Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Concept Emptiness, in a biblical context, often refers to a state of void, lack, or futility. It can describe both physical and spiritual conditions where there is an absence of substance, purpose, or fulfillment. The concept of emptiness is frequently associated with the vanity of worldly pursuits and the spiritual void that exists apart from God.
Old Testament References The theme of emptiness is prevalent in the Old Testament, particularly in the wisdom literature. In Ecclesiastes, the Preacher famously declares, "Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! Everything is vanity" (
Ecclesiastes 1:2). Here, "vanity" is often understood as emptiness or meaninglessness, highlighting the futility of life when lived solely for earthly pleasures and achievements.
The prophets also speak of emptiness in terms of idolatry and false worship. In
Jeremiah 2:5, the Lord questions, "What fault did your fathers find in Me, that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves" . The pursuit of idols, which are empty and powerless, leads to a life devoid of true purpose and fulfillment.
New Testament Insights In the New Testament, emptiness is addressed in the context of spiritual life and the futility of human efforts apart from Christ. The Apostle Paul warns against being deceived by hollow philosophies and empty deceit, which are based on human tradition rather than Christ (
Colossians 2:8). This highlights the emptiness of human wisdom when it is not rooted in the truth of the Gospel.
James speaks to the emptiness of faith without works, stating, "But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds" (
James 2:18). Here, the emptiness is in a professed faith that lacks the substance of action and obedience.
Spiritual Emptiness and Fulfillment The Bible contrasts spiritual emptiness with the fullness found in a relationship with God. Jesus offers living water to the Samaritan woman at the well, promising that "whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life" (
John 4:14). This metaphor illustrates the satisfaction and fulfillment that only Christ can provide, filling the spiritual void within the human soul.
The Apostle Paul speaks of the fullness of life in Christ, stating, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form, and you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority" (
Colossians 2:9-10). This completeness in Christ stands in stark contrast to the emptiness of life without Him.
Practical Implications Believers are called to recognize the emptiness of worldly pursuits and to seek fulfillment in their relationship with God. The pursuit of material wealth, status, and pleasure is ultimately unsatisfying and leaves one spiritually empty. Instead, Christians are encouraged to store up treasures in heaven and to find their identity and purpose in Christ (
Matthew 6:19-21).
In summary, the biblical concept of emptiness serves as a reminder of the futility of life apart from God and the fullness that is available through faith in Jesus Christ. The Scriptures call believers to turn away from empty pursuits and to embrace the abundant life offered by the Savior.
Topical Bible Verses
Galatians 5:19-21Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Topicalbible.orgWebster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The state of being empty; absence of contents; void space; vacuum; as, the emptiness of a vessel; emptiness of the stomach.
2. (n.) Want of solidity or substance; unsatisfactoriness; inability to satisfy desire; vacuity; hollowness; the emptiness of earthly glory.
3. (n.) Want of knowledge; lack of sense; vacuity of mind.
Greek
3153. mataiotes -- vanity, emptiness ... vanity,
emptiness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: mataiotes Phonetic
Spelling: (mat-ah-yot'-ace) Short Definition: vanity, purposelessness
... Strong's Hebrew
922. bohu -- emptiness... 921, 922. bohu. 923 .
emptiness. Transliteration: bohu Phonetic Spelling:
(bo'-hoo) Short Definition: void. Word
... 2).
emptiness, void.
... 8414. tohu -- formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness
... 8413, 8414. tohu. 8415 . formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness.
Transliteration: tohu Phonetic Spelling: (to'-hoo) Short Definition: waste. ...
7723. shav -- emptiness, vanity
... 7722, 7723. shav. 7724 . emptiness, vanity. Transliteration: shav Phonetic
Spelling: (shawv) Short Definition: vain. Word Origin ...
4003. mebuqah -- emptiness
... mebuqah. 4004 . emptiness. Transliteration: mebuqah Phonetic Spelling:
(meb-oo-kah') Short Definition: desolate. ... void. From the same as buwqah; emptiness -- ...
950. buqah -- emptiness
... 949, 950. buqah. 951 . emptiness. Transliteration: buqah Phonetic Spelling:
(boo-kaw') Short Definition: emptied. Word Origin from ...
3445. yeshach -- perhaps emptiness
... 3444, 3445. yeshach. 3446 . perhaps emptiness. Transliteration: yeshach
Phonetic Spelling: (yeh'-shakh) Short Definition: vileness. ...
