14Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers — for what partnership does righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? [6:15] And what accord does Christ have with Belial? Or what share does a believer have with an unbeliever? [6:16] And what agreement does the inner sanctuary of God have with idols? For we are the inner sanctuary of the living God — just as God said: 'I will dwell among them and walk with them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.' [6:17] Therefore, 'Come out from their midst and be separated,' says the Lord, 'and do not touch an unclean thing, and I will welcome you.' [6:18] 'And I will be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me,' says the Lord Almighty.
2CO 6:14-18
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, the metaphor of being 'unequally yoked' would have been immediately recognizable as an agricultural practice, where mismatched animals pulling a plow would lead to inefficiency or harm. This imagery would resonate with Paul’s audience, who lived in a society deeply shaped by agricultural labor. The term (unbelievers) carried connotations of untrustworthiness or faithlessness, a significant concern in a culture where social and economic relationships relied heavily on trust and honor. The mention of idols would evoke the pervasive presence of pagan temples and rituals in Corinth, where idolatry was not merely religious but also a civic and economic reality. The temple imagery contrasts sharply with this, emphasizing the holiness of the community as God’s dwelling place, a radical claim in a city dominated by pagan worship. The call to separation would challenge the Corinthians’ embeddedness in a society where religious, social, and economic life were deeply intertwined.
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How other translations render this
2CO 6:14
- KJV
- Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
- BSB
- Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
- Koinōnos
- Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers — for what partnership does righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
2CO 6:15
- KJV
- And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
- BSB
- What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
- Koinōnos
- And what accord does Christ have with Belial? Or what share does a believer have with an unbeliever?
2CO 6:16
- KJV
- And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
- BSB
- What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
- Koinōnos
- And what agreement does the inner sanctuary of God have with idols? For we are the inner sanctuary of the living God — just as God said: 'I will dwell among them and walk with them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.
2CO 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.
- BSB
- “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
- Koinōnos
- Therefore, 'Come out from their midst and be separated,' says the Lord, 'and do not touch an unclean thing, and I will welcome you.
2CO 6:18
- KJV
- And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
- BSB
- And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
- Koinōnos
- And I will be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me,' says the Lord Almighty.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
2CO 6:14
- unequally yoked together:The phrase translated 'unequally yoked together' refers to the ancient practice of hitching two animals of different species or strengths to the same plow, resulting in an inefficient and burdensome partnership.
- with unbelievers;:The word translated 'unbelievers' here describes those who are untrustworthy or faithless, not just in a religious sense, but also in their character and actions.
2CO 6:16
- [the] temple:The word translated 'temple' specifically refers to the inner sanctuary where God's presence was believed to dwell, not the entire temple complex or outer courts.
- with:The word translated 'with' in this context implies a deep, intimate dwelling or cohabitation, suggesting a shared space and close relationship.