25:14 Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, 1
so is the one who boasts 2 of a gift not given. 3
1 sn The emblem now is one of clouds and winds that would be expected to produce rain; they gain attention and raise people’s expectations but prove to be disappointing when no rain is forthcoming, and hence could be thought of as deceitful.
2 tn The form מִתְהַלֵּל (mithallel) is the Hitpael participle of the well-known word for “praise”; but in this stem it means “to praise oneself” or “to boast.” The description of “windbag” seems appropriate in this context.
3 tn Heb “a gift of falsehood.” This would mean that the individual brags about giving a gift, when there is no gift.