Luke 6:39

New Century Version

Jesus told them this story: "Can a blind person lead another blind person? No! Both of them will fall into a ditch.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus told them this story: "Can a blind man lead another blind man? No. Both of them will fall into a ditch.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And he put forthe a similitude vnto the: Can the blynde leade ye blynde? Do they not both then fall into ye dyche?

Hebrew Names Version
He spoke a parable to them. "Can the blind guide the blind? Won't they both fall into a pit?

International Standard Version
He also told them a parable: "One blind person can't lead another blind person, can he? Both will fall into a ditch, won't they?Matthew 15:14;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
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?

Update Bible Version
And he spoke also a parable to them, Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?

Webster's Bible Translation
And he spoke a parable to them; Can the blind lead the blind? will they not both fall into the ditch?

Amplified Bible
He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man guide [another] blind man? Will they not both fall into a hole in the ground?

English Standard Version
He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

World English Bible
He spoke a parable to them. "Can the blind guide the blind? Won't they both fall into a pit?

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he spoke a parable to them, Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a ditch?

Weymouth's New Testament
He also spoke to them in figurative language. "Can a blind man lead a blind man?" He asked; "would not both fall into the ditch?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide to hem a liknesse, Whether the blynde may leede the blynde? ne fallen thei not bothe `in to the diche?

English Revised Version
And he spake also a parable unto them, Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?

Berean Standard Bible
Jesus also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

Contemporary English Version
Jesus also used some sayings as he spoke to the people. He said: Can one blind person lead another blind person? Won't they both fall into a ditch?

American Standard Version
And he spake also a parable unto them, Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?

Bible in Basic English
And he gave them teaching in the form of a story, saying, Is it possible for one blind man to be guide to another? will they not go falling together into a hole?

Complete Jewish Bible
He also told them a parable: "Can one blind man lead another blind man? Won't they both fall into a pit?

Darby Translation
And he spoke also a parable to them: Can a blind [man] lead a blind [man]? shall not both fall into [the] ditch?

Etheridge Translation
And he spake to them a parable: How can the blind lead the blind, and not fall into the ditch ?

Murdock Translation
And he spake a similitude to them: Can a blind man lead a blind? Will not both fall into the ditch?

King James Version (1611)
And hee spake a parable vnto them, Can the blinde leade the blinde? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?

New Living Translation
Then Jesus gave the following illustration: "Can one blind person lead another? Won't they both fall into a ditch?

New Life Bible
Jesus used a picture-story as He spoke to them. He said, "Can one blind man lead another blind man? Will they not fall into the ditch together?

New Revised Standard
He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?

Geneva Bible (1587)
And he spake a parable vnto them, Can the blinde leade the blinde? shall they not both fall into the ditche?

George Lamsa Translation
And he told them a parable, Can a blind man take care of a blind man? will they not both fall in a pit?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
He spake, moreover, a parable also, unto them: Can, the blind, guide, the blind? will not, both, fall into, a ditch?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he spoke also to them a similitude: Can the blind lead the blind? Do they not both fall into the ditch?

Revised Standard Version
He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he put foorth a similitude vnto them: Can the blynde leade the blynde? Do they not both fall into the ditche?

Good News Translation
And Jesus told them this parable: "One blind man cannot lead another one; if he does, both will fall into a ditch.

Christian Standard Bible®
He also told them a parable: “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit?

King James Version
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?

Lexham English Bible
And he also told them a parable: "Surely a blind person cannot lead the blind, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?

Literal Translation
And He spoke a parable to them: A blind one is not able to guide a blind one. Will they not both fall into the ditch?

Young's Literal Translation
And he spake a simile to them, `Is blind able to lead blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he sayde a symilitude vnto the: Can the blynde shewe the waye to ye blynde? Do they not both the fall in to the dyche?

Mace New Testament (1729)
And by way of comparison he said to them, can the blind lead the blind without tumbling both into the ditch?

THE MESSAGE
He quoted a proverb: "‘Can a blind man guide a blind man?' Wouldn't they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn't lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.

New English Translation
He also told them a parable: "Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he? Won't they both fall into a pit?

