Jesus begins teaching in the plain of Judea and switches topics.
Luke 6:39 Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Luke 6:39 “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?
* Much less does blind have the power to lead blind. Assuredly not! Both will fall into a pit.
One obscure idea cannot support another obscure idea.
*The Greek starts with an untranslated adverb meaning "much less." The "can" is a verb that means "has power."
The words translated as "blind" are singular, not plural, with no "the" before them. It means phyically blind, but also lacking foresight, a vision of the future. The word translated "both" is not the common "both" because it refers to both types of blindness as well as both people. The uncommon Greek word means "both sides" and "both ways" as well as "both together." Unlike the common word for "both," it implies two different way together.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "much less" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence. This is not an active verb, but an infinitive.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "blind" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "lead " is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to lead ."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "blind" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the specific meaning of the word, which is more extreme.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "much less" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "can" is not a helper verb, but the active verb in the sentence. This is not an active verb, but an infinitive.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "blind" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "lead " is not an active verb but an infinitive, "to lead ."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "blind" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the specific meaning of the word, which is more extreme.
missing "much less" -- (MW) The untranslated word "much less" means "let alone", "much less", "do I [in direct questions], : "let alone", "much less", "lest any one", "lest anything", "that no one," and "that nothing." Or it could be the dative form of the noun meaning "wisdom", "skill", "craft", "counsel", " plan," and "undertaking."
Can -- (CW) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. See this article.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
blind -- (WN) "The blind" is a word that means both physically and mentally blind. It also means all things that are obscure. It has no article "the" before it. This word is not plural but singular.
lead . - (WF) The word translated as "lead" is the verb form of the noun "leaders" used before. It means "to lead one upon his way," and "to guide." These concepts were also used for those who helped those ignorant of a given area.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
blind -- (WN) "The blind" is a word that means both physically and mentally blind. It also means all things that are obscure. It has no article "the" before it. This word is not plural but singular.
shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are need ed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
not --(CW) The word translated as "not" is a different form of the usual Greek negative of fact meaning "no truly," "assuredly not," "not however," "nevertheless," and "notwithstanding." This word can have a reversing effect, making a negative into a positive, with questions. Used in questions where an affirmative answer is expected. Used in answers where a "yes" must be supplied. Perhaps best translated as an "isn't it?" at the end of the sentence. The fact that ancient Greek has no clear verb form for questions makes interpreting it difficult.
both -- The word translated as "both" means "both sides" and "both ways" as well as "both together." It is chosen because unlike the common word for "both," it implies two different ways or sides together.
fall -- "Fall" is translated from a Greek word that means "to fall" and "to fall down." It is the root word for dozens of Greek terms involving moving from a higher state to a lower one. Like our word "to fall" it has a number of special meanings including "to fall into a given class," "to prostrate," "to fall from power," "to perish," and so on.
into -- The word translated as "unto" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
ditch? - "Pit" is a word that means "pit" or "well." It is a verb that means "to make deep," "deep," and, interestingly, "poverty." Its use here seems to indicate a "wallow" or "pond."
missing "much less" -- (MW) The untranslated word "much less" means "let alone", "much less", "do I [in direct questions], : "let alone", "much less", "lest any one", "lest anything", "that no one," and "that nothing." Or it could be the dative form of the noun meaning "wisdom", "skill", "craft", "counsel", " plan," and "undertaking."
Can -- (CW) The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates ability or power. This is the active verb here, not a helper verb. It takes an infinitive as "have the ability" does in English. See this article.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
blind -- (WN) "The blind" is a word that means both physically and mentally blind. It also means all things that are obscure. It has no article "the" before it. This word is not plural but singular.
lead . - (WF) The word translated as "lead" is the verb form of the noun "leaders" used before. It means "to lead one upon his way," and "to guide." These concepts were also used for those who helped those ignorant of a given area.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
blind -- (WN) "The blind" is a word that means both physically and mentally blind. It also means all things that are obscure. It has no article "the" before it. This word is not plural but singular.
