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Bible Dictionaries
Blindness
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
or is often used in Scripture to express ignorance or want of discernment in divine things, as well as the being destitute of natural sight. See Isaiah 42:18-19; Isaiah 6:10; Matthew 15:14 . "Blindness of heart" is the want of understanding arising from the influence of vicious passions. "Hardness of heart" is stubbornness of will, and destitution of moral feeling. Moses says, "Thou shalt not put a stumbling block before the blind," Leviticus 19:14 , which may be understood literally; or figuratively, as if Moses recommended that charity and instruction should be shown to them who want light and counsel, or to those who are in danger of going wrong through their ignorance. Moses says also, "Cursed be he who maketh the blind to wander out of his way," Deuteronomy 27:18 , which may also be taken in the same manner. An ignorant or erring teacher is compared by our Lord to a blind man leading a blind man;—a strong representation of the presumption of him that professes to teach the way of salvation without due qualifications, and of the danger of that implicit faith which is often placed by the people in the authority of man, to the neglect of the Holy Scriptures.
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Watson, Richard. Entry for 'Blindness'. Richard Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/wtd/b/blindness.html. 1831-2.
