What Is the Bible's Definition of Vanity?

Linda Lyle

When someone says the word vanity, what do you think of first? Do you think of the piece of furniture in your bathroom or bedroom where you get ready? Or do you think of Carly Simon’s song “You’re So Vain”? It’s been the topic of literature as well. John Bunyan wrote about Vanity Fair in Pilgrim’s Progress as a never-ending fair where people lose track of what’s important. His description inspired another classic book, William Makepeace Thackeray’s novel Vanity Fair.

In a world of selfies and reality television, vanity means someone who thinks too highly of themselves or their societal position. It’s all linked to pride. But what does the Bible have to say about vanity?

Does the Bible Give a Definition of Vanity?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, vanity is excessive pride or lack of substance.

We get a picture of the biblical definition of vanity through several scriptures. The bulk of the references come from Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and Psalms. You can also find a brief overview from Robert Greene in his BibleStudyTools.com video interview. For a more detailed list, check out the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia’s entry on all the Bible words translated as “vanity.”

Most people today are more familiar with the definition of excessive pride. According to the dangers of vanity, there are three warning signs that you might be vain:

1. You become the center of everything, or everything revolves around you.
2. You cannot rejoice when someone else rejoices, like receiving an award you covet.
3. You don’t associate with people lower than you, such as someone lower on the ladder to success.

The second definition of vanity is something that lacks real value. Ecclesiastes spends a lot of time talking about how most of the things humans chase in life are hollow and worthless in the grand scheme of eternity. Money, fame, and beauty are all fleeting, like a vapor. The word used is hebel, translated as “a vapor” or “a breath.” These things are as transitory as your next breath.

Which People in the Bible Are Condemned for Showing Vanity?

Most of the Old Testament references to people guilty of vanity are to either

• the nation of Israel
• the kings of Israel
• false prophets

Many leaders, and even the nation as a whole, were often guilty of excessive pride. However, they were also guilty of chasing false gods and seeking protection for neighboring nations instead of trusting the one true God. This was the second type of vanity because the false gods and mere humans could not help them. Let’s look at a few examples:

• 1 Kings 16:13: “For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.” Baasha led the people in idolatry, and God responded by taking away his posterity, allowing Zimri to take the throne and kill all of Baasha’s family.
• Ezekiel 13:7: “Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken?” The word vain here is sometimes translated as futile. Listening to the false prophets’ visions was a waste of time because their visions would not come true.
• Jeremiah 2:5: “Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?” The entire nation of Israel was also guilty of idolatry, which led to God’s judgment on the nation time and again.

The word vanity is used sparingly in the New Testament, but it usually carries the idea of emptiness.

• Acts 14:15: “And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.” Here, Paul had to warn the Gentiles he was preaching that they should not try to worship them as they were just messengers of the true God.
• Ephesians 4:17: “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.” This is another reference to the futility or emptiness of allowing themselves to be led astray by false doctrines and cunning men.
• 2 Peter 2:18: “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.” Here, Peter warns the church not to be led astray by false teachers who use empty words to lead people astray.

However, there are New Testament references to the sin of excessive pride. The religious leaders of Jesus’ time had become guilty of excessive pride to the point that Jesus called the Pharisees a white-washed tomb full of dead men’s bones (Matthew 23:27). So, vanity in both of its forms was alive and well then and now.

Check out this BibleStudyTools.com article for a more detailed list of the scripture verses about vanity.

What Does Ecclesiastes Mean When It Says Everything is Vanity?

The book of Ecclesiastes begins with “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” Clarence Haynes Jr. explains in “Is It True All is Vanity?” that whatever is not of God is transitory in the end. Whoever does God’s will lives forever (1 John 2:16-17).

When the author of Ecclesiastes says “everything,” he refers to the things people chase—like fame, fortune, and beauty. We strive to be the best at work, climbing the ladder of success or making much money. We seek completeness in relationships. Ultimately, human endeavors will leave us empty unless they are part of God’s will for our lives. Without God, everything truly is vanity that will disappear like a vapor. So, how can we avoid this trap?

How Do We Avoid Vanity Today?

The key to avoiding vanity is in 1 John 2:16-17: obedience to God. Vanity gets a hold on our lives by shifting our perspectives inwards. When we keep our eyes on God and do His will, we are reminded of who God is and who we were before He saved us. So, keeping the right perspective will help us avoid the pitfalls of vanity. Some ways we can do that are:

• Read the Bible daily because it brings our focus to the truth so that we can avoid the cunning traps of men.
• Pray daily. Confessing our sins and offering thanksgiving for God’s grace and mercy will help keep us humble.
• Encourage others by rejoicing with them in victory and weeping with them when broken because it reminds us that we are all sinners saved by grace who need each other.

When God is at the center of our lives, the vanity of excessive pride will have no place, and our focus will be on things of eternal importance instead of the vanity of worldly desires.

Photo Credit: © Getty Images/nito100

Linda Lyle is a writer, teacher, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats. She has written articles for the Alabama Baptist, Open Windows, Refresh, as well as multiple novels and novellas. Her newest book, 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life Is Overwhelming, is set to release in October. She spins yarns on her blog The End of My Yarn at lindalyle.com. 

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