μάτην
mátēn
G3155 adverb
SILEX Entry
Definition
As an adverb, 'to no purpose,' 'in vain,' or 'without result.' Expresses that an action or effort does not achieve its intended goal, is futile, or lacks genuine basis. The sense often includes acting without valid reason, groundlessly, or in a way that is ineffective or fruitless. In some contexts, it can also carry the nuance of acting thoughtlessly or needlessly.
Semantic Range
in vain, without result, to no purpose, fruitlessly, groundlessly, ineffectively, needlessly
Root / Etymology
From the accusative case μάτην, likely derived from an unrecorded noun *μάτη. Its ultimate root is connected to the verbal base of μασσάομαι ('to touch, handle tentatively') but the connection is lexical and not primarily semantic. Etymology uncertain; the historical root traces back to expressions of error, folly, or mistaken purpose, though this is reconstructed and not directly attested.
Historical & Contextual Notes
μάτην is an adverb found in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek texts. In classical usage, it appears in contexts signifying futility, lack of result, or action undertaken without justification (e.g., Plato, Herodotus). In the Septuagint and New Testament, μάτην is used to emphasize the failure or vanity of an action or statement (e.g., Matthew 15:9, where it introduces actions that fail to achieve their intended spiritual goal). Standard English translations often render it as 'in vain,' but this may obscure its shades of meaning concerning groundlessness or futility, rather than simple failure. μάτην can overlap with ἀδίκως ('wrongly','unjustly') and κενῶς ('vainly','emptily'), but μάτην more characteristically focuses on the lack of true or productive outcome rather than injustice or mere emptiness. Its use is consistent across periods and genres, retaining the central idea of ineffective or fruitless action. Not to be confused with μάτην from μάτη, an unattested noun, presumed from the usage of the adverb.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
accusative case of a derivative of the base of μασσάομαι (through the idea of tentative manipulation, i.e. unsuccessful search, or else of punishment); folly, i.e. (adverbially) to no purpose:--in vain.
Root Family
μάτην (matēn) — empty, vain, without purpose, lacking result
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3155-01 |
μάτην | maten | ADV |
in vain | to no purpose | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3155-01 |
Matthew 15:9 | μάτην | maten | ADV |
to no purpose | |
G3155-01 |
Mark 7:7 | μάτην | maten | ADV |
in vain | to no purpose |