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Deuteronomy 27:18
Cursedbe he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Romans 12:14
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Romans 14:13
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall inhis brother's way.

fear

Leviticus 19:32
Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: Iam the LORD.

Leviticus 25:17
Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for Iam the LORD your God.

Genesis 42:18
And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live;for I fear God:

or place a stumbling block before the blind
This phrase extends the principle of not exploiting the vulnerable by prohibiting actions that would cause harm to those who cannot see. The imagery of a stumbling block is used throughout Scripture to represent an obstacle or cause of sin (e.g.,Romans 14:13). Here, it is a literal command not to endanger the blind, but it also carries a metaphorical weight, urging believers to avoid causing others to fall into sin or difficulty. This command reflects God's justice and care for all individuals, ensuring that His people act with integrity and kindness.

but you shall fear your God
The fear of God is a central theme in Scripture, often associated with obedience and reverence. In this context, fearing God is the motivation for treating others with respect and kindness. It implies a recognition of God's authority and a commitment to living according to His standards. The fear of God is not about terror but about awe and respect, leading to a life that honors Him. This concept is echoed inProverbs 9:10, which states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, suggesting that true understanding and righteous living stem from a proper relationship with God.

I am the LORD
This declaration serves as a divine seal on the command, reminding the Israelites of God's sovereignty and covenant relationship with them. It underscores that the instructions given are not merely human ethical guidelines but divine mandates. The phrase "I am the LORD" appears frequently in Leviticus, reinforcing God's authority and the holiness He requires from His people. It also connects to the covenant name of God, Yahweh, which signifies His eternal presence and faithfulness. This assurance of God's identity and presence provides the foundation for the ethical and moral instructions given to His people.

The command is strikingly practical. Someone who is deaf cannot hear insulting words, yet God says those words still matter.

• Words spoken in secret still reach the Lord who “looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

• Slandering the defenseless is condemned elsewhere: “You shall not mistreat any widow or orphan” (Exodus 22:22).

• Proverbs warns, “Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker” (Proverbs 17:5).

• James reminds us that blessing God while cursing people made in His likeness is hypocrisy (James 3:9-10).

God’s people are called to integrity even when there seems to be no earthly accountability.

The second prohibition broadens the theme from speech to action. Putting an obstacle in a blind person’s path is both cruel and cowardly.

•Deuteronomy 27:18 repeats the warning and adds, “Let all the people say, ‘Amen!’”

• Jesus applies the principle spiritually: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck” (Matthew 18:6).

• Paul tells believers, “Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way” (Romans 14:13).

• In matters like food offered to idols, “Be careful…that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9).

Whether physical or moral, exploiting another’s weakness is sin.

This phrase supplies the motive. We treat the vulnerable with honor because we answer to God.

• “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).

• Israel was to “fear the LORD your God, walk in all His ways, love Him, and serve Him” (Deuteronomy 10:12).

• Paul tells servants to obey “with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord…knowing that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord” (Colossians 3:22-24).

Reverence for God restrains hidden sins; His presence makes every act public.

The command closes with God’s covenant name, reminding the listener Who is speaking.

• Repeated throughLeviticus 19 (vv. 2, 4, 10, 12, etc.), this seal shows the law flows from God’s own character.

• “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14) grounds every ethical demand in His eternal, unchanging nature (Malachi 3:6).

• Revelation opens with the same assurance: “I am the Alpha and the Omega…who is and was and is to come” (Revelation 1:8).

Because the Lord is unchanging, His standards remain steady and His watchful care over the powerless endures.

Leviticus 19:14 calls believers to guard both speech and action toward those who cannot easily defend themselves. Words whispered against the deaf and obstacles laid before the blind expose hearts that do not truly fear God. Genuine reverence for the LORD produces compassion, honesty, and protection for every person made in His image, knowing that the ever-present “I AM” sees and judges righteously.

Nor put a stumblingblock before the blind.--InDeuteronomy 27:18 a curse is pronounced upon those who lead the blind astray. To help those who were thus afflicted was always regarded as a meritorious act. Hence among the benevolent services which Job rendered to his neighbours, he says "I was eyes to the blind" (Job 29:15). According to the interpretation which obtained in the time of Christ, this is to be understood figuratively. It forbids imposition upon the ignorant, and misdirecting those who seek advice, thus causing them to fall. Similar tenderness to the weak is enjoined by the Apostle: "That no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way" (Romans 14:13).

But shalt fear thy God.--Deafness and blindness may prevent the sufferers from detecting the offender, and bringing him to justice before an earthly tribunal, but God on high hears it when the human ear is stopped up, and sees it when the human eye is extinct. Hence the prohibition against injustice to the infirm and the poor is enforced by an appeal to fear the Lord. (SeeLeviticus 19:32.) . . .