"idle, ineffective, worthless, 1 Cor. 3:20; groundless, deceptive, fallacious, 1 Cor. 15:17; useless, fruitless, unprofitable, Tit. 3:9; Jas. 1:26; from the Hebrew, erroneous in principle, corrupt, perverted, 1 Pet. 1:18; τὰ μάταια, superstition, idolatry, Acts 14:15*"
Definition and meaning
idle, ineffective, worthless, 1 Cor. 3:20; groundless, deceptive, fallacious, 1 Cor. 15:17; useless, fruitless, unprofitable, Tit. 3:9; Jas. 1:26; from the Hebrew, erroneous in principle, corrupt, perverted, 1 Pet. 1:18; τὰ μάταια, superstition, idolatry, Acts 14:15*
In the original Greek the word is written: μάταιος
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of mataios (G3152) across the King James Bible.
And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
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Common questions
Strong's G3152 (mataios) is a Greek word that means: idle, ineffective, worthless, 1 Cor. 3:20; groundless, deceptive, fallacious, 1 Cor. 15:17; useless, fruitless, unprofitable, Tit. 3:9; Jas. 1:26; from the Hebrew, erroneous in principle, corrupt, per... It appears 6 times in the King James Bible.
The word mataios (G3152) appears 6 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3152 is mataios, a Greek word defined as: idle, ineffective, worthless, 1 Cor. 3:20; groundless, deceptive, fallacious, 1 Cor. 15:17; useless, fruitless, unprofitable, Tit. 3:9; Jas. 1:26; fro. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
mataios is a Greek word found in the New Testament.