons; vain, unprofitable things, 28:19 (v. Toy); דָּבָר ר׳ מִן Dt 32:47 (D) a thing too empty (of significance) for you; + (prob.) ψ 4:3 (רֵיק for MT רִיק) love an empty thing (‖ כזב), of abortive course of action.

† רִיק n.[m.] emptiness, vanity;—chiefly in adv. phr. לְרִיק Is 49:4 Jb 39:16 in vain (of labour without benefit), so לָר׳ Lv 26:16, 20 (H), Is 65:23; and as adv. acc. רִיק Is 30:7 ψ 73:13, prob. also 2:1 (most = empty scheme as רֵיק 2) cf. ψ 4:3 (read prob. רֵיק); בְּדֵי רִיק Je 51:58 = Hb 2:13.—Je 51:34 v. רֵיק 1.

Included with: δωρ-εά, Ionic dialect δωρ-εή, ἡ: δωρειά in earlier Attic Inscrr., Refs:— gift, present, especially bounty (={δόσις ἀναπόδοτος} Refs 5th c.BC+; πορεῖνRefs 5th c.BC+; δ. δέχεσθαι, λαμβάνειν, Refs 5th c.BC+; δωρειὰν καὶ χάριν Refs 5th c.BC+; of a legacy, Refs 4th c.BC+; δωρεαί privileges and immunities, opposed to δῶρα, gifts in cash or kind, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __2 estate granted by a king, fief, Refs 3rd c.BC+ __II accusative δωρεάν as adverb, as a free gift, freely, LXX+5th c.BC+; so κατὰ δωρεάν Refs 1st c.AD+; ἐν δωρεᾷ προσνεῖμαι Refs 2nd c.BC+; but γῆν (ἀμπελῶνα, etc.) ἐν δωρεᾷ ἔχειν to hold land by a royal grant, PRev. Laws Refs 3rd c.BC+ __II.2 to no purpose, for naught, NT

ἀργός, όν, __Blater ή, όν Refs 4th c.BC+:—properly not working the ground, Refs 5th c.BC+; idle, lazy, opposed to ἐργάτις, Refs 6th c.BC+; ἀ. τὴν διάνοιανRefs 5th c.BC+; ἂν ἀ. ᾖ if he have no trade, Refs 4th c.BC+: with genitive of things, idle at a thing, free from it, τῶν οἴκοθεν from domestic toils, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀ. αἰσχρῶν slow to evil, Refs 5th c.BC+ __B.2 of things, δόρυRefs 5th c.BC+; of money, lying idle, yielding no return, opposed to ἐνεργός, Refs 4th c.BC+ and 20; of land, lying fallow, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to πεφυτευμένος, Refs 3rd c.AD+; διατριβὴ ἀ. in which nothing is done, fruitless, Refs 5th c.BC+. adverb ἀργῶς, ἐπιμέλεσθαιRefs 5th c.BC+ __B.2.b ἀ. λόγος, name of a sophism, Refs 3rd c.BC+ __B.II passive,unwrought, ἁρμός, κυμάτιον, Refsunprepared for eating, Refs 5th c.BC+; βύρσαι undressed hides, Refs 2nd c.BC+; unpolished, Refs 4th c.BC+ __B.II.2 not done, left undone, κοὐκ ἦν ἔτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἀ.Refs 5th c.BC+; οὐκ ἐν ἀργοῖς not among things neglected, Refs 6th c.BC+ __B.II.3 unattempted, μάχηRefs 5th c.BC+ __B.II.4 Astrology texts, τόπος ἀ., name of the Refs 2nd c.AD+

εἰκῇ, without plan or purpose, at random, at a venture, Refs 6th c.BC+ __II in vain, NT+1st c.BC+ __III slightly, moderately, ἀγγεῖα εἰ. πεπυρωμένα Refs 2nd c.BC+

