Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
ματην
The adverb ματην (maten) means in vain, fruitless or for no good reason, idly or falsely (Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7 only). It stems from the unused noun ματη (mate), meaning folly or fault, but that's where the trail runs cold. It may be a contracted form of the adjective μεταμωνιος (metamonios), vain or pointless, whose core is the unused inquisitive adverb μων (mon), surely not? (the mark of a question to which a negative answer is expected). Our word may have to do with μωμος (momos), blame or blemish, or perhaps even μωρος (moros), foolish or dimwitted, but none of it is quite convincing. There may even be a link with the Hebrew verb מות (mut), to die or kill.
But whatever its ultimate pedigree, from our adverb ματην (maten), meaning "in vain", derive:
- The adjective ματαιος (mataios), meaning vain, futile, fruitless or aimless. It's used 6 times, see full concordance, and from it in turn come:
- Together with the verb λεγω (lego), to speak: the adjective ματαιολογος (mataiologos), meaning idle talk (Titus 1:10 only). From this adjective comes:
- The noun ματαιολογια (mataiologia), meaning vain talk (1 Timothy 1:6 only).
- The noun ματαιοτης (mataiotes), meaning vanity or futility (Romans 8:20, Ephesians 4:17 and 2 Peter 2:18 only).
- The verb ματαιοω (mataioo), to make or become futile or empty (Romans 1:21 only).
- Together with the verb λεγω (lego), to speak: the adjective ματαιολογος (mataiologos), meaning idle talk (Titus 1:10 only). From this adjective comes: