ἀχρεῖος (G888) — Greek Lexicon

ἀχρεῖος

achreîos

G888 attributive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Not useful, lacking benefit, lacking worth or value; in some contexts, 'unprofitable' or 'unfit for a specific purpose.' In New Testament use, refers to someone or something failing to meet expectations of usefulness, value, or merit, especially concerning service or fulfillment of duties.

Semantic Range

not useful, lacking benefit, unprofitable, unfit, ineffectual, failing expectation, of no value or merit

Root / Etymology

From the prefix ἀ- (a-, privative, expressing negation) and χρεῖος, an adjective derived from χρεία ('need', 'use', 'necessity'). The formation ἀχρεῖος literally means 'not useful' or 'without benefit.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested from classical Greek onward, though relatively rare. In classical literature, ἀχρεῖος commonly described something or someone as being of no use, worthless, or ineffectual. In Koine and NT Greek, its use is largely metaphorical, applied to persons (typically servants) who have not fulfilled their obligations or to describe moral/spiritual lack of worth. In the New Testament, notably found in Matthew 25:30 (the 'unprofitable servant'), where it carries the sense of failing to fulfill expected service—not necessarily meaning 'totally useless,' but rather 'not having produced what was expected.' Standard English translations often render it 'unprofitable,' but this may obscure the nuance of lacking expected utility or merit. Distinguishable from ἄχρηστος, a more sharply negative term meaning 'completely useless' or 'good-for-nothing.' Distinct also from ἀχρεία, which denotes lack of need or lack of necessity rather than lack of usefulness.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a negative particle) and a derivative of χρή (compare χρεία); useless, i.e. (euphemistically) unmeritorious:--unprofitable.

Root Family

ἀχρεῖος (achreios) — not useful, lacking benefit, without value, unfit

Root χρεῖ- to be of use, to be needed, benefit

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G888-01`	ἀχρεῖοί	achreioi	`ADJ.A NOM M PL`	unprofitable	useless ones	useless ones	1
`G888-02`	ἀχρεῖον	achreion	`ADJ.A ACC M SG`	worthless	unprofitable	unprofitable	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G888-02`	Matthew 25:30	ἀχρεῖον	achreion	`ADJ.A ACC M SG`	worthless	unprofitable	unprofitable
`G888-01`	Luke 17:10	ἀχρεῖοί	achreioi	`ADJ.A NOM M PL`	unprofitable	useless ones	useless ones

← G887 Greek Lexicon G889 →