The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated as “blind” in English is translated as “(having) eyes dark/night” in Ekari or “having no eyes” in Zarma. (Source: Nida 1964, p. 200)
See also blind (Luke 4:18) and his eyes are darker than wine.
the blind lead the blind
The now commonly-used English idiom “the blind lead the blind” (as in when an inexperienced person is guiding someone a person who is equally inexperienced) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale (in the spelling the blynde leede the blynde). (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 285)
For other idioms in English that were coined by Bible translation, see here.
complete verse (Matthew 15:14)
Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 15:14:
- Uma: “Yesus said: ‘Never mind [lit., Leave] those Parisi people! Because every planted-thing that is not planted by my Father in heaven will definitely be pulled up. Those Parisi people are like blind leaders, because they do not know the true/right road to go to God. And if a blind-person leads a fellow blind-person, they will certainly both fall into the ditch.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
- Yakan: “Do not be troubled about them. They are leaders but they are like blind people. If a blind person leads another blind person, na, they both will fall into the hole.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Never mind the Pharisees. They are like blind people. If there is a blind person who leads by the hand another blind person, both of those blind persons will fall into a pit.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Kankanaey: “So leave-those Pharisees -alone, because they are like blind-ones who are leading their companions on the path. And if a blind-one is the one-leading his companion who is blind, they two will fall-over the cliff.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
- Tagbanwa: “Just leave them alone. They are blind leaders-by-hand. Well as long as it’s a blind person who is leading-by-hand another blind person, of course they both could fall into a dug-hole.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
- Tenango Otomi: “Leave them alone, don’t be afraid of them. These are blind men teaching other blind men. When they encounter a hole, there where the teacher falls, along with him will fall the learner.'” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)