Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 25:14
What does Proverbs 25:14 mean?
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Proverbs 25:14
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This verse isn't just about empty promises; it’s about the profound disappointment someone feels when they are led to expect something good, only for it to vanish like clouds without rain. The "gift of falsehood" highlights that the deception is in the promised generosity itself, not just the failure to deliver.
Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb sits within a larger section of Proverbs (chapters 25-29) where wise sayings are compiled, often contrasting foolishness with wisdom and uprightness. It follows verses that caution against quarreling and speaking ill of others, and immediately precedes a proverb about the danger of a ruler accepting bribes. The focus here is on the character of a person whose words and promises are empty, highlighting the disappointment and lack of substance in their claims.
Ever been promised something amazing, only to have it vanish into thin air? This proverb cuts to the heart of that disappointment.
The verse paints a vivid picture of a person who is all talk and no action. They boast about a 'gift of falsehood' – a promise of generosity that is never fulfilled.
Imagine the intense heat of a dry season in ancient Israel. Clouds gather, the wind picks up, and the land thirsts, anticipating a life-giving rain. But then, the clouds pass, the wind dies down, and nothing happens. It's a profound letdown, leaving the land even drier and more desperate.
This is exactly the picture of someone who brags about gifts they haven't given or don't intend to give. Their words create an expectation of relief or benefit, but their actions (or lack thereof) leave others empty-handed and disillusioned.
Beyond the disappointment, what's the deeper problem with empty promises?
This proverb isn't just about unmet expectations; it's about a fundamental breakdown of trust. A 'gift of falsehood' isn't just a lie; it's a betrayal of the trust that generosity is meant to build.
When someone boasts of a gift they don't give, they damage their reputation and erode the confidence others place in them. It's a form of spiritual or relational bankruptcy. Their words puff themselves up ('boasteth himself'), but they bring no actual benefit to anyone else.
This speaks volumes about integrity. True generosity isn't announced with fanfare; it's demonstrated through consistent action. The boastful person is empty, not because they lack the ability to give, but because their heart is set on self-promotion rather than genuine service.
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Understand the original words
hiṯhallēl · Hebrew Verb
Refers to arrogant, empty pride or bragging about possessions or deeds that are not actually performed. It stands in contrast to truthful action.
This passage describes clouds and wind as precursors to rain, highlighting the expectation that these natural signs should bring fulfillment, making the proverb's point about disappointment even sharper.
2 Peter 2:17This New Testament passage uses a very similar image of 'mists driven by a storm' and 'clouds without rain' to describe false teachers who promise much but offer nothing spiritually.
Jude 1:12This book parallels the imagery of 'clouds without rain, carried along by winds' to describe spiritual deceivers who are empty of true spiritual substance.
Matthew 21:18-19Jesus curses a fig tree that looked full of leaves (promising fruit) but had none, illustrating the disappointment and judgment that comes when outward appearance or promises lack substance.
pooleProverbs 25:14: "Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain."
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift, pretending that he hath given, or promising that he will give, a man those gifts, which he neither hath given, nor intendeth to give him, is like clouds and wind without rain; like empty clouds carried about with wind, and not affording that rain which by their appearance they promise.
gillProverbs 25:14: "Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain."
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift,.... Of his charity and alms deeds; bragging of great things he does this way, when he does nothing; or who is very vain in making large promises of what he will give, when he does not perform; either not having it in his heart, or in the power of his hands, to give what he promises; Satan like, who offered to give all the kingdoms of this world to Christ, if he…
This verse isn't just about empty promises; it’s about the profound disappointment someone feels when they are led to expect something good, only for it to vanish like clouds without rain. The "gift of falsehood" highlights that the deception is in the promised generosity itself, not just the failure to deliver.
This proverb sits within a larger section of Proverbs (chapters 25-29) where wise sayings are compiled, often contrasting foolishness with wisdom and uprightness. It follows verses that caution against quarreling and speaking ill of others, and immediately precedes a proverb about the danger of a ruler accepting bribes. The focus here is on the character of a person whose words and promises are empty, highlighting the disappointment and lack of substance in their claims.
This proverb sits within a larger section of Proverbs (chapters 25-29) where wise sayings are compiled, often contrasting foolishness with wisdom and uprightness. It follows verses that caution against quarreling and speaking ill of others, and immediately precedes a proverb about the danger of a ruler accepting bribes. The focus here is on the character of a person whose words and promises are empty, highlighting the disappointment and lack of substance in their claims.
"Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give." — This verse isn't just about empty promises; it’s about the profound disappointment someone feels when they are led to expect something good, only for it to vanish like clouds without rain. The "gift…
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Last reviewed October 2026