Deuteronomy 27:18

Modern

‘Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Traditional

Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Literal

‘Cursed is he who causes a blind man to err in the road.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Latin

Maledictus qui errare facit cæcum in itinere: et dicet omnis populus: Amen.

Hebrew

English

‘Cursed is he who lets a blind man wander in the road.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

blind man: This curse applied not only to a blind person, but to the mistreatment of people with physical disabilities or other disadvantages.

Such cruel behavior was not acceptable for a member of the covenant community (God’s people bound by his promises and commands).

Within this community, people were to treat one another fairly and with care.

Mount Gerizim is just west of Mount Ebal. Shechem is in the valley between them.
to bless: God positioned the tribes or their representatives carefully. This was so that while the Levites read the covenant from the valley below, the other tribes would respond by shouting "Amen!" This is a Hebrew term that means "May it be so." They said this to show their agreement with the terms of the covenant.

Theme notes and profiles

Leviticus 19:14
You must not curse the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD.
Proverbs 28:10
He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.
Matthew 15:14
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Isaiah 56:10
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
Job 29:15
I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.
Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.