Exegesis:

eipen de kai parabolēn autois ‘he also told them a proverb.’ The clause marks the beginning of a new section (vv. 39f) which is but loosely connected with what precedes, and contains implicit or explicit injunctions for the disciples (cf. v. 40). The chain of thought appears to be as follows: the disciples who have to give leadership may not be blind. If they are blind as are those whom they are to lead they will fail. But how can they be able to give leadership? Only when they are fully trained and have become like their teacher. For parabolē cf. on 4.23 and 5.36. Here the meaning is “parable-like proverb” (Grundmann). autois refers to the disciples (cf. v. 20).

mēti dunatai tuphlos tuphlon hodēgein ‘can a blind man lead a blind man?’

mēti (also 9.13) interrogative participle used when a negative answer is expected.

hodēgeo ‘to lead,’ here literally, though the proverb as a whole has a figurative meaning.

ouchi amphoteroi eis bothunon empesountai ‘will they not both fall into a pit?’

ouchi here an interrogative participle used when an affirmative answer is expected.

bothunos ‘pit,’ ‘hole,’ ‘ditch.’

empiptō (also 10.36) ‘to fall in, or into,’ here literally, in 10.36 figuratively.

Translation:

Parable, or, ‘proverb,’ ‘figure/illustration’ (see on 4.23 and 5.36).

Can a blind man lead a blind man, or ‘can a blind man lead (or, be guide to) another (blind man) or, his fellow (blind man),’ or with reciprocal verb, ‘can two blind men lead-one-another.’ For blind cf. on 4.18.

Both, or, ‘the two of them,’ ‘they together.’

Fall. Some languages use a specific verbal form for an event that is not expected or intended (e.g. Javanese), or for something that will inevitably happen (Ekari).

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.