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# vain

«vain» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **Too proud of your looks, cleverness or what you have** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (vain, vainer, vainest); phrase «in vain»

### meaning for a pupil

1) Too proud of your looks, cleverness or what you have. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#m1)

2) Useless; not succeeding: a vain attempt. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#m2)

3) «In vain» means without success. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: "In vain" means for a false or empty purpose. The Torah uses it for taking God's name falsely or for effort with no result. Interpretation: The commandment not to take God's name "in vain" is read as forbidding false oaths and also using God's name carelessly or for no good reason. In the primary lessons: In stories and fables, a vain character (a vain peacock or crow) is often tricked because of pride. «In vain» tells the reader that trying did not work. Phrases: «in vain», «a vain hope», «vain as a peacock».

### examples

- And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield her produce, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruit. (Torah LEV.26.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x1)
- Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. (Torah EXO.20.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x2)
- For it is no vain thing for you; because it is your life, and through this thing ye shall prolong your days upon the land, whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it.' (Torah DEU.32.47, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x3)
- How then comfort ye me in vain? (Writings JOB.21.34, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x4)
- And why do the peoples mutter in vain? (Writings PSA.2.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x5)
- I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain? (Writings JOB.9.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x6)
- The vain crow dropped the cheese when the fox praised her singing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x7)
- He is so vain he checks his hair in every window. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x8)
- They searched in vain for the lost ring. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x9)
- It was a vain attempt to catch the bus. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x10)
- Don't be vain about winning; be kind. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x11)
- She waited in vain for a reply. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x12)
- The goose hunted everywhere, but in vain. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/#x13)

### note

Homophones: vain, vein (a tube for blood), vane (a weather vane). Noun: vanity. «Vainly» = without success. Opposite of the first sense: modest.

### In the corpora

- [For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose; therefore have I called her arrogancy that sitteth still.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/ISA.625/)
- [I said: It is but vain words; for counsel and strength are for the war.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/ISA.740/)
- [In vain have I smitten your children — they received no correction; your sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/JER.56/)
- [Truly vain have proved the hills, the uproar on the mountains; truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/JER.95/)
- [In vain dost thou make thyself fair; thy lovers despise thee, they seek thy life.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/JER.133/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «vain» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/V/vain/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.