דברים, פרק כ״ז, פסוק י״ח

Taking advantage of another person's vulnerability or lack of knowledge is a severe offense. Because such acts of deception usually happen in the shadows, they are met with a public curse. A straightforward reading suggests a literal scenario: deliberately misleading a physically blind person who is walking on a path [רלב״ג, בכור שור, ביאור ישר, שד״ל]. The gravity of this act lies in its secrecy. Since the victim cannot see the perpetrator, the offender can easily avoid punishment by claiming it was an honest mistake and that they genuinely thought they were pointing out the right direction [בכור שור]. This relates closely to the neighboring curse against moving a boundary marker, as both actions involve causing harm to someone without their knowledge [רלב״ג].

However, the primary approach among commentators is that the curse addresses metaphorical blindness. In this view, a blind person is anyone who lacks the understanding or information needed for a specific situation, and the path represents the course of action they are trying to choose [רש״י, שפתי חכמים, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This idea is reinforced by the specific mention of the path; if the curse only meant physical blindness, noting the location would be unnecessary [משכיל לדוד]. Under this broader understanding, misleading the blind takes many forms. The most common scenario is giving bad advice, particularly when the advisor manipulates the person to serve their own personal interests [רש״י, קיצור בעל הטורים, מלבי״ם]. It also includes causing others to violate a Commandment, such as advising an honest person to sin or serving someone forbidden food while claiming it is permitted [קיצור בעל הטורים, בכור שור]. In essence, this mirrors the broader Commandment against placing a stumbling block before the blind [שפתי חכמים, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The scope of this curse extends further into social and spiritual behaviors. It applies to common people who flatter corrupt leaders by justifying their evil deeds, as well as to those who use witchcraft and divination to deceive people seeking to know the future [מלבי״ם]. The severe nature of causing others to stumble was recognized even before the Torah was given. For example, Abimelech rebuked Abraham and Isaac for nearly causing him to sin, and Jacob carefully hid idols so that Laban would not stumble into believing they held real power [מלבי״ם]. Beyond the immediate social damage, such deception disrupts the highest spiritual realms. Misleading others into idol worship creates a cosmic imbalance, prompting God to bring judgment not only upon the sinners but also upon the stars and constellations that were mistakenly worshipped [שפתי כהן].