ἀνωφελής (anōphelēs)
anōphelēs
useless
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective anōphelēs describes something that is entirely without benefit or profit. Its structure makes this clear: it combines a negative prefix with a root meaning "advantage" or "profit," resulting in the literal sense of "not profitable." In Scripture, this word carries a sharp judgment against activities or teachings that yield no spiritual gain.
It appears only twice in the New Testament, both times to critique specific behaviors. In Titus 3:9, Paul warns believers to avoid foolish controversies and genealogies, labeling them anōphelēs because they produce nothing of value for faith. Similarly, Hebrews 7:18 uses the neuter form as a noun to describe the former commandment regarding the Levitical priesthood, calling it weak and useless in light of Christ’s superior ministry.
The word serves as a stark contrast to what is truly edifying. It does not merely suggest inefficiency but total futility. Where spiritual work should build up the community, anōphelēs actions drain energy without offering any return, leaving the participant with nothing but wasted time and effort.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anōphelēs reminds us that not all effort leads to growth. In Titus 3:9, Paul calls certain disputes unprofitable because they drain energy without building faith. This helps us see that busy-ness is not always holiness. We can choose conversations that nourish rather than those that merely exhaust.
Hebrews 7:18 shows how old ways can become useless when a better hope arrives. The former commandment was weak and useless because it could not fix the heart. This offers comfort when we feel stuck in rituals that no longer bring life. God invites us to rest in what truly works.
Let this word guide your daily choices. Ask if your current struggles or arguments are producing fruit. If they are anōphelēs, step back. There is peace in letting go of what yields nothing and focusing on what connects you to Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- uselessness —1×
- unprofitable1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνωφελές,1×
- ἀνωφελεῖς1×
Key Verses
-
Titus 3:9
but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
Paul uses this word to label foolish disputes as entirely without spiritual value, warning believers against wasting energy on arguments that do not build up the church.
-
Hebrews 7:18
For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
The author describes the old Levitical commandment as useless because its inherent weakness could not bring perfection, making way for Christ’s superior ministry.