The concept of vanity in the Bible refers to excessive pride or self-centeredness that leads to a distorted perception of oneself and the world. It is often associated with a misguided pursuit of worldly possessions, power, wealth, and accomplishments, while neglecting deeper spiritual values and the well-being of others.
The Book of Ecclesiastes, also known as the Preacher, particularly explores the theme of vanity extensively. In this book, King Solomon, believed to be the author, reflects on the futility and emptiness of various worldly pursuits and pleasures. He acknowledges the fleeting nature of life and the ultimate insignificance of human endeavors without a proper understanding of God
In the Bible, the phrases “vain,” “vanity,” and “vanities” are used rather frequently. Their perspective is almost entirely one of “evanescence” and “emptiness,” encompassing “idolatry” and “wickedness” as not only being bad, but also things that are vain and without substance. In addition, they stand for falsity.
In many world religions, vanity, in its contemporary sense, is viewed as a sort of self-idolatry. This occurs when a person compares themselves to the greatness of God for the sake of enhancing their own image, and as a result, they grow estranged from the divine grace of God and may eventually divorce themselves from it.
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Vanity Definition In The Bible
Vanity—a word that conjures images of mirrors, self-absorption, and perhaps even a touch of arrogance. But what does it truly mean in the context of the Bible? Let’s delve into the biblical definition of vanity, exploring its nuances, implications, and relevance for believers.
Ecclesiastes 1:2
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”
In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon explores the meaning of life and the pursuit of worldly pleasures. He comes to the realization that everything in this world is ultimately meaningless and fleeting. No matter how much wealth, success, or possessions we accumulate, it will all eventually fade away. This verse serves as a stark reminder that earthly pursuits are all in vain.
Proverbs 31:30
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
This verse from Proverbs highlights the fleeting nature of physical beauty and worldly charm. While external appearances may fade over time, what truly matters is the reverence and fear of the Lord. True beauty lies in a woman’s relationship with God, not in superficial attributes.
James 4:14
“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
James reminds us of the brevity of life and the uncertainty of the future. Our existence on this earth is temporary, like a mist that quickly dissipates. This verse serves as a sobering reminder that our earthly pursuits are futile in the grand scheme of things.
Psalm 39:6
“Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!”
In this psalm, the psalmist reflects on the transience of life and the futility of accumulating wealth. Despite our efforts to amass riches and possessions, we cannot control what happens to them after we are gone. This verse underscores the emptiness of worldly pursuits and the importance of seeking spiritual fulfillment.
The World of Vanity
In everyday language, we associate vanity with conceited individuals who hold exaggerated opinions of themselves. However, the biblical concept of vanity goes beyond mere self-importance. It struggles with the notion that there is no ultimate meaning in the world, which is a viewpoint that some philosophical schools of thought share.
The term “vanity” originates from the Latin vanitas, which means emptiness or lacking in reality. In the Old Testament, the Book of Ecclesiastes famously opens with the phrase, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, NRSV). These words have echoed across languages, emphasizing the futility and transience of human existence.
Ecclesiastes: A Meditation on Vanity
The Book of Ecclesiastes, attributed to King Solomon, serves as a profound exploration of life’s meaninglessness when viewed apart from God. Here are key themes related to vanity within Ecclesiastes:
- Hebel: The Hebrew word for “vanity” is hebel, which also suggests a fleeting vapor or breath. Just as a breath dissipates quickly, human life—despite its achievements—is ultimately insubstantial (Psalm 39:5).
- Despair and Futility: Ecclesiastes paints a bleak picture. Wisdom, labor, wealth, and varied experiences—all are like chasing after the wind (Ecclesiastes 1:14, 1:17, 4:8). Even the distinction between humans and animals blurs (Ecclesiastes 3:19–20).
- Hope and Hopelessness: Some commentators view Ecclesiastes as the expression of a skeptic or agnostic. Yet, this tension between hope and hopelessness reveals the author’s emotional struggle. It doesn’t negate faith, but it acknowledges life’s complexities.
