κενοδοξ-ία G2754
Vainglory, empty conceit, or ambition for worthless honor
This noun describes the vice of seeking empty or vain honor—glory that lacks substance or comes from improper motives. Philippians 2:3 contrasts this with humble other-centeredness, warning believers to avoid actions motivated by empty ambition or competitive pride. The Spanish 'vanagloria' and German compound 'leere Ehre' (empty honor) both capture how this glory is hollow, lacking true worth or divine approval.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Denotes the pursuit of empty recognition or worthless honor, driven by pride rather than truth. In Paul's call to Christlike humility, this represents the competitive self-promotion that destroys community, contrasting sharply with the self-emptying example of Christ who did not grasp at glory but took the form of a servant. 1×
AR["مَجْدٍ-باطِلٍ"]·ben["অহমিকার"]·DE["leere-Ehre"]·EN["vainglory"]·FR["κενοδοξίαν"]·heb["כְּבוֹד־רֵיק,"]·HI["खोखि-महिम,"]·ID["kesombongan"]·IT["kenodoxian"]·jav["gumunggung-tanpa-isi"]·KO["헛된-영광,"]·PT["vangloria"]·RU["тщеславию"]·ES["vanagloria"]·SW["majivuno"]·TR["bos-gurur"]·urd["بےکار-غرُور-کے"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
κενοδοξ-ία, ἡ, liability to vain imagination, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II vanity, conceit, NT+2nd c.BC+; especially of false prudery, Refs 2nd c.AD+