Greek · G2756 · unreviewed

κενός

Empty (literally or figuratively)

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κενός G2756

Pronunciation kenós

What does κενός (kenós) mean in the Bible?

κενός (kenós) is a Greek word meaning "empty (literally or figuratively)". κενός, -ή, -όν [in LXX chiefly for רִיק and cognate forms ;] empty (Gen.

Full entry for κενός (G2756) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

empty (literally or figuratively)

Extended definition

Empty of purpose or effect; faith, preaching, or labor lacking true content or result.

empty (Gen.37:24, Jdg.7:16). Metaphorical,

aempty, vain: λόγοι, Eph.5:6; ἀπάτη, Col.2:8; κήρυγμα, πίστις, 1Co.15:14;

bvain, fruitless: ἡ χάρις, 1Co.15:10; κόπος, 1Co.15:50; ἡ εἴσοδος, 1Th.2:1; κενά, Act.4:25 (LXX); εἰς κενόν, in vain, to no purpose (Diod., LXX; cl. διὰ κενῆς), 2Co.6:1, Gal.2:2, Php.2:16, 1Th.3:5; __(with) of persons, empty-handed: Mrk.12:3, Luk.1:53 20:10-11; vain, Jas.2:20.

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

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine 1 Cor 15:10 · 1 Cor 15:14 · 1 Thess 2:1 3×

Nominative · Singular · Neuter 1 Cor 15:14 1×

Nominative · Singular · Masculine 1 Cor 15:58 1×

Genitive · Singular · Feminine Col 2:8 1×

Dative · Plural · Masculine Eph 5:6 1×

Accusative · Singular · Neuter 2 Cor 6:1 · Gal 2:2 · Phil 2:16 · 1 Thess 3:5 5×

Accusative · Singular · Masculine Mark 12:3 · Luke 20:10 · Luke 20:11 3×

Accusative · Plural · Masculine Luke 1:53 1×

Accusative · Plural · Neuter Acts 4:25 1×

Vocative · Singular · Masculine Jas 2:20 1×

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Biblical Witnesses

1 Corinthians 15:12-19 empty kenós Nominative · Singular · Feminine

Faith and proclamation rendered void, without effect or purpose

1 Corinthians 15:58 in vain kenós Nominative · Singular · Masculine

Labor that lacks purpose or lasting value without resurrection foundation

Ephesians 5:3-7 empty kenós Dative · Plural · Masculine

Deceptive words that are hollow and devoid of truth or substance

Proverbs 28:19 empty kenós

Literal sense, poverty resulting from idle pursuits lacking substance

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 15 — Christ Is Risen, the Dead Will Be Raised, and Death Will Be Destroyed Ephesians 5 — Walking in Love, Light, Wisdom, and Spirit-Filled Order

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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