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Vanity
The following meanings can be distinguished:
2. Emptiness or worthlessness. In
4. Other less frequent usages are: a. calamity (
The word “vanity” does not occur in the RSV NT, but it occurs four times in KJV where the RSV trs. as follows “vain things” (
The modern idea of vanity as: (1) selfish conceit or inflated pride; (2) “ostentation of fashion, wealth, or power” (Webster), does not seem to be prominent in the Bible. In the NT there are, however, three cases which might be cited as cognate. In
Some of the things which are designated as vanity (in addition to those mentioned above) are:
1. thoughts and words of the godless (
2. leaving the fruit of your toil to another (
3. that the fool and the wise fare alike (
4. that the man has no advantages over the beasts (
5. life (
6. false prophets (
7. nations, princes and rulers (
8. pleasure (
9. wealth (
10. every person (
11. everything (
The progress of meaning, therefore, seems to be this: empty, useless, deceitful, wicked. In line with its purpose to reveal the truth which is ultimate and lasting, the Scriptures warn against that which has the appearance of reality and value, but which proves in fact not to have any real value. Since people are being led astray by such deceits, the Bible discloses and denounces them.
Bibliography
TWNT, TDNT, Crem; T. J. Meek, “Translating the Hebrew Bible,” JBL, LXXIX (1960), 323-338; M. A. Klopfenstein, Die Luge nach dem AT (1964), esp. 315-320.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
"Vanity" does not often occur in the New Testament; but see VAIN, VAINGLORY. In