μάται-ος [μᾰ], α, ον Refs 4th c.BC+; also ος, ονRefs 5th c.BC+: (μάτη):— __I vain, empty, idle: __I.1 of words, acts, etc., μάταια νομίζομεν Refs 6th c.BC+; μ. λόγοι idle tales or words, Refs 5th c.BC+.; μ. ἔπεαRefs 4th c.BC+; μ. ὑλάγματα, ποιφύγματα,Refs; μ. εὐχή E.[same place]; μάταια βάζειν τινά Refs 5th c.BC+; μ. ἡδονή S.[same place]; δοξοσοφία Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰ μ. ἀναλώματα useless expenses, Refs 3rd c.AD+; but also, μ. ἔπος a word of offence, Refs 5th c.BC+ __I.2 of persons, empty, foolish, ματαιότεροι νόον Refs 6th c.BC+; φῦλον ματαιότατον Refs 5th c.BC+; worthless, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II rash, irreverent, profane, frequently in Refs 4th c.BC+; αὐτουργίαι μ., of matricide and the like, “Eu.” [same place]; χαρὰ μ. mad merriment, Refs; τὸ μὴ μ. seriousness, gravity,Refs 5th c.BC+ __III adverb -ως idly, without ground,Refs 5th c.BC+; μ. ἐρεῖν to no purpose, Refs 5th c.BC+

† [הָבַל] vb. denom. act emptily, become vain— Qal Je 2:5 = 2 K 17:15 they went after vanity וַיֶּהְבָּ֑לוּ and became vain, ψ 62:11 וּבְגָזֵל אַל־תֶּהְבָּ֑לוּ do not become vain (i.e. be demoralized) by robbery; with acc. cogn. Jb 27:12 לָמָּה זֶה הֶבֶל תֶּהְבָּ֑לוּ why do ye become vain with vanity (i.e. shew yourselves utterly vain)? Hiph. cause to become vain Je 23:16 (of false prophets) מַהְבִּלִים הֵמָּה אֶתְכֶם i.e. fill you with vain hopes.

μᾰταιότης, ητος, ἡ, vanity, purposelessness, ματαιότης ματαιοτήτων LXX+1st c.AD+; folly, ἀνθρώπων Refs 5th c.BC+

μάτην, Doric dialect μάτᾱν [μᾰ], adverb in vain, Refs 5th c.BC+; with a Noun, τὸ μ. ἄχθος the fruitless burden, Refs; Διὸς μ. ἄκοιτις his bedfellow to no good end, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 at random, without reason, οὔ σε μ. τιμῶσι Refs 6th c.BC+; ὁ νοσῶν μ., i.e. he that is mad, Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 idly, falsely, λέγοντες εἴτ᾽ ἀληθές, εἴτ᾽ ἄρ᾽ οὖν μ. Refs 5th c.BC+; μ. βέβακεν, of a dream, Refs 4th c.BC+

† בְּאֻשִׁים n.[m.]pl. stinking or worthless things, wild grapes (NH n. unit. בְּאוּשָׁה) (perhaps adj. om. עֲנָבִים cf. Di) Is 5:2, 4 of Yahweh’s vineyard, 𝔙 labruscae (v. further De).

ἀδάπᾰνος, ον, without expense, costing nothing, γλυκέα κἀδάπαναRefs 5th c.BC+adverb ἀδαπάνως, τέρψαι φρέναRefs 5th c.BC+ __II of persons, not spending, ἀ. χρημάτων εἰς τὸ δέονRefs 4th c.BC+

ἀχρει-όω or ἀχρει-χρεόω Refsperfect ἠχρείωκα:— render useless, disable, damage, LXX+4th c.BC+ [same place]:—passive, ἀχρεῶσθαιRefs 3rd c.BC+; to be corrupted, LXX+1st c.BC+

