mataios · worthless, futile

What it means

mataios (μάταιος) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “worthless, futile”.

Vain, futile, worthless.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. Good for nothing, fruitless.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• futile ×4
• worthless ×2

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Acts×1
• 1 Corinthians×2
• Titus×1
• James×1
• 1 Peter×1

• Acts 14:15

  and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of the same nature as you, announcing the good news to you, that you should turn from these worthless things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them;

• 1 Corinthians 3:20

  and again: The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are futile.

• 1 Corinthians 15:17

  and if the Messiah has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

• Titus 3:9

  But avoid foolish speculations and genealogies and strife and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and futile.

• James 1:26

  If anyone thinks he is religious while not bridling his tongue but deceiving his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

• 1 Peter 1:18

  knowing that you were redeemed not with perishable things, silver or gold, from your futile conduct inherited from your fathers,