Quick Definition
ματαιολόγος, ου, ὁ Adj a vain, empty talker
Strong's Definition
an idle (i.e. senseless or mischievous) talker, i.e. a wrangler
Derivation: from G3152 (μάταιος) and G3004 (λέγω);
KJV Usage: vain talker
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
ματαιολόγος, -ov, 6, (μάταιος and λέγω), an idle talker, one who utters empty, senseless things: Tit. i. 10.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ματαιολόγος mataiologos 1x
a vain talker, given to vain talking or trivial disputation, Tit. 1:10*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
*† ματαιολόγος, -ον
(< μάταιος, λέγω),
talking idly: Tit 1:10.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ματαιολόγος. Vett. Val. p. 3011} οὐκ ἠβουλήθην ὅμοιον ἑαυτὸν ἀποδεῖξαι τοῖς ματαιολόγοις : cf. Tit 11”.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ματαιολόγος (mataiologos) — babbler. μᾰταιο-λόγος, ον, talking at random, [NT+4th c.BC+]
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ματαιολόγος -ον
(μάταιος, λέγω),
talking idly: Tit.1:10.†
(AS)
📖 Greek Word Study — In-Depth Study from Precept Austin
Empty talkers (3151) mataiologos
Empty talkers (3151) (mataiologos from mataios = vain, empty, profitless, fruitless, aimless = building houses on sand, chasing the wind, shooting at stars, pursuing one's shadow + lego = talk) are vain talkers, idle talkers, foolish prattlers who speak only worthless nonsense. These folks are babblers with nothing to say. The root mataios described heathen worship (mataios is used as a word for idols in Acts 14:15, 2Ki 17:15, Jer 2:5, 8:19), specifically worship which produces no goodness of life and nothing of eternal value! He is one who utters empty, senseless things. A windbag!
Titus 1:10 is the only use of mataiologos in the Bible
The related word mataiologia means “empty prattle” and is used in for those who forsake sincere faith.
1Timothy 1:6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion
These people in Crete could talk glibly but all their talk was ineffective in bringing anyone one step nearer goodness. Their talk produced no spiritual benefits, and in fact robbed the hearers of the truth which led them into error. The Cynics used to say that all knowledge which is not profitable for virtue is vain. The teacher who simply provides his pupils with a forum for pleasant intellectual and speculative discussion teaches in vain. Shakespeare would describe them as “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Vincent has an unusual note writing that...
Vain jangling...illustrates the writer’s fondness for unusual compounds. Jangling is an early English word from the old French jangler, comp. jongleur a teller of tales. Hence jangling is empty chatter. So Chaucer,
“Them that jangle of love.” Shakespeare,“ This their jangling I esteem a sport.” (Mids. Night’s Dream. iii. 2) (Word studies in the New Testament 4:205-206)
Calvin adds that they
occupy themselves with nothing but useless subtleties (contrast holding fast the faithful word & sound doctrine) ...because they contribute nothing to piety and the fear of God.
What these men said may have impressed their hearers, but the words lacked substance. Historically “empty talkers” were frequent in the ranks of many of the pseudo-intellectuals in the ancient world. Jeremiah described a similar breed of men in Israel writing that
The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain? (Jer 23:28).
They led God's
people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting yet (God) did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit... (Jer 23:32)
AND DECEIVERS: kai phrenapatai:
mind-deceivers (YLT)
it blinds people to the truth (TLB)
who delude people's minds (JNT)
and lead others into the wrong way (ICB)
