English Standard Version
Luke 6:39
39He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
Luke 6:39 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
- New International Version (NIV)He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?
- New King James Version (NKJV)And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch?
Context of Luke 6:39
37"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
Read all of Luke 6Luke 6:39 word by word
εἶπεν δὲ καὶ παραβολὴν αὐτοῖς· μήτι δύναται τυφλὸς τυφλὸν ὁδηγεῖν; οὐχὶ ἀμφότεροι εἰς βόθυνον ἐμπεσοῦνται;¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- he spakeλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- a parableπαραβολήparabolē · parableG3850
- unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- ·μήτιmēti · surely notG3385
- Canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- the blindτυφλόςtuphlos · blindG5185
- leadὁδηγέωhodēgeō · to guideG3594
- shall theyπίπτωpiptō petō · to collapseG4098
- notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
- bothἀμφότεροςamphoteros · bothG297
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the ditchβόθυνοςbothunos · pitG999
Cross-references for Luke 6:39
- Isaiah 9:16for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.
- Isaiah 56:10His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
- Matthew 15:14Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."
- Matthew 23:16"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'
- Romans 2:19and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
- 1 Timothy 6:3If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,
- 2 Timothy 3:13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
- Jeremiah 6:15Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown," says the Lord.
- Jeremiah 8:12Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the Lord.
- Jeremiah 14:15Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not come upon this land': By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.
- Micah 3:6Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them;
- Zechariah 11:15Then the Lord said to me, "Take once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd.
- Matthew 23:33You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?
Commentaries on Luke 6:39
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 39Can 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20-49Verses 20-49 See this passage fully illustrated in the sermon on the mount, in 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 37-49Verses 37-49 All these sayings Christ often used; it was easy to apply them. We ought to be very careful when we blame others; for we need allowance ourselves. If we are of a giving and a forgiving spirit, we shall ourselves reap the benefit. Though full and exact returns are made in another world, not in this world, yet Providence does what should encourage us in doing good. Those who follow the multitude to do evil, follow in the broad way that leads to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37-42Do not judge: Jesus condemned judging others in a way that is not honest by acting better than them. Those who judge others this way will experience that same standard. God wants his people to love others by warning them about the dangers of sin (Galatians 6:1; Hebrews 3:13). To encourage is an act of love. To judge as a hypocrite is an act of pride.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3939. Can the blind, &c.--not in the Sermon on the Mount, but recorded by Matthew in another and very striking connection (Mt 15:14).Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 6:39
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries