κενός G2756
Empty, vain, without result or substance; also empty-handed or foolish when applied to persons
Kenos describes the condition of being devoid — whether of contents, purpose, or understanding. Paul uses it powerfully to warn that faith without the resurrection would be 'vain' (1 Cor 15:14), and that believers should not receive God's grace 'in vain' (2 Cor 6:1). In the parables, tenants send servants away 'empty-handed' (Mark 12:3; Luke 20:10-11), and Mary's Magnificat celebrates God sending the rich away 'empty' (Luke 1:53). James deploys it as a stinging vocative — 'O foolish person' (Jas 2:20) — where emptiness becomes a metaphor for spiritual senselessness.
Senses
1. vain, without result, empty (figurative) — Without purpose, effect, or genuine substance — used figuratively of efforts, words, or claims that accomplish nothing. Paul warns that without the resurrection, preaching and faith alike are 'vain' (1 Cor 15:14). In Eph 5:6 empty words are the vehicle of deception. The Spanish 'vana/vacía' and French 'vide' both carry this dual register of hollow and futile. 13×
AR["الباطِلِ", "باطِلٍ", "بَاطِلًا", "بِكَلِماتٍ-فارِغَةٍ", "فارغًا", "فارِغًا", "فارِغٌ", "فارِغَةً", "لَمْ-يَكُنْ"]·ben["বৃথা", "বৃথায়", "ব্যর্থ।", "শূন্য", "শূন্যে,"]·DE["leer", "κενά"]·EN["emptiness", "empty", "vain", "vain-things", "with-empty"]·FR["vide"]·heb["בְּדְבָרִים-רֵיקִים", "רִיק", "רֵיק", "רֵיקָה", "רֵיקָם", "שָׁוְא"]·HI["खोखे", "व्यरथ", "व्यरथ,", "व्यर्थ"]·ID["dengan-kata-kata-kosong", "kosong", "sia-sia", "sia-sia.", "sia-sia?"]·IT["vuoto"]·jav["kanthi-kosong", "muspra?", "suwung", "tanpa-guna", "tanpa-guna,"]·KO["헛되고", "헛되니라", "헛되이", "헛되이,", "헛된", "헛된-것으로", "헛된-것이"]·PT["coisas-vãs", "com-vãs", "vã", "vão", "vão."]·RU["напрасно", "пустое", "пустую", "пустыми", "тщетен", "тщетна", "тщетное", "тщетное?", "тщетной", "тщетным"]·ES["con-vacías", "cosas-vanas", "vacía", "vacío", "vana", "vano"]·SW["batili", "bure", "kwa-maneno", "ubatili"]·TR["bos", "bosa", "boş", "boşa", "boşuna", "değil", "sizi"]·urd["بیکار", "بے-فائدہ", "بےفائدہ", "خالی", "خالی-کے", "کار"]
Acts 4:25, 1 Cor 15:10, 1 Cor 15:14, 1 Cor 15:14, 1 Cor 15:58, 2 Cor 6:1, Gal 2:2, Eph 5:6, Phil 2:16, Phil 2:16, Col 2:8, 1 Thess 2:1 (+1 more)
2. empty, empty-handed (physical) — Physically lacking contents or possessions; sent away with nothing in hand. The tenants in Jesus' parable beat the owner's servant and sent him away empty-handed (Mark 12:3; Luke 20:10-11). Mary sings that God has sent the rich away 'empty' (Luke 1:53). Here the literal sense of an unfilled vessel or open palm underlies the image. 4×
AR["فارِغًا", "فَارِغِينَ"]·ben["খালি", "খালি-হাতে"]·DE["leer", "κενούς", "κενόν"]·EN["empty"]·FR["vide"]·heb["רֵיקָם"]·HI["खाली", "खाली-हाथ"]·ID["dengan-hampa", "dengan-tangan-kosong"]·IT["kenon", "kenous"]·jav["kosong", "kosong.", "suwung."]·KO["빈-손으로", "빈손으로"]·PT["vazio", "vazios"]·RU["ни-с-чем", "пустым", "пустыми"]·ES["vacío", "vacíos"]·SW["mikono-mitupu"]·TR["boş"]·urd["خالی", "خالی-ہاتھ"]
3. foolish, senseless (of a person) — Used as a personal epithet meaning foolish or senseless, describing a person who is devoid of spiritual understanding. James 2:20 addresses such a person directly: 'O empty one, do you want proof that faith without works is useless?' The Greek concept of an 'empty' person lacking nous finds a sharp rhetorical edge in this singular New Testament usage. 1×
AR["الباطِلُ"]·ben["নির্বোধ"]·DE["leer"]·EN["foolish"]·FR["vide"]·heb["רֵיק"]·HI["निकम्मे"]·ID["kosong,"]·IT["vuoto"]·jav["kothong,"]·KO["허탄한,"]·PT["vão"]·RU["пустой,"]·ES["vacío"]·SW["mpumbavu"]·TR["boş"]·urd["بے-وقوف٬"]
Related Senses
H5414 1. give, bestow (1855×)H3947 1. take, seize, grasp (Qal) (940×)G2192 1. possess / have (680×)G1325 1. give, bestow (336×)H5159 1. inherited land or property (170×)G2983 1. receive, obtain (134×)H3423 1. Qal: take possession of land (130×)G2983 2. take, take up (113×)G2398 1. one's own, belonging to oneself (91×)G3860 1. hand over, deliver to custody (78×)H7998 1. spoil, plunder, booty (74×)G1325 2. be given, be granted (70×)H5414 2. put, place, set (68×)H7999a 1. pay, repay, recompense (63×)H7069 1. Buy, purchase (59×)H1892 1. vanity, futility, absurdity (58×)H5159 2. heritage as covenant portion (52×)H6299 1. redeem or ransom (Qal active) (49×)H4376 1. Sell (Qal active) (47×)H1350a 1. Redeem, buy back (46×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
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…