2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
Study Note
Study Note
'Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.' Paul assembles a catena of Old Testament texts (Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41) to argue that belonging to the temple of the living God (verse 16) requires separation from incompatible entanglements. The verse has been foundational for Christian understandings of holiness as 'set-apartness,' and has shaped everything from monastic withdrawal to Reformed Two-Kingdom doctrine to evangelical warnings about worldly compromise. The promise 'I will receive you' connects the call to separation with the covenant formula of 2 Corinthians 6:18.
Other Translations
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,
wherefore, come ye forth out of the midst of them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and an unclean thing do not touch, and I--I will receive you,
For which cause, Come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and let no unclean thing come near you; and I will take you for myself,
Cross References
Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch …
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And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto …
Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the …
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, …
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his …
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of …
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; …