7385b. riq -- emptiness, vanity
... 7385a, 7385b. riq. 7386 . emptiness, vanity. Transliteration: riq Short
Definition: vain. Word Origin from riq Definition emptiness ...
1892. hebel -- vapor, breath
... root Definition vapor, breath NASB Word Usage breath (5), delusion (2), emptily
(1), emptiness (2), fleeting (2), fraud (1), futile (1), futility (13), idols (7 ...
3720. kaphan -- hunger, famine
... famine. From kaphan; hunger (as making to stoop with emptiness and pain) -- famine.
see HEBREW kaphan. 3719, 3720. kaphan. 3721 . Strong's Numbers.
7385. riyq -- to make empty, empty out
... From ruwq; emptiness; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain -- empty,
to no purpose, (in) vain (thing), vanity. see HEBREW ruwq. 7384, 7385. ...
Library
Letter v. --On Emptiness of Heart.
... THE FRUIT THEREOF. Letter V."On Emptiness of Heart. On Emptiness of heart. ... I am not
at all surprised that this great emptiness seems like a support to you. ...
'Lying Vanities'
... forced home to Israel by sufferings and exile, that to turn from Jehovah to false
gods was to turn from the sure source of tender care to lies and emptiness. ...
Of Another Kind of Perverted Men
... else. These men have surrendered themselves to inward passivity in their
emptiness; and live without preference for any one thing. ...
The Opinions of Valentinus, with those of his Disciples and Others ...
... But along with it there exists a power which I term a Gourd; and along with this
Gourd there exists a power which again I term Utter-Emptiness. ...
Showing the Three Ways by which one Enters into the God-Seeing ...
... without in all the virtues, and within must be unencumbered, and as empty of every
outward work as if he did not work at all: for if his emptiness is troubled ...
Showing How Some Men Live Contrary to These Exercises
... take away anything from them; for they have, in their own opinion, transcended all
customs and all virtues, and have entered into the pure emptiness, and are ...
The Fulness of Christ
... Think of that solitary figure of the Christ reared up, as it were, before the whole
race of man, as able to replenish all their emptiness with His fulness, and ...
The Two Paths
... There must be consciousness of our own emptiness, weakness, and need; there must
be penitent recognition of our own ill-desert and lamentation over that. ...
Of Three Kinds of Most Inward Practices
... This is the first way, and it is the way of emptiness; for it makes a man empty
of all things, and lifts him up above activity and above all the virtues. ...
To the Reader. Christian Reader
... prejudices following upon the neglect of them, but above all, thou shalt find him
so fully setting forth the sinfulness of sin, and the utter emptiness of self ...
Thesaurus
Emptiness (17 Occurrences)... 1. (n.) The state of being empty; absence of contents; void space; vacuum; as, the
emptiness of a vessel;
emptiness of the stomach.
...Emptiness (17 Occurrences).
...Vanity (100 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The quality or state of being vain; want of substance
to satisfy desire; emptiness; unsubstantialness; unrealness; falsity. ...
Vacancy (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The quality or state of being vacant; emptiness; hence, freedom from
employment; intermission; leisure; idleness; listlessness. ...
Vanities (14 Occurrences)
... In Acts 14:15 we have mataios, "empty," translated "vanities" (of idols); mataiotes,
"emptiness," "transitoriness" (Romans 8:20, "The creation was subjected to ...
Deceiving (18 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Job 15:31 Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself;
for emptiness shall be his reward. (WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV). ...
Pelican (5 Occurrences)
... shall possess it; and the owl and the raven shall dwell therein: and he will stretch
over it the line of confusion, and the plummet of emptiness." Here the ...
Empty (84 Occurrences)
... Version (British and American) takes the Hebrew word in its original sense of "pouring
out," rendering "Israel is a luxuriant vine"); tohu, "emptiness" (Job 26 ...
Worthless (103 Occurrences)
... You are all physicians of no value. (See NAS RSV NIV). Job 15:31 Let him not trust
in emptiness, deceiving himself; for emptiness shall be his reward. (See NIV) ...
Vainglory (2 Occurrences)
... or low, small or great; vanity is applicable only to small objects; pride is therefore
good or bad; vanity is always bad; it is always emptiness or nothingness ...
Vile (59 Occurrences)
... Villany occurs but twice in the King James Version (Isaiah 32:6 Jeremiah 29:23),
and signifies emptiness or folly (so the Revised Version (British and American ...
Resources
How can I overcome a feeling of spiritual emptiness? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of life? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about a midlife crisis? | GotQuestions.orgEmptiness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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