ἀχρεῖος

From the study of Matthew 25:30

Range of meaning

Made from a- ("not") and chreios ("useful, needed"; compare chreia, "need, use"): useless, of no use, unprofitable, yielding nothing. It is used of tools, animals, soldiers or slaves that do not do the job they exist for. It can carry contempt ("good-for-nothing"), but its centre is about function and return, not inner worth.

Against the English

KJV/WEB/YLT have "unprofitable", which is close to the word's root and fits a story about money. BSB, ESV, NIV and NASB have "worthless". To a modern ear that can sound like a verdict on the man's value as a person. NLT's "useless" is accurate.

How it drifted

In current English "worthless" mostly describes a person's self-worth or moral value ("you're worthless"). The Greek word describes failure to produce. The slave gave his master back exactly what he received and nothing more (v. 25).

Used elsewhere in the period

The same word appears in Luke 17:10, where obedient slaves say of themselves, "we are achreioi slaves; we have only done what we were told". There it means slaves who have earned no special credit, so it is plainly about usefulness, not worth. In the Greek Old Testament (2 Sam 6:22) David says he will be achreios, contemptible or of no account, in his own eyes. The related verb achreioō ("become useless") appears in Romans 3:12, quoting Psalm 14:3 (LXX 13:3).

From the study of Luke 17:10

Range of meaning

Formed from a- ("not") and chreios ("useful, needed"; related to chreia, "need, use"). The basic sense is useless, unprofitable, good for nothing. It could describe objects (a useless vessel), people of no account, or, in a softer sense, someone who has brought in no gain. BDAG gives "useless, worthless" and notes that in Luke 17:10 it is probably weakened to something like "we are mere slaves" or "slaves who deserve no special praise".

Against the English

KJV "unprofitable" stays closest to the word's root (no profit). "Unworthy" (BSB, WEB, NIV, ESV, NASB) is softer and sounds moral. To a modern ear it suggests "undeserving" or "of low value as a person". NRSV "worthless" and CSB "good-for-nothing" are blunt. NET's "undeserving of special praise" spells out the meaning in context.

How it drifted

In older English, "unworthy" could simply mean "not deserving (of a reward)", which fits the verse. Today it is more often heard as a verdict on someone's value or self-worth. That moves the focus from "I have no claim" to "I am worth nothing".

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX), David says he will be ἀχρεῖος in his own eyes (2 Sam 6:22), meaning lowly and of no account, in contrast to royal dignity. The Letter of Jeremiah (v.17) uses the word for a broken, useless vessel. In the New Testament it appears only here and in Matt 25:30, where the "worthless slave" is the one who buried his talent and produced no return. There too the issue is lack of profit to the master. The related verb ἀχρειόω ("become useless") appears in Rom 3:12, quoting Ps 14:3.