Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
You must not curse someone who is deaf, and you must not put obstacles in front of someone who is blind. Instead, show respect and reverence for your God. I am the LORD.
God is commanding His people to treat vulnerable people with kindness and protection rather than taking advantage of their disabilities.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Leviticus, which contains laws given by God to Moses for the Israelites during their wilderness journey after the Exodus from Egypt, this verse is part of a broader set of ethical commands aimed at fostering holiness and justice within the community. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, people with disabilities like the deaf and blind were often marginalized or exploited, so this law specifically protected the vulnerable and reinforced the idea that all individuals are under God's care. It emphasized the fear of God as the foundation for moral behavior, reminding the Israelites that these instructions came directly from the Lord as part of His covenant.
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