In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it “one of the 613 mitzvot”. Today it says “hebrew expression defining a prohibition against misleading people by use of a " stumbling block”.
Measured, not asserted. Every count, date and revision on this page was taken from Wikipedia's own history and checked against the live article. The words quoted are theirs.
Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-02. In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it “one of the 613 mitzvot”. Today it says “hebrew expression defining a prohibition against misleading people by use of a " stumbling block”.
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The opening as it read in 2005
Lifnei iver ( Hebrew : "before the blind") is one of the 613 mitzvot (commandments) in Jewish law.1It is based on: "Before the blind , do not put a stumbling block" ( Leviticus 19:14).2It is one of the offenses spoken of in the Talmud as punishable by the Cherem . Many halakhic principles are derived from this commandment. The oral law expands the ramifications of this law from its literal sense. The Sifra (a midrash from the time of the Mishna ) states that, in its figurative sense, the commandment forbids one to give bad or damaging advice; after all, the receiving party is "blind" in this matter and will "stumble" as a result of the improper guidance (Sifra de-vei Rav, Kedoshim 2:14). It is therefore figurative for misleading anyone. The Talmud (tractate Avodah Zarah 6b) expands the principle to include giving anyone the means or opportunity to commit a sin where that person would otherwise lack these. Examples given there include giving a cup of wine to a person who has taken the nazirite vow (which forbids him/her to partake in wine or grape products). Lifnei iver as a principle recurs many times in practical Jewish law. The authoritative Shulkhan Arukh , for example, warns a father not to physically chastise older children, as this will only entice them to hit back, which is a capital offence (Shulkhan Arukh, Yorei Deah 240:20).3
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 16356747.
The opening as it stood in 2010 9 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Lifnei iver ( Name 1 ) is one of the 613 mitzvot ( commandments ) in Jewish law .The regulation is ultimately based upon a statement in the Torah : Before the blind , do not put a stumbling block " Deuteronomy lists a similar statement among the curses to be annually announced on Mount Ebal : Cursed be he that makes the blind wander out of the way Lifnei iver is one of the offenses which the Talmud argues to be punishable by the Cherem .The stumbling block as a distinct, and negative, concept is also established in Christian theology: in Catholicism it is known as creating scandal .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 353977766.
The opening as it stood in 2015 2 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
In Judaism, Lifnei Iver ( Hebrew : לִפְנֵי עִוֵּר , "Before the Blind") is a prohibition against misleading people by use of a " stumbling block ".The origin comes from the commandment , "וְלִפְנֵ֣י עִוֵּ֔ר לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן מִכְשֹׁ֑ל (Before the blind, do not put a stumbling block)" ( Leviticus 19:14 ).The Hebrew term lifnei iver is one of the offenses which the Talmud argues to be punishable by excommunication in Judaism . The stumbling block as a distinct, and negative, concept is also established in Christian theology: in Catholicism it is known as creating scandal .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 651106917.
The opening as it stood in 2020
A prohibition against misleading people by use of a "stumbling block" In Judaism, Lifnei Iver ( Hebrew : לִפְנֵי עִוֵּר , "Before the Blind") is a prohibition against misleading people by use of a " stumbling block ". The origin comes from the commandment , "וְלִפְנֵ֣י עִוֵּ֔ר לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן מִכְשֹׁ֑ל (Before the blind, do not put a stumbling block)" ( Leviticus 19:14 ). The Hebrew term lifnei iver is one of the offenses which the Talmud argues to be punishable by excommunication in Judaism . The stumbling block as a distinct, and negative, concept is also established in Christian theology: in Catholicism it is known as creating scandal .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 962540994.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023
Prohibition against misleading people by use of a "stumbling block" In Judaism, Lifnei Iver ( , "Before the Blind") is a Hebrew expression defining a prohibition against misleading people by use of a " stumbling block ," or allowing a person to proceed unawares in unsuspecting danger or culpability. The origin comes from the commandment וְלִפְנֵ֣י עִוֵּ֔ר לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן מִכְשֹׁ֑ל וְיָרֵ֥אתָ מֵּאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ "Before the blind, do not put a stumbling block" ( Leviticus 19:14 ). The Hebrew term lifnei iver is one of the offenses which the Talmud argues to be punishable by excommunication in Judaism . The stumbling block as a distinct, and negative, concept is also established in Christian theology: in the Catholic Church , it is known as creating scandal .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1173995587.
The opening as it stood in 2025
Prohibition against misleading people by use of a "stumbling block" In Judaism, Lifnei Iver ( Hebrew : לִפְנֵי עִוֵּר , romanized : lifnê ʿiwwēr , "Before the Blind") is a Hebrew expression defining a prohibition against misleading people by use of a " stumbling block ," or allowing a person to proceed unawares in unsuspecting danger or culpability. The origin comes from the commandment וְלִפְנֵ֣י עִוֵּ֔ר לֹ֥א תִתֵּ֖ן מִכְשֹׁ֑ל וְיָרֵ֥אתָ מֵּאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ "Before the blind, do not put a stumbling block" ( Leviticus 19:14 ). The Hebrew term lifnei iver is one of the offenses which the Talmud argues to be punishable by excommunication in Judaism . The stumbling block as a distinct, and negative, concept is also established in Christian theology: in the Catholic Church , it is known as creating scandal .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1253382823. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
In 2005 Wikipedia's first sentence called it “one of the 613 mitzvot”. Today it says “hebrew expression defining a prohibition against misleading people by use of a " stumbling block”. Read the current article and compare.
2005
2010
2015
2020
Oct '23
2025
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What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined between 2005 and 2025.
Then
one of the 613 mitzvot
Now
hebrew expression defining a prohibition against misleading people by use of a " stumbling block
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
