Bible Dictionary
REPETITIONS
Vain repetitions are empty or mechanical words used in prayer. Jesus warned against heathen-like much speaking, teaching that prayer should not depend on meaningless formulas or length alone.
Definition
Vain repetitions are empty, mechanical, or meaningless forms of speech used in prayer. The expression may refer either to repeated phrases or to lengthy recitation of obscure formulas.
Biblical Usage
Jesus warned against using vain repetitions in prayer, identifying such speech with heathen custom and “much speaking.” The warning concerns reliance on mechanical or excessive words rather than genuine prayer.
Historical Background
The Greek word occurs only in Matthew 6:7 and has several manuscript spellings. Its precise derivation and whether it means repeated phrases or meaningless formulas cannot be determined with certainty.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>rep-e-tish'-unz: In Mt 6:7 only, "Use not vain repetitions," for battalogeo (so Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus), a word found nowhere else and spelled variously in the manuscripts, battologeo in Codices K, L, M; etc., batologeo in Codices F G, blattologeo in Codex Bezae (probably influenced by the Latin blatero, "talk idly"); presumably connected with battarizo, "stammer," and perhaps formed under the influence of the Aramaic beta', "speak carelessly," or baTel, "useless." Whether, however battalogeo means the constant repetition of the same phrase or the mechanical recitation of a long series of obscure or meaningless formulas (if, indeed, a distinction between the acts was thought of) cannot be determined. Either practice is abundantly evidenced as a "heathen" custom of the day, and either can be classed as "much speaking."</p><p>See PRAYER.</p><p>Burton Scott Easton</p>