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ἄχρηστος

áchrēstos

G890 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Not useful, lacking in utility or benefit; ineffective or unserviceable in fulfilling a purpose. In extended contexts, can mean worthless, unprofitable, or detrimental due to inability to provide value.

Semantic Range

not useful, unprofitable, ineffective, unserviceable, worthless, lacking value, detrimental

Root / Etymology

From the alpha privative (ἀ-, negative particle) prefixed to χρηστός (chrēstos, 'useful', 'serviceable'). Hence, 'not useful'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἄχρηστος is rare in Greek literature, attested as early as the classical period but most frequently in Hellenistic and Koine sources. It is formed transparently as a negative of χρηστός, which means 'good', 'serviceable', or 'kind'. In Classical Greek, it denotes a lack of usefulness or value, frequently describing people or things incapable of fulfilling a function. In the Septuagint and New Testament (e.g., Romans 3:12; Philemon 1:11), its sense is largely moral or functional, referring to persons or actions that fail to achieve their intended or expected purpose. English translations often render as 'unprofitable', 'worthless', or 'useless', but the semantic emphasis lies on the absence of usefulness, not necessarily active harm. The nuance may shift toward 'detrimental' or 'harmful' when the lack of utility undermines a functional or moral expectation. Distinct from κακός ('evil', 'bad'), which emphasizes negative moral quality, ἄχρηστος focuses on ineffectiveness or lack of beneficial purpose. The related term ἀνωφελής also means 'unprofitable, unhelpful', though ἄχρηστος is more closely tied to the concept of usefulness (χρήσις, 'use').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a negative particle) and χρηστός; inefficient, i.e. (by implication) detrimental:--unprofitable.

Root Family

ἄχρηστος (achrēstos) — not useful, unserviceable, unprofitable, ineffective

Root χρηστ- to be useful, to be serviceable, to benefit

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G890-01 ἄχρηστον achreston ADJ.S ACC M SG useless unserviceable one useless 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G890-01 Philemon 1:11 ἄχρηστον achreston ADJ.S ACC M SG useless unserviceable one useless
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