Now He also spoke a parable to them: “A person who is blind cannot guide another who is blind, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?
Parallel translations
- WEB He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit?
- KJV And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
- BSB Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
- NKJV And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?
- NLT Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus warns with a parable that a blind guide leads others into ruin. Those who teach and lead must themselves first see clearly.
Overview
This short parable cautions against following or becoming spiritually blind guides, likely directed at self-righteous leaders. The disciple's understanding must be shaped by Christ before he can help others. True sight comes only from the One who is the light of the world, lest both leader and follower fall together.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Matt 15:14Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
- 2 Tim 3:13But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
- Jer 14:15–16Therefore Yahweh says concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name, and I didn’t send them, yet they say, ‘Sword and famine will not be in this land.’ Those prophets will be consumed by sword and famine.
- Matt 23:16–26“Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’
- Isa 9:16For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.
- 1 Tim 6:3–5If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,
- Zech 11:15–17Yahweh said to me, “Take for yourself yet again the equipment of a foolish shepherd.
- Isa 56:10His watchmen are blind. They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs. They can’t bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
- Jer 8:12Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among those who fall; in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, says Yahweh.
- Jer 6:15Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I visit them, they shall be cast down,” says Yahweh.
- Matt 23:33You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of Gehenna?
- Rom 2:19and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
- Mic 3:6–7“Therefore night is over you, with no vision, and it is dark to you, that you may not divine; and the sun will go down on the prophets, and the day will be black over them.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 6:39 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.