- Other Biblical Instances: Beyond Ecclesiastes, we find glimpses of vanity elsewhere. Job, David, and Elijah grapple with unrealized goals and despair (Job 7:3, 2 Samuel 18:31–33, 1 Kings 19:4). Jesus, forsaken on the cross, places His trust in God (Matthew 27:46).
Vanity and False Worship
The Bible also condemns idolatrous practices as vain. Ephesians 4:17–24 speaks of Gentiles living in the “vanity of their minds.” Their unbelief stems from ignorance and hardness of heart. False worship, devoid of true understanding, leads only to damnation.
A Christian Perspective
For believers, vanity isn’t merely a philosophical concept. It affects our hearts and minds. When we focus excessively on ourselves, we lose sight of God’s purpose. But in Christ, we discover freedom—a life characterized by beauty, love, and compassion. Jesus invites us to transcend vanity and discover true joy.
In summary, while the Bible doesn’t depict vampires, it does grapple with the emptiness of life apart from God. Let us seek meaning beyond vanity, anchoring our hearts in the One who gives eternal significance.
Vanity Spiritual Definition
The book of Ecclesiastes begins with the words, “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, ESV). In this passage, the Hebrew word that is translated as “vanity” truly means “vapor” or “breath.” Alternately, “meaninglessness,” “emptiness,” or “futility” may be used to interpret its meaning. This preacher’s name is Solomon, and he’s here to tell us that after observing all the world has to offer, he’s come to the conclusion that it’s all for naught. It is a waste of time to strive for goals that can be attained in this life since they will be lost when we take our final breath. This lays a foundation that assists us in comprehending the several different applications of the term “vanity” found in the Bible.
According to Romans 8:20, the entire creation was made meaningless as a result of the curse that God imposed. Because of Adam’s disobedience, God decided to punish all of creation with a curse (Genesis 3:17–19). To put it another way, perfection was not preserved. The people of the earth have turned against God and against one another, and creation as a whole is failing to fulfill its intended purpose. Rather than working in harmony with God and creation, the occupants of the planet have turned on one another. The aftereffects of that curse are still having a profound impact on us. Everything that should be upright has been turned the other way around. (Romans 8:21) Because God has subjected creation to vanity until the time when it will be set free, the world as we know it is filled with disorder and insanity. This is the cause of the chaos and insanity that we see around us.
When vanity enters our personal lives, it carries with it a host of other undesirable traits and emotions, like pride, jealousy, envy, contention, haughtiness, and many more. Vanity causes one to discount what is vital while elevating what is unimportant. Vanity causes an anxious state of mind in which one constantly wonders, “How do I look?” “What will other people think of me?” you could ask. “Why was he honored and not me?” “Why wasn’t I honored instead of him?” It is written in the book of Proverbs that “pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall,” yet vanity pays little attention to warnings like these.
A person who is overcome with vanity is self-centered and engrossed with his or her own thoughts, concerns, and aspirations. The ego is at the center of all forms of vanity, and it is imperative that it be guarded at all costs. It is impossible for self and the Holy Spirit to co-rule our lives at the same time. The throne that belongs to God will never be shared. Because of this, Jesus tells us that in order to follow Him, we must “die to ourselves” (Luke 9:23). (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:1–6) Vanity is an enemy of the Spirit; therefore, it is imperative that it be continually brought to the cross and crucified.
The vanity that King Saul allowed to control his life ultimately led to his downfall. Saul was brilliant, strikingly gorgeous, and chosen by God, all of which gave him the potential to be a game-changer in the world (1 Samuel 9:1–2). Saul first responded with humility to the news that God had chosen him to be king (1 Samuel 9:21, 10:21–22), but he soon let his pride get the best of him (1 Samuel 13:8–14). His conceit led him to the conclusion that he was significant enough to disobey the instruction of the Lord and proceed in the manner that best suited him. As a direct result of this, God took His blessing and His Spirit from Saul, causing the remainder of his reign to be filled with jealousies, murder, and dissension (1 Samuel 16:14; 18:10–11).
Vanity can lead us to believe that we are better than others, that we have accomplished more than others, or that we are more attractive than others. If we allow our vanity to go unchecked, it will convince us that we are significant enough, like Saul, to disobey the instructions of God and make things happen in the manner that we want them to. When we read “Thou shalt not…” in the Bible, our first thought is typically, “That’s for other people.” When we are challenged about our wrongdoing, it is human nature to take offense at the one who is doing the confronting.
