Proverbs 25:14

ยถ Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain.

Whoso {H376} boasteth {H1984} himself of a false {H8267} gift {H4991} is like clouds {H5387} and wind {H7307} without rain {H1653}.

Like clouds and wind that bring no rain is he who boasts of gifts he never gives.

Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given.

As clouds and wind without rain, So ishe that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.

Commentary

Proverbs 25:14 delivers a vivid metaphor to describe the futility and disappointment associated with empty boasting and unfulfilled promises. It likens someone who claims to possess a valuable "gift" but delivers nothing to "clouds and wind without rain"โ€”a frustrating spectacle in a land dependent on precipitation.

Context

This verse is part of the collection of King Solomon's proverbs, specifically those "copied out" by the men of King Hezekiah of Judah (Proverbs 25:1). Proverbs, as a genre, offers practical wisdom for righteous living, often using concise, memorable comparisons. This particular proverb speaks directly to the importance of integrity, highlighting the negative consequences of pretense and the destructive nature of hypocrisy. It fits within a broader theme in Proverbs that values truthfulness and substance over mere appearance, contrasting genuine character with deceitful outward show.

Key Themes

  • Empty Boasting and Deception: The core message warns against those who brag about what they don't have or can't deliver. This "false gift" could be a claim of generosity, skill, influence, or even spiritual endowment that lacks substance.
  • Futility and Disappointment: Just as clouds and wind promise rain but deliver none, an individual who boasts falsely creates expectation only to lead to profound disappointment. Such a person is ultimately useless and frustrating, failing to provide what is anticipated or needed.
  • Integrity vs. Pretense: The proverb implicitly champions authenticity and genuine character. It underscores the value of actions over words, and substance over superficial claims, echoing the sentiment that "lying lips are abomination to the LORD".

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "false gift" translates the Hebrew matat sheqer (ืžึทืชึผึทืชึพืฉืึธืงึถืจ), which literally means "a gift of falsehood" or "a deceptive gift." This emphasizes that the very nature of the claimed gift is one of untruth or emptiness. It's not just a gift given with wrong motives, but a claim of a gift that is fundamentally non-existent or misleading. The verb "boasteth" (Hebrew yithallell) means to praise oneself, to glory in, or to make a show of. This highlights the self-aggrandizing nature of the individual described.

Related Scriptures

The imagery of "clouds and wind without rain" is a powerful biblical motif for emptiness and unreliability. The New Testament similarly uses this imagery to describe false teachers who promise much but deliver spiritual drought, as seen in Jude 1:12, which speaks of "clouds they are without water, carried about of winds." This concept is also aligned with the broader biblical emphasis on God's faithfulness, in stark contrast to human unreliability, as expressed in Numbers 23:19: "God is not a man, that he should lie."

Practical Application

Proverbs 25:14 serves as a timeless warning against pretense in all areas of life.

  • Personal Integrity: It challenges us to examine whether our words align with our actions. Do we truly possess the qualities or resources we claim, or are we merely creating an illusion? Authenticity builds trust, while boasting about false gifts erodes it.
  • Spiritual Authenticity: In a spiritual context, this proverb warns against claiming spiritual gifts, knowledge, or piety that is not genuinely present or exercised. True spiritual power is demonstrated through humble service and tangible fruit, not empty declarations, echoing the call to show our faith by our works.
  • Discerning Others: This proverb also equips us to discern those who make grand claims without substance. Just as a farmer learns to distinguish between rain-bearing clouds and empty promises in the sky, we learn to evaluate people by their fruit, not just their boasts.

Ultimately, the verse encourages a life of genuine substance, where one's character and contributions speak louder than any self-proclaimed virtues.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Proverbs 20:6

    ยถ Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

  • Luke 14:11

    For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

  • 2 Peter 2:15

    Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

  • 2 Peter 2:19

    While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

  • Jude 1:16

    These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:31

    The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

  • Luke 18:10

    Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
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