"emptiness as to results," akin to mataios (see EMPTY , VAIN), is used (a) of the creation, Romans 8:20 , as failing of the results designed, owing to sin; (b) of the mind which governs the manner of life of the Gentiles, Ephesians 4:17; (c) of the "great swelling words" of false teachers, 2 Peter 2:18 .
Note: For mataios, in the neut. plur. in Acts 14:15 , "vanities," see VAIN , A, No. 2 (a).