2 Corinthians 6:17 kjv
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
2 Corinthians 6:17 nkjv
Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."
2 Corinthians 6:17 niv
Therefore, "Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
2 Corinthians 6:17 esv
Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,
2 Corinthians 6:17 nlt
Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD.
Don't touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.
2 Corinthians 6 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 52:11 | Depart, depart! Go out from there, Touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her... | OT source of Paul's command for separation |
| Lev 11:44 | For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy... | Command for holiness and separation |
| Lev 20:26 | And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples... | God's intention to separate His people |
| Ezek 20:34 | I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries... | Echoes the 'come out' theme |
| 1 Cor 10:21 | You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's Table and of the table of demons. | Direct warning against spiritual compromise |
| 2 Cor 6:14-16 | Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers... | Immediate context, unity of purpose |
| Rom 12:2 | And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... | Call to non-conformity to worldly patterns |
| 1 Pet 1:16 | because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." | New Testament echo of the holiness command |
| James 4:4 | Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. | Worldliness as enmity towards God |
| 1 Jn 2:15-16 | Do not love the world or the things in the world... the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father... | Command not to love worldly systems/desires |
| Rev 18:4 | And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins..." | Eschatological call to separate from Babylon |
| Ex 29:45-46 | I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. | God's promise of indwelling presence |
| Lev 26:11-12 | I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. | Covenant promise of relationship |
| Ezek 37:27 | My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. | God's dwelling as part of the covenant renewal |
| Heb 8:10 | For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel... I will be their God, and they shall be My people. | New Covenant reiteration of the promise |
| Zech 8:8 | They shall be My people and I will be their God. | Promise of renewed covenant relationship |
| John 15:19 | If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. | Jesus' teaching on distinction from the world |
| Col 3:5 | Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness... | Practical call to put off defilement |
| Eph 5:11 | And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. | Command to avoid partnership with darkness |
| Acts 2:40 | "Be saved from this perverse generation." | Apostolic call for moral separation |
| 2 Tim 2:19 | ...Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. | Personal separation from sin and unrighteousness |
| Tit 2:14 | ...who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people... | Purpose of Christ's sacrifice: purification |
| Rev 21:3 | Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them... | Ultimate fulfillment of God dwelling with His people |
2 Corinthians 6 verses
2 Corinthians 6 17 Meaning
This verse is a direct divine command and promise. It calls believers to physically and spiritually separate themselves from those practices, associations, and influences that are opposed to God's holy character. It emphasizes disengagement from anything considered defiling or impure. In return for this obedience and commitment to holiness, God promises to accept and receive them into a special, intimate relationship.
2 Corinthians 6 17 Context
This verse stands as the climax of Paul's powerful exhortation in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, urging the Corinthian believers to maintain their distinctive identity as God's people. The preceding verses sternly warn against "unequal yoking" with unbelievers, comparing the incompatibility of light and darkness, Christ and Belial, the temple of God and idols. The cultural backdrop in Corinth was rife with idolatry, pagan cults, moral permissiveness, and philosophical systems that often intertwined with daily life. Believers faced pressure to compromise their faith to fit in. Paul leverages several Old Testament allusions to underscore that believers are God's sanctuary, implying that defilement cannot coexist with His presence. This command for separation is not merely physical isolation but a comprehensive spiritual and moral demarcation, essential for maintaining a pure relationship with God, who promises His full reception in return.
2 Corinthians 6 17 Word analysis
- Therefore (Τοίνυν - Toinyn): Indicates a logical consequence drawn from the preceding arguments (2 Cor 6:14-16) regarding the incompatibility of believers with unbelievers, righteousness with lawlessness, and light with darkness.
- 'Come out (ἐξέλθατε - exelthate): An imperative verb, strong and direct. It denotes a decisive and complete withdrawal, both physically and spiritually. It is likely an allusion to Isa 52:11, calling Israel to depart from Babylon, and possibly Ezek 20:34, referring to being brought out from the nations.
- from among them (ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν - ek mesou autōn): "From the midst of them." Refers to the "unbelievers" and their contaminating practices mentioned earlier (6:14-16), which oppose God's holy nature.
- And be separate (ἀφορίσθητε - aphoristhēte): A passive imperative, meaning "be set apart" or "be defined as distinct." It implies an active response from the believer, empowered by God, to mark themselves as distinct. The root relates to "Pharisee" (perushim – separated ones), but here in a positive sense of separation to God for holiness, not for legalistic self-righteousness.
- says the Lord (λέγει Κύριος - legei Kyrios): A divine endorsement. This phrase confers ultimate authority upon the preceding commands, indicating they are not merely Paul's words but God's direct instruction. This reinforces the covenant context of the exhortation.
- And do not touch (καὶ ἀκαθάρτου μὴ ἅπτεσθε - kai akathartou mē hapteshte): Another imperative. "Mē hapteshte" implies a prohibition against direct physical contact, but also symbolic and spiritual association.
- what is unclean (ἀκαθάρτου - akathartou): Refers to anything ritually, morally, or spiritually defiled. In the Corinthian context, this would include idolatrous practices, pagan festivals, sexual immorality prevalent in the culture, and any conduct or belief incompatible with Christian holiness.
- I will receive you (κἀγὼ εἰσδέξομαι ὑμᾶς - kagō eisdexomai hymas): A reciprocal promise from God. "Eisdexomai" means "to welcome, to receive into one's company or home." This promise of divine acceptance and intimate fellowship serves as the profound motivation for obedience to the commands of separation and holiness. It echoes promises of God dwelling among His people (Ex 29:45, Lev 26:12, Ezek 37:27).
- 'Come out from among them And be separate': This phrase encapsulates the dual command for both active departure and distinctive identity. It's a call to disengage from defiling influences and to actively live a life that visibly demonstrates devotion to God.
- 'do not touch what is unclean; I will receive you': This links avoidance of defilement directly to the promise of divine fellowship. The boundary-setting action (not touching the unclean) is prerequisite for experiencing the full warmth of God's acceptance and presence.
2 Corinthians 6 17 Bonus section
This verse highlights the New Testament application of Old Testament covenant theology concerning holiness. Just as ancient Israel was called to be distinct from surrounding nations due to God's dwelling among them, so are New Testament believers. This separation is not rooted in self-righteousness but in God's holy character and His desire to dwell unhindered among His people. The "unclean" is broad and encompasses anything that is incompatible with the divine presence or diminishes spiritual vitality. The promise "I will receive you" is the essence of God's grace—His acceptance and intimate relationship are conditional upon a consecrated life, yet empowered by His Spirit. This is a practical call for ethical transformation, demonstrating our internal faith through external lifestyle choices that honor the dwelling of the Holy Spirit within us.
2 Corinthians 6 17 Commentary
2 Corinthians 6:17 presents a vital divine injunction for Christian living: a call to radical separation from defiling influences coupled with a profound promise of intimate divine acceptance. The separation commanded is not merely physical isolation but a comprehensive spiritual and moral distinctiveness. Believers are to actively withdraw from partnerships, philosophies, and practices of the unbelieving world that compromise their allegiance to Christ and His holiness. "Unclean" refers to anything that defiles in God's sight—idolatry, immorality, worldly values, or anything that would dilute the unique covenant relationship. This passage emphasizes that God's people, being the temple of the living God (2 Cor 6:16), cannot commune with what opposes Him. The motivation for this difficult command is deeply encouraging: God's solemn promise to receive those who obey. His reception implies covenant fellowship, protection, and fatherly love, reinforcing that true blessedness is found in undivided devotion to Him, making the cost of separation worthwhile for the gain of divine embrace.