Will -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are need ed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.
they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
not --(CW) The word translated as "not" is a different form of the usual Greek negative of fact meaning "no truly," "assuredly not," "not however," "nevertheless," and "notwithstanding." This word can have a reversing effect, making a negative into a positive, with questions. Used in questions where an affirmative answer is expected. Used in answers where a "yes" must be supplied. Perhaps best translated as an "isn't it?" at the end of the sentence. The fact that ancient Greek has no clear verb form for questions makes interpreting it difficult.
both -- The word translated as "both" means "both sides" and "both ways" as well as "both together." It is chosen because unlike the common word for "both," it implies two different ways or sides together.
fall -- "Fall" is translated from a Greek word that means "to fall" and "to fall down." It is the root word for dozens of Greek terms involving moving from a higher state to a lower one. Like our word "to fall" it has a number of special meanings including "to fall into a given class," "to prostrate," "to fall from power," "to perish," and so on.
into -- The word translated as "unto" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "in regards to" a subject, "up to" limits in measures, "until" in reference to time, "within" a time limit, and "for" a purpose or object.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
pit? - "Pit" is a word that means "pit" or "well." It is a verb that means "to make deep," "deep," and, interestingly, "poverty." Its use here seems to indicate a "wallow" or "pond."
Μήτι [3 verses](adv) Untranslated is metis, which is an adverb, meaning "let alone", "much less", "do I [in direct questions], : "let alone", "much less", "lest any one", "lest anything", "that no one," and "that nothing." Or it could be the dative form of the noun meaning "wisdom", "skill", "craft", "counsel", " plan," and "undertaking."
δύναται [61 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind mp)"Can" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities," "to be able," and "to be strong enough."
τυφλὸς [15 verses](adj sg masc nom) "Blind" is typhlos, which means "blind," "lacking vision of the future," "dark," "dim," "obscure," "hidden," and "no outlet (of passages)."
τυφλὸν [15 verses](adj sg masc acc) "The blind" is typhlos, which means "blind," "lacking vision of the future," "dark," "dim," "obscure," "hidden," and "no outlet (of passages)."
ὁδηγεῖν; [3 verses](verb pres inf act) "Lead" is the verb hodêgeô, which means "to lead one upon his way," and "to guide." These concepts were also used for those who helped those ignorant of a given area
οὐχὶ [23 verses](partic)"Not" is ouchi, an adverb which means "no," "no truly," "assuredly not," "not however," "nevertheless," "notwithstanding," "yet," "still," "never yet," "for not," "indeed," "for surely not," "no,—certainly not," "for I don't suppose," and "for in no manner." Sometimes it is used to create negative questions where a positive answer is expected.
ἀμφότεροι [5 verses](adj pl masc nom) "Both" is amphoteroi, which means "either," "both of two," "both together," "towards both sides," "both ways," "on both sides," and "all together."
εἰς [325 verses](prep) "Into" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)," "until (of time)," "in" (a position), "as much as (of measure or limit)," "as far as (of measure or limit)," "towards (to express relation)," "in regard to (to express relation)," "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."
βόθυνον [3 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Ditch" is from bothunos, which means "pit" and "well." It is a version of bathuno, which means "to make deep," "deep," and, interestingly, "poverty."
ἐμπεσοῦνται; [36 verses] (verb 3rd pl fut ind mid) "Shall...fall" is pipto, which means "to fall," "to fall down," "to be cast down," "fall upon," "intersect (geometry)," "meet," "pass through," "fall violently upon," "attack," "fall in battle," "sink{in water)," "fall short i.e. fail," " fall out of," "lose a thing," "escape from," "fall asleep," "to be accessible to perception," "to fall (between her feet, i.e. to be born)," "to let fall[dice)," "turn out," and "fall under (belong to a class)."
*Given that Jesus's similar statements in Matthew 15:14 referred to the Pharisees, we might assume that the question was about their teaching in contrast to his own.