and hast confidence that thou thyself art a leader of the blind, a light of those who are in darkness,

and hast confidence that thou thyself art a leader of blind ones, a light of those in darkness,

and have persuaded yourself that, as for you, you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

In the belief that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those in the dark,

you become confident within yourself that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

Perhaps you are confident that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in the dark, an instructor of the unintelligent,

Confidisque teipsum esse ducem cæcorum, lumen eorum qui sunt in tenebris,

And believest thyself, etc. More is still granted to them; as though they had not only what was sufficient for themselves, but also that by which they could enrich others. He grants, indeed, that they had such abundance of learning, as that others might have been supplied. [1]

Footnotes

1 - Calvin has passed over here several clauses: they are so plain as to require no remarks, except the two last. "The instructor of the unwise -- insipientium," aphronon, of such as were foolish from not understanding things rightly. "The teacher of the ignorant -- imperitorum," nepion, babes, that is, of such as were ignorant like babes. But these and the foregoing titles, "the guide of the blind," and, "light to those in darkness," were such as the Jewish doctors assumed, and are not to be considered as having any great difference in their real meaning. There seems to be no reason to suppose, with Doddridge and some others, that "the blind, foolish, ignorant" were the Gentiles, for the Jews did not assume the office of teaching them. It is to be observed that Paul here takes the case, not of the common people, but of the learned -- the teachers.

And art confident - This expression denotes the full assurance of the Jew that he was superior in knowledge to all other people. It is a remarkable fact that the Jews put the fullest confidence in their religion. Though proud, wicked, and hypocritical, yet they were not speculative infidels. It was one of their characteristics, evinced through all their history, that they had the fullest assurance that God was the author of their institutions, and that their religion was his appointment.
A guide of the blind - A guide of the blind is a figurative expression to denote an instructor of the ignorant. The blind here properly refers to the Gentiles, who were thus regarded by the Jews. The meaning is, that they esteemed themselves qualified to instruct the pagan world; Matthew 15:14; Matthew 23:15.
A light - Another figurative expression to denote a teacher; compare Isaiah 49:6; John 1:4-5, John 1:8-9.
In darkness - A common expression to denote the ignorance of the Gentile world; see the note at Matthew 4:16.

And art confident, etc. - In consequence of all these religious advantages, ye believe that ye are able to teach others, and to be guides and lights to the bewildered, darkened Gentiles, who may become proselytes to your religion.

And art confident that thou thyself,.... Being vainly puffed up in, their fleshly minds, they were strongly persuaded that they were very fit persons to be
a guide to the blind: all men are by nature blind, as to the knowledge of divine and spiritual things; the meaner sort of the people among the Jews seem to be intended here; or else the ignorant Gentiles, whom the Jews were very fond of making proselytes to their religion and laws; but miserable guides were they, whether to their own people, or others; blind guides of the blind. Gospel ministers best deserve this title:
a light of them that are in darkness; so Christ, John the Baptist, the disciples of Christ, and all Gospel ministers are; but these men, who arrogated such characters to themselves, were dim lights, and dark lanterns. The apostle seems to have respect to those very high and exalted characters the Jews give of their doctors, as when they call one, , "the lamp of light" (w); another, "the holy lamps" (x); and a third, , "the lamp of Israel" (y); with many others of the same kind; See Gill on Matthew 5:14 and See Gill on John 5:35.
(w) T. Bab. Cetubot, fol. 17. 1. (x) Zohar passim. (y) T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 28. 2.

Blind, in darkness, ignorant, babes - These were the titles which the Jews generally gave the gentiles.