The argument made in favor of vanity goes something like this:
“I know that I shouldn’t be doing X, but I’m really trying to be a good person.”
“I am aware of what is written in the Bible, but I believe…”
“Each of us is in possession of our very own unique reality. My sincere belief is that… “
In the Garden of Eden, vanity was a contributing factor in the commission of the first sin, and it continues to be the driving force behind the majority of sin in the modern world. The words “Has God really said…” were Satan’s opening salvo in the war against vanity. (The first chapter of Genesis) When Eve realized that the forbidden fruit was lovely, delicious, and enticing, the seed of vanity was planted inside her. She pushed God out of her heart and replaced it with a desire for pleasure and self-improvement. Even in modern times, sin happens when we permit our own beliefs to take precedence over the Word of God. When we let vanity rule us, God is not in control. Vanity has no place in a world in which God is the Lord.
Is Vanity A Sin In The Bible
Proverbs 31:30 ESV / 919 helpful votes
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Psalm 119:37 ESV / 762 helpful votes
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 ESV / 703 helpful votes
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 2:11 ESV / 684 helpful votes
Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 ESV / 646 helpful votes
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV / 564 helpful votes
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Psalm 39:5 ESV / 512 helpful votes
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah
Ecclesiastes 4:4 ESV / 471 helpful votes
Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
1 Timothy 4:8 ESV / 444 helpful votes
For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Psalm 144:4 ESV / 409 helpful votes
Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
Romans 12:2 ESV / 408 helpful votes
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Matthew 6:1-7 ESV / 389 helpful votes
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. …
Romans 8:20 ESV / 381 helpful votes
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
Jeremiah 4:30 ESV / 362 helpful votes
And you, O desolate one, what do you mean that you dress in scarlet, that you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, that you enlarge your eyes with paint? In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 ESV / 350 helpful votes
I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 12:8 ESV / 347 helpful votes
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
Psalm 62:9 ESV / 344 helpful votes
Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.
Ecclesiastes 2:26 ESV / 339 helpful votes
For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Job 7:16 ESV / 337 helpful votes
I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath.
Hebrews 13:5 ESV / 311 helpful votes
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Galatians 5:16-26 ESV / 310 helpful votes
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, …
Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 ESV / 286 helpful votes
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. …
Ecclesiastes 2:1 ESV / 284 helpful votes
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.
Job 15:31 ESV / 282 helpful votes
Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his payment.
Ecclesiastes 2:15 ESV / 279 helpful votes
Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
Psalm 39:11 ESV / 279 helpful votes
When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is a mere breath! Selah
Ecclesiastes 4:8 ESV / 278 helpful votes
One person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
Ecclesiastes 6:2 ESV / 275 helpful votes
A man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.
Ecclesiastes 2:21 ESV / 267 helpful votes
Because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Psalm 94:11 ESV / 263 helpful votes
The Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.
Psalm 39:6 ESV / 255 helpful votes
Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
Ecclesiastes 11:10 ESV / 251 helpful votes
Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
James 1:26 ESV / 248 helpful votes
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Jeremiah 2:5 ESV / 236 helpful votes
Thus says the Lord: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
Ecclesiastes 4:16 ESV / 231 helpful votes
There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Psalm 127:2 ESV / 218 helpful votes
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Ecclesiastes 6:12 ESV / 216 helpful votes
For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?
Psalm 12:2 ESV / 216 helpful votes
Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
Ephesians 4:17 ESV / 215 helpful votes
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
Ecclesiastes 3:19 ESV / 213 helpful votes
For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.
2 Peter 2:18 ESV / 205 helpful votes
For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.
Jeremiah 16:19 ESV / 203 helpful votes
O Lord, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.
Proverbs 13:11 ESV / 200 helpful votes
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 ESV / 196 helpful votes
So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
Proverbs 22:8 ESV / 194 helpful votes
Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.
2 Kings 17:15 ESV / 190 helpful votes
They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.
