Quick Definition
μάτην Adv in vain
Strong's Definition
accusative case of a derivative of the base of 3145 (through the idea of tentative manipulation, i.e. unsuccessful search, or else of punishment); folly, i.e. (adverbially) to no purpose
KJV Usage: in vain
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
μάτην (accus. [cf. W. 230 (216); B. § 131, 12] of μάτη, i. q. paria, a futile attempt, folly, fault), adv., fr. Pind., Aeschyl. down, in vain, fruillessly: Mt. xv. 9 and Mk. vii. 7, after Isa. xxix. 13 Sept.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
μάτην matēn 2x
in vain, fruitlessly, without profit, Mt. 15:9; Mk. 7:7*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
μάτην
(prop. acc. of μάτη, a fault, folly),
adv.,
[in LXX for הֶבֶל, שָׁוְא, etc.;]
in vain, to no purpose: Mt 15:9, Mk 7:7(LXX).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
μάτην. For this adverb, ‘‘in vain,” ‘‘to no purpose,” cf. the illiterate P Amh IT. 130° (A.D. 70) ἐξλῆθα (/. ἐξῆλθα Ὁ) εὑρὼν ἕκξ (ἐξ) ἑπτὰ μάτιαν πολούτων (/. μάτην πωλοῦντας), “1 came away after finding six or seven offering in vain to sell (some barley) * (Edd.), and P Oxy XII. 1417? (early iv/a.D.) μάτην οὖν θέλω διὰ σοῦ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ, and for the interesting phrase ἐπὶ μάτην cf. 20. III. 5305 (ii/A-D.) ἐπὶ μάτη[ν] δὲ τῶι τοῦ Παυσιρίωνος τοσοῦτον χρόνον προσκαρτερί[ῶ, ‘and that I have so long been engaged with Pausirion’s business to no purpose” (Edd.). His μάτην is similarly used by Lucian (7 γαρ. 28, 241).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
μάτην (matēn) — in vain. μάτην, Doric dialect μάτᾱν [μᾰ], adverb in vain, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; with a Noun, τὸ μ. ἄχθος the fruitless burden, [Refs]; Διὸς μ. ἄκοιτις his bedfellow to no good end, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. at random, without reason, οὔ σε μ. τιμῶσι [Refs 6th c.BC+]; ὁ νοσῶν μ., i.e. he that is mad, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
3. idly, falsely, λέγοντες εἴτ᾽ ἀληθές, εἴτ᾽ ἄρ᾽ οὖν μ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μ. βέβακεν, of a dream, [Refs 4th c.BC+]