New King James Version
And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?

Simplified Cowboy Version
Jesus then told 'em this story, "Can the blind lead the blind in canyon country? No! They'll both fall off a cliff.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And He also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?

Legacy Standard Bible
And He also spoke a parable to them: "Can a blind man guide a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

Contextual Overview

³⁷ "Don't judge others, and you will not be judged. Don't accuse others of being guilty, and you will not be accused of being guilty. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. Pressed down, shaken together, and running over, it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you." ³⁹ Jesus told them this story: "Can a blind person lead another blind person? No! Both of them will fall into a ditch. ⁴⁰ A student is not better than the teacher, but the student who has been fully trained will be like the teacher. ⁴¹ "Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the big piece of wood in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your friend, ‘Friend, let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye' when you cannot see that big piece of wood in your own eye! You hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend's eye. ⁴³ "A good tree does not produce bad fruit, nor does a bad tree produce good fruit. ⁴⁴ Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don't gather figs from thornbushes, and they don't get grapes from bushes. ⁴⁵ Good people bring good things out of the good they stored in their hearts. But evil people bring evil things out of the evil they stored in their hearts. People speak the things that are in their hearts. ⁴⁶ "Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I say?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Can: Isaiah 9:16, Isaiah 56:10, Matthew 15:14, Matthew 23:16-26, Romans 2:19, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, 2 Timothy 3:13

shall: Jeremiah 6:15, Jeremiah 8:12, Jeremiah 14:15, Jeremiah 14:16, Micah 3:6, Micah 3:7, Zechariah 11:15-17, Matthew 23:33

Reciprocal: Proverbs 16:22 - the instruction

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he spake a parable unto them,.... The Vulgate Latin reads, "he spake also a parable unto them"; besides what he said; and the Arabic version renders it, "another similitude", parable, or proverb, distinct from the comparisons, allusions, and proverbial expressions in the preceding verses. Though it should be observed, that these words were not spoken at the same time, nor on the mount, as the foregoing were; but this, and what follow, are a collection of various expressions of Christ at different times, some delivered on the mount, and others elsewhere; unless it should be rather thought, that these proverbs and sentences were repeated at different places and times, which is not improbable:

can the blind lead the blind? they may do so, as the blind Scribes and Pharisees led the blind people of the Jews, which is what our Lord intends; but if they do, as they did,

shall they not both fall into the ditch? yes, verily, what else can be expected? :-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage fully illustrated in the sermon on the mount, in Matt. 5–7.

Luke 6:21

That hunger now - Matthew has it, “that hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Matthew has expressed more fully what Luke has briefly, but there is no contradiction.

Luke 6:24-26

These verses have been omitted by Matthew. They seem to have been spoken to the Pharisees.

Who are rich - In this world’s goods. They loved them; they had sought for them; they found their consolation in them. It implies, farther, that they would not seek or receive consolation from the gospel. They were proud, and would not seek it; satisfied, and did not desire it; filled with cares, and had no time or disposition to attend to it. All the consolation which they had reason to expect they had received. Alas! how poor and worthless is such consolation, compared with that which the gospel would give!

Woe unto you that are full! - Not hungry. Satisfied with their wealth, and not feeling their need of anything better than earthly wealth can give. Many, alas! are thus “full.” They profess to be satisfied. They desire nothing but wealth, and a sufficiency to satisfy the wants of the body. They have no anxiety for the riches that shall endure forever.

Ye shall hunger - Your property shall be taken away, or you shall see that it is of little value; and then you shall see the need of something better. You shall feel your want and wretchedness, and shall “hunger” for something to satisfy the desires of a dying, sinful soul.

That laugh now - Are happy, or thoughtless, or joyful, or filled with levity.

Shall mourn and weep - The time is coming when you shall sorrow deeply. In sickness, in calamity, in the prospect of death, in the fear of eternity, your laughter shall be turned into sorrow. “There is” a place where you cannot laugh, and there you will see the folly of having passed the “proper time” of preparing for such scenes in levity and folly. Alas! how many thus spend their youth! and how many weep when it is too late! God gives them over, and “laughs” at their “calamity,” and mocks when their fear comes, Proverbs 1:26. To be happy in “such scenes,” it is necessary to be sober, humble, pious in early life. “Then” we need not weep in the day of calamity; then there will be no terror in death; then there will be nothing to fear in the grave.

