The Greek adjective eleeinos means "pitiable" or "miserable" — in a state that deserves compassion. It is related to eleos (mercy/compassion). The word appears in Revelation 3:17 (Laodicea: "you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked") and in 1 Corinthians 15:19 ("if only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied").
Eleeinos (pitiable/miserable) is used in Scripture to describe two opposite situations. In Revelation 3:17, Laodicea considers itself rich but is actually eleeinos — pitiable. They have mistaken comfort for blessing and wealth for spiritual health. In 1 Corinthians 15:19, Paul uses eleeinos hypothetically: if the resurrection is not real, Christians who have suffered for a future hope are the most pitiable of all people. The word confronts both false security (Laodicea) and the radical stakes of the resurrection hope.