Bible verses about vanity KJV

Vanity is a concept that highlights a negative character trait and a spiritual danger associated with excessive pride, self-centeredness, and an obsession with one's appearance, achievements, or possessions. It goes beyond merely being concerned with one's personal appearance and encompasses a broader attitude of self-glorification, seeking recognition, and elevating oneself above others.

Vanity holds significant biblical importance and is recurrently addressed throughout various books of the Bible. Particularly in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, the writer, often referred to as the Preacher, emphasizes the futility of pursuing worldly desires and earthly ambitions. The opening statement in Ecclesiastes 1:2 sets the tone for the entire book, declaring, "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity." This phrase emphasizes the ultimate emptiness and meaninglessness of worldly pursuits when separated from a deeper, spiritual foundation.

Vanity is seen as a detrimental character trait that hinders one's relationship with God. It leads individuals away from a posture of humility and dependence on God's wisdom and guidance. Instead, vanity promotes self-reliance and a misguided belief in one's self-sufficiency, distancing individuals from experiencing God's grace and true fulfillment.

Vanity is juxtaposed with virtues such as humility, contentment, and selflessness, which are highly valued in Christian ethics. Verses like Philippians 2:3-4, provide a clear exhortation, stating, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." This verse underscores the importance of putting others before oneself and actively seeking to serve and uplift others rather than being consumed by selfish pursuits.

Vanity distracts individuals from God's purpose for their lives and leads to a distorted worldview that revolves around self-gratification and worldly gains. In contrast, Christian teachings emphasize finding true purpose, joy, and contentment in a relationship with God and living a life centered on His principles and love for others.

Overcoming vanity requires cultivating a humble heart, recognizing that all gifts, talents, and achievements come from God, and redirecting focus towards glorifying Him rather than seeking personal acclaim. Embracing selflessness and genuine concern for the welfare of others also helps combat the allure of vanity and fosters a Christ-like character.

Vanity in Christianity extends beyond superficial concerns and delves into the spiritual danger of excessive pride and self-centeredness. It is a recurring theme in the Bible, cautioning believers against pursuing worldly ambitions devoid of a deeper spiritual connection with God. By cultivating humility, contentment, and a servant-hearted attitude, Christians can counter the allure of vanity and live purposeful lives that reflect God's love and grace.

 

In the King James Version of the Bible, the word "vanity" is mentioned in numerous verses. Here is a list of some of those verses:

 

Bible verses about vanity KJV Old Testament

"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." Exodus 20:7

 

"And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain." 1 Samuel 12:21

 

And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.  2 Kings 17:15

 

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. Job 7:3

 

I loathe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity. Job 7:16

 

Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence. Job 15:31

 

They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit. Job 15:35

 

If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Job 31:5

 

Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. Job 35:13

 

O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. Psalms 4:2

 

His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. Psalms 10:7

 

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. Psalms 12:2

 

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. Psalms 24:4

 

Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. Psalms 39:5

 

When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah. Psalms 39:11

 

And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. Psalms 41:6

 

Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. Psalms 62:9

 

Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. Psalms 78:33

 

The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. Psalms 94:11

 

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Psalms 119:37

 

Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. Psalms 144:4

 

Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. Psalms 144:8

 

Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: psalms 144:11

 

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. Proverbs 13:11

 

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. Proverbs 21:6

 

He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. Proverbs 22:8

 

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Proverbs 30:8

 

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 1:2

 

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 1:14

 

I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 2:1

 

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11

 

Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 2:15

 

Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 2:17

 

And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? Yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. Ecclesiastes 2:19

 

For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. Ecclesiastes 2:21

 

For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. Ecclesiastes 2:23

 

For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 2:26

 

For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 3:19

 

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 4:4

 

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. Ecclesiastes 4:7

 

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. Ecclesiastes 4:8

 

There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 4:16

 

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. Ecclesiastes 5:10

 

A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. Ecclesiastes 6:2

 

For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. Ecclesiastes 6:4

 

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. Ecclesiastes 6:9

 

Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? Ecclesiastes 6:11

 

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 7:6

 

All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. Ecclesiastes 7:15

 

And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity. Ecclesiastes 8:10

 

There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 8:14

 

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:9

 

But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. Ecclesiastes 11:8

 

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. Ecclesiastes 11:10

 

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 12:8

 

Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: Isaiah 5:18

 

And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. Isaiah 30:28

 

All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. Isaiah 40:17

 

That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Isaiah 40:23

 

Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion. Isaiah 41:29

 

They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Isaiah 44:9

 

When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain; Isaiah 57:13

 

Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; Isaiah 58:9

 

None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. Isaiah 59:4

 

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? Jeremiah 2:5

 

They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. Jeremiah 10:15

 

O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. Jeremiah 16:19

 

Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up; Jeremiah 18:15

 

They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. Jeremiah 51:18

 

They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. Ezekiel 13:6

 

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 13:8

 

And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 13:9

 

Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 13:23

 

Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end. Ezekiel 21:29

 

And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. Ezekiel 22:28

 

Is there iniquity in Gilead? Surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields. Hosea 12:11

 

Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity? Habakkuk 2:13

 

For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd. Zechariah 10:2

 

Bible verses about vanity KJV New Testament

For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Roman 8:20

 

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Ephesians 4:17

 

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. 2 Peter 2:18

 

Conclusion 

These Bible verses about vanity KJV consistently underscore vanity as a state of emptiness, worthlessness, and the fleeting nature of worldly pursuits.

Throughout the Bible, there are admonitions against being captivated by trivial matters and instead, a call to find true fulfillment in God and His divine purposes.

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