G2761 G2761
In vain, emptily, without purpose or result; fruitlessly
This adverb (derived from the adjective 'empty') means doing something in vain or without effect. James 4:5 uses it in a somewhat cryptic statement about Scripture speaking not 'in vain' or 'without purpose.' The Spanish 'en vano' and German 'vergeblich' both capture the fruitlessness implied. This term emphasizes that true divine speech and action always accomplish their intended purpose.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Indicates action or speech that is empty, purposeless, or without result. In James's reference to what Scripture says, the point is that God's word never speaks idly or fails to achieve its purpose—every divine utterance carries weight and produces its intended effect, unlike human words that may be empty. 1×
AR["باطِلًا"]·ben["বৃথা"]·DE["vergeblich"]·EN["in-vain"]·FR["κενῶς"]·heb["לְרִיק"]·HI["व्यर्थ"]·ID["sia-sia"]·IT["kenōs"]·jav["tanpa-guna"]·KO["헛되이"]·PT["em-vão"]·RU["напрасно"]·ES["en-vano"]·SW["bure"]·TR["boşuna"]·urd["بیکار"]
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
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…