Matthew 15:14

 Matthew 15:14

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

a. ASV: Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

b. YLT: Let them alone, guides they are -- blind of blind; and if blind may guide blind, both into a ditch shall fall.'  [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Classic Amplified:  Let them alone and disregard them; they are blind guides and teachers. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a ditch.  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Peshitta Eastern Text: Leave them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if the blind lead around the blind, both will fall into a pit. [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT. Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

e. NLT: So ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.”  [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

1. “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

a. [Let] them [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

b. alone [Strong: 863 aphíēmi, af-ee'-ay-mee; from G575 and ἵημι híēmi (to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eîmi, to go); to send forth, in various applications (as follow):—cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.]

c. they be [Strong: 1526 eisí, i-see'; 3rd person plural present indicative of G1510; they are:—agree, are, be, dure, × is, were.]

d. blind [Strong: 5185 typhlós, toof-los'; from, G5187; opaque (as if smoky), i.e. (by analogy) blind (physically or mentally):—blind.]

e. leaders [Strong: 3595 hodēgós, hod-ayg-os'; from G3598 and G2233; a conductor (literally or figuratively (teacher)):—guide, leader.]

f. [of the] blind [Strong: 5185 typhlós, toof-los'; from, G5187; opaque (as if smoky), i.e. (by analogy) blind (physically or mentally):—blind.]

1). Jesus was speaking figuratively and spiritually. These folks were not blind physically. They were blind spiritually. 

a). John 9:39-41 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

b). Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Matthew 23:16-23 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

23:17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

23:18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

23:19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

23:20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

23:21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

23:22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

g. And [Strong: 1161 dé, deh; a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:—also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

h. if [Strong: 1437 eán, eh-an'; from G1487 and G302; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty:—before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever).]

i. [the] blind [Strong: 5185 typhlós, toof-los'; from, G5187; opaque (as if smoky), i.e. (by analogy) blind (physically or mentally):—blind.]

j. lead [Strong: 3594 hodēgéō, hod-ayg-eh'-o; from G3595; to show the way (literally or figuratively (teach)):—guide, lead.]

k. [the] blind [Strong: 5185 typhlós, toof-los'; from, G5187; opaque (as if smoky), i.e. (by analogy) blind (physically or mentally):—blind.]

l. both [Strong: 297 amphóteros, am-fot'-er-os; comparative of ἀμφί amphí (around); (in plural) both:—both.]

m. [shall] fall [Strong: 4098 píptō, pip'-to; probably akin to G4072 through the idea of alighting; to fall (literally or figuratively):—fail, fall (down), light on.]

n. into [Strong: 1519 eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:—(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with.]

o. [the] ditch [Strong: bóthynos, both'-oo-nos; akin to G900; a hole (in the ground); specially, a cistern:—ditch, pit.]