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vaÌ„n: The adjective of “vanity,†and representing the same Hebrew and Greek words as does the latter, with a few additions (chiefly κενοÌÏ‚, kenoÌs, “empty,†and its compounds in the New Testament). And “vain†can always be replaced by its synonym “empty,†often with advantage in modern English (; , etc.). The exception is the phrase “in vain,†and even there the interchange can be made if some (understood) noun such as “ways†be added. So “to take God's name in vain†(; ) means simply to take it for an “empty†(“not goodâ€) purpose.