Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 27:18
‘Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the gathered people of Israel during the covenant ratification ceremony, pronouncing a series of conditional curses.
The words — The verse centers on מַשְׁגֶּ֥ה (mash.Geh), meaning one who leads astray, and עִוֵּ֖ר ('i.Ver), meaning a blind person.
The thread — The text directly parallels Leviticus 19:14, is conceptually linked to Proverbs 28:10 regarding those who lead the upright into evil, and is applied in Matthew 15:14 to spiritual leaders who misguide others.
Why it lands — The text commands readers to prevent harm to those who cannot see immediate dangers, requiring active intervention rather than passive indifference.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 19:14 You must not curse the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD.
- Proverbs 28:10 He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.
- Matthew 15:14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
- Job 29:15 I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.
- Isaiah 56:10 Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
- Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.