Psalm 10:7 ESV / 189 helpful votes
His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
Ecclesiastes 6:9 ESV / 186 helpful votes
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Proverbs 21:6 ESV / 186 helpful votes
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
Psalm 4:2 ESV / 182 helpful votes
O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
Job 7:3 ESV / 180 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
So I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.
Vanity In The Bible KJV
Isaiah 57:13 ESV / 179 helpful votes
When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them all off, a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain.
Psalm 41:6 ESV / 177 helpful votes
And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad.
Proverbs 30:8 ESV / 176 helpful votes
Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me,
Ecclesiastes 2:23 ESV / 174 helpful votes
For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.
Psalm 24:4 ESV / 171 helpful votes
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
Ecclesiastes 1:17 ESV / 169 helpful votes
And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
Jeremiah 18:15 ESV / 167 helpful votes
But my people have forgotten me; they make offerings to false gods; they made them stumble in their ways, in the ancient roads, and to walk into side roads, not the highway,
Colossians 3:5 ESV / 165 helpful votes
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Isaiah 44:9 ESV / 165 helpful votes
All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-26 ESV / 156 helpful votes
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. …
Job 11:12 ESV / 156 helpful votes
But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man!
Psalm 78:33 ESV / 155 helpful votes
So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror.
Proverbs 21:4 ESV / 152 helpful votes
Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.
Psalm 31:6 ESV / 151 helpful votes
I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord.
Psalm 60:11 ESV / 146 helpful votes
Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!
Proverbs 28:19 ESV / 144 helpful votes
Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
Psalm 39:5-6 ESV / 144 helpful votes
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!
Psalm 2:1 ESV / 144 helpful votes
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
Lamentations 4:17 ESV / 142 helpful votes
Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save.
Proverbs 16:18 ESV / 142 helpful votes
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
2 Timothy 2:14 ESV / 139 helpful votes
Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.
Hebrews 13:9 ESV / 135 helpful votes
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
Ecclesiastes 8:10 ESV / 134 helpful votes
Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.
Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 132 helpful votes
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Isaiah 41:29 ESV / 130 helpful votes
Behold, they are all a delusion; their works are nothing; their metal images are empty wind.
Ecclesiastes 8:14 ESV / 130 helpful votes
There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.
Job 11:11 ESV / 130 helpful votes
For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
2 Timothy 2:16 ESV / 127 helpful votes
But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
Ecclesiastes 7:6 ESV / 127 helpful votes
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.
1 Timothy 6:20 ESV / 126 helpful votes
O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”
Ecclesiastes 2:19 ESV / 125 helpful votes
And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.
Romans 8:28 ESV / 124 helpful votes
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
James 4:14 ESV / 122 helpful votes
Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Matthew 16:26 ESV / 118 helpful votes
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 ESV / 117 helpful votes
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
1 Peter 1:18 ESV / 113 helpful votes
Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
Proverbs 12:11 ESV / 112 helpful votes
Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
Titus 3:9 ESV / 109 helpful votes
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV / 109 helpful votes
If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Psalm 26:4 ESV / 106 helpful votes
I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites.
James 2:14 ESV / 103 helpful votes
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
Psalm 89:47 ESV / 102 helpful votes
Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man!
Jeremiah 23:32 ESV / 101 helpful votes
Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the Lord, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord.
Isaiah 1:13 ESV / 100 helpful votes
Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
James 4:6 ESV / 99 helpful votes
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Ecclesiastes 11:8 ESV / 99 helpful votes
So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
1 Corinthians 3:20 ESV / 98 helpful votes
And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
1 John 2:17 ESV / 97 helpful votes
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Isaiah 44:9-10 ESV / 95 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?
Conclusion
The King James Version translation uses the word “vanity” here, meaning something that people do simply out of pride but that ultimately is inconsequential. Because he thought so much human effort was meaningless, Solomon recommended that people e. King Solomon wrote that “everything is a vanity” in Ecclesiastes.
Proverbs 6:17 reminds us that one of the things God hates is haughty eyes, which is another way of saying a proud or vain heart. In the book of James, he even says God opposes the proud. When vanity is creeping at your door, remember that if it sets in, you will now have God standing against you.