Included with: κενός, ή, όν, Ionic dialect and poetry κεινός Refs 8th c.BC+; Epic dialect also κενεός, as always in Refs 8th c.BC+ (except in Il.[same places], and κενός Refs 8th c.BC+, and in Doric dialect, Refs 4th c.BC+; Aeolic dialect κέννος, accusative to Greg. Cor.p.610 Refs 5th c.BC+; but οἱ Αἰολεῖς.. οὐ λέγουσι κέννος Choerob.in Refs, from κενϝος, kenevos,Refs 5th c.AD+ κενευϝός Refs __I mostly of things, empty, opposed to πλέως, Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to πλήρης, Refs; opposed to μεστός, Refs 8th c.BC+; τὸ κ. (i.e. τάλαντον) the empty one, Refs 5th c.BC+; χώματα κεινά, ={κενοτάφια}, Refs 5th c.BC+; κατέθισαν ἐπὶ κενευϝῶν (i.e. τάφων genitive singular) Refs 5th c.AD+; κ. χρόνος a pause in music, Anon.Refs 1st c.AD+; of wool and wine, uncertain meaning in Refs 2nd c.AD+; τὸ κ. the void of space, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ κ., ={τόπος ἐστερημένος σώματος}, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἢν κενεὸν λάβῃ [ἡ διακοπή] if it penetrates the (brain-) cavity, Refs 5th c.BC+[same place]; especiallyAstrology texts, not occupied by a planet, κ. δρόμος Refs 4th c.AD+; compare κενοδρομέω. __I.2 empty, fruitless, void, κενὰ εὔγματα εἰπών Refs 8th c.BC+; ἐλπίς, ἐλπίδες, Refs 5th c.BC+; τέρψιςRefs 5th c.BC+; ἀπόντων κενὴν κατηγορεῖν bring an idle charge, Refs 4th c.BC+; ineffectual, λύγξ Refs 5th c.BC+; πουλυμαθημοσύνης, τῆς οὐ κενεώτερον ἄλλο Timo [same place]; πολλὰ κ. τοῦ πολέμου Refs 4th c.BC+; ἐπιθυμίαι, opposed to φυσικαί, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ διὰ κενῆς ἐπανάσεισις τῶν ὅπλων empty flourishing of arms, Refs 5th c.BC+; διὰ κενῆς ῥίπτειν throw without a projectile, Refs 4th c.BC+; κεκλάγγω διὰ κενῆς ἄλλως to no purpose, Refs 5th c.BC+; κατὰ κενοῦ χανεῖν Suid. see at {λύκος ἔχανε; κατὰ κενοῦ φέρειν τὰς χεῖρας} Refs 1st c.AD+; κατὰ κ. βαίνειν, ={κενεμβατεῖν}, Refs 1st c.AD+: regular adverb κενῶς, διαλεκτικῶς καὶ κ. Refs 4th c.BC+ __II of persons and things, __II.1 c.genitive, destitute, bereft, τοῦ νοῦ Refs 5th c.BC+; κ. φρονήσεως, ἐπιστήμης, Refs; κ. πόνου without the fruits of toil, Refs 4th c.BC+ __II.2 absolutely, empty-handed, αἰσχρόν τοι δηρόν τε μενειν κενεόν τε νέεσθαι Refs 8th c.BC+; ἀπίκατο, οἱ μὲν κεινοί, οἱ δὲ φέροντες κτλ. Refs 5th c.BC+; of camels, without burdens, unloaded, opposed to ἔγγομοι, Refs 2nd c.AD+; κ. ἂν ἴῃ.., κ. ἄπεισιν LXX+5th c.BC+; bereft of her mate, λέαινα Refs 5th c.BC+; orphan, Ἔρωτες Refs 2nd c.BC+; ὑπ᾽ ἄσθματος κενοί exhausted.., Refs 4th c.BC+; of places, without garrison, χῶραι Refs 5th c.BC+; of the body, without flesh, Refs 1st c.AD+ __II.2.b devoid of wit, vain, pretentious, κεινὸς εἴην NT+5th c.BC+ __III comparative and superlative, κενότερος Refs 5th c.BC+; -ότατος Refs 5th c.BC+; κενώτερος, -ώτατος, Refs 5th c.BC+; κενεώτερος Timo (see. above); κενεώτατος variant in Refs 5th c.BC+

μᾰταιόω, bring to naught, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 ματαιοῦσιν ἑαυτοῖς ὅρασιν invent a vision of their own, LXX __II more frequently in passive, to be brought to naught, οὐ ματαιωθήσεται τὰ ῥήματαLXX __II.2 become foolish, act foolishly, ἐματαιώθην σφόδραLXX+NT; μεματαίωταί σοι thou hast done foolishly, LXX

Transliteration of Hebrew רֵיק 'worthless' [H7386]. Not in LSJ.

† זֻלֻּת n.f. worthlessness, only כְּרֻם זֻלֻּת לִבְנֵי אָדָם [van d. H. זֻלּוּת] ψ 12:9 cf. De & Checrit. n.

† פַּשׁ n.[m.] Jb 35:15 si vera l. from √ פשׁשׁ (cf. Arabic فَسِيسٌ weak in mind or body, فَسْفَاسٌ very stupid);—i.e. folly; but read פֶּשַׁע (𝔊 Theod Symm 𝔙 Di BaeKau Du).