VANITY
The terms “vanity” and “vain” are frequently found in the Bible to give the idea of that which is empty, fleeting, worthless.
Idolatry and evil fall within this, as things that are not only bad, but also vain and empty. They also denote falsehood.
The main Hebrew term. translated “vanity” is “hebhel”, lit. “a breath of air, or from the mouth.” It’s used:
from the worship of idols (1 Sam. 12:21; 1 Kings 16:13; Ps. 31:6, etc.);
of man and the days of him on the earth (Jb. 7:16; Ps. 144:4, etc.);
from the thoughts of man (Ps. 94:11);
of his possessions (Prov. 13:11);
of everything that man is concerned with pertaining to this sphere under the sun (Eccl. 1:2; 4:7, etc.).
Creation itself, through the fall of man, is subject to vanity (Rom. 8:20), from which it will only be delivered at the manifestation of Christ (Rom. 8:21).
Man without God is chained in a vanity of emptiness and frustration, of guilt and death, from which he can only be freed by turning from all of this to the Lord Jesus, who can save him and introduce him to an abundant life (Eph. 4:17; Tit. 1:10; Acts 14:15; Jn. 10:10).