Keraia
Lexicon

κενός

kenosemptyHow to read Greek
greekNew TestamentAdjective18 occurrences11 books16 verses

Definition

κενός, -ή, -όν

[in LXX chiefly for רִיק and cognate forms ;]

empty (Genesis 37:24, Judges 7:16). Metaphorical,

(a) empty, vain: λόγοι, Ephesians 5:6; ἀπάτη, Colossians 2:8; κήρυγμα, πίστις, 1 Corinthians 15:14;

(b) vain, fruitless: ἡ χάρις, 1 Corinthians 15:10; κόπος, 1 Corinthians 15:50; ἡ εἴσοδος, 1 Thessalonians 2:1; κενά, Acts 4:25 (LXX); εἰς κενόν, in vain, to no purpose (Diod., LXX; cl. διὰ κενῆς), 2 Corinthians 6:1, Galatians 2:2, Philippians 2:16, 1 Thessalonians 3:5;

(with) of persons, empty-handed: Mark 12:3, Luke 1:53; 20:10-11; vain, James 2:20.

Synonyms: μάταιος, of the aim or effect of an action, κ. of its quality (Lft. on Cl. Rom., 1Co., § 7; Tr., Syn., xlix)

Hebrew words it translates

The Hebrew words that the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament renders as κενός:

Usage patterns

Old TestamentNew Testament

Occurrences

18 total
  1. Mark 12:3κενόν · empty-handed
    But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.
  2. Luke 1:53κενούς · empty
    He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
  3. Luke 20:10κενόν · empty-handed
    At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
  4. Luke 20:11κενόν · empty-handed
    So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed.
  5. Acts 4:25κενά · in vain
    You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
  6. 1 Corinthians 15:10κενὴ · in vain
    But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
  7. 1 Corinthians 15:14κενὸν · [is] worthless; κενὴ · [so is]
    And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.
  8. 1 Corinthians 15:58κενὸς · in vain
    Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
  9. 2 Corinthians 6:1κενὸν · vain
    As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
  10. Galatians 2:2κενὸν · vain
    I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I spoke privately to those recognized as leaders, for fear that I was running or had already run in vain.
  11. Ephesians 5:6κενοῖς · with empty
    Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
  12. Philippians 2:16κενὸν; κενὸν · vain
    …as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
  13. Colossians 2:8κενῆς · empty
    See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
  14. 1 Thessalonians 2:1κενὴ · in vain
    You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
  15. 1 Thessalonians 3:5κενὸν · vain
    For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and that our labor might have been in vain.
  16. James 2:20κενέ · foolish
    O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?