Luke 6:26

When all men shall speak well of you - When they shall praise or applaud you. The people of the world will not praise or applaud “my” doctrine; they are “opposed” to it, and therefore, if they speak well of “you” and of “your teachings,” it is proof that you do not teach the true doctrine. If you do “not” do this, then there will be woe upon you. If men teach false doctrines for true; if they declare that God has spoken that which he has not spoken, and if they oppose what he “has” delivered, then heavy punishments will await them.

For so did their fathers - The fathers or ancestors of this people; the ancient Jews.

To the false prophets - Men who pretended to be of God - who delivered their “own” doctrines as the truth of God, and who accommodated themselves to the desires of the people. Of this number were the prophets of Baal, the false prophets who appeared in the time of Jeremiah, etc.

Luke 6:27, Luke 6:28

See Matthew 5:44-45.

Luke 6:29

See Matthew 5:39-40.

Luke 6:30

See Matthew 5:42.

Luke 6:31

See Matthew 7:12.

Luke 6:32-36

See Matthew 5:46-48.

Luke 6:37-42

See Matthew 7:1-9.

Luke 6:38

Good measure - They shall give you good measure, or “full” measure.

Pressed down - As figs or grapes might be, and thus many more might be put into the measure.

Shaken together - To make it more compact, and thus to give more.

Running over - So full that the measure would overflow.

Shall men give - This is said to be the reward of “giving” to the poor and needy; and the meaning is that the man who is liberal will find others liberal to him in dealing with them, and when he is also in circumstances of want. A man who is himself kind to the poor - who has that “character” established - will find many who are ready to help “him” abundantly when he is in want. He that is parsimonious, close, niggardly, will find few or none who will aid him.

Into your bosom - That is, to you. The word “bosom” here has reference to a custom among Oriental nations of making the bosom or front part of their garments large, so that articles could be carried in them, answering the purpose of our pockets. Compare Exodus 4:6-7; Proverbs 6:27; Ruth 3:15.

Luke 6:39

A parable - A proverb or similitude.

Can the blind lead the blind? - See the notes at Matthew 15:14.

Luke 6:40

The disciple is not ... - The learner is not above his teacher, does not know more, and must expect to fare no better. This seems to have been spoken to show them that they were not to expect that their disciples would go “beyond them” in attainments; that if they were blind, their followers would be also; and that therefore it was important for them to understand fully the doctrines of the gospel, and not to be blind leaders of the blind.

Every one that is perfect - The word rendered “is perfect” means sometimes to repair or mend, and is thus applied to mending nets, Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19. Hence, it means to repair or amend in a moral sense, or to make whole or complete. Here it means, evidently, “thoroughly instructed” or “informed.” The Christian should be like his Master - holy, harmless, and undefiled, and separate from sinners. He should copy his example, and grow into the likeness of his Redeemer. Nor can any other be a Christian.

Luke 6:41, Luke 6:42

See the notes at Matthew 7:3-5.

Luke 6:43, Luke 6:44

See the notes at Matthew 7:16-18.

Luke 6:45

This verse is not found in the sermon on the mount as recorded by Matthew, but is recorded by him in Matthew 12:35. See the notes at that passage.

Luke 6:46-49

See the notes at Matthew 7:21-27.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 39. Can the blind lead the blind? — This appears to have been a general proverb, and to signify that a man cannot teach what he does not understand. This is strictly true in spiritual matters. A man who is not illuminated from above is utterly incapable of judging concerning spiritual things, and wholly unfit to be a guide to others. Is it possible that a person who is enveloped with the thickest darkness should dare either to judge of the state of others, or attempt to lead them in that path of which he is totally ignorant! If he do, must not his judgment be rashness, and his teaching folly? - and does he not endanger his own soul, and run the risk of falling into the ditch of perdition himself, together with the unhappy objects of his religious instruction?