2 Corinthians 6:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Drawing on Isaiah, Paul calls God's people to come out, to be set apart from what defiles, with the promise that God will welcome them.
What Does 2 Corinthians 6:17 Mean?
Building on the promise that God dwells among his people, Paul quotes the call of Isaiah 52:11: come out, be separate, do not touch what is unclean. The summons is to a clear break from whatever defiles, so that the people set apart for God may truly belong to him.
Yet the command comes wrapped in welcome: 'and I will receive you.' Separation here is not exile or harshness; it is the path into the embrace of God. To leave behind what stains the soul is to be drawn nearer to the One who is pure. The call away from uncleanness is, at its heart, a call home. God asks his people to step out of the dark so that he may gather them to himself.
2 Corinthians 6:17 in the Original Language
aphorizo (ἀφορίζω), 'separate' -- to mark off and set apart for a distinct purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 6:17
What does 2 Corinthians 6:17 mean?
Drawing on Isaiah, Paul calls God's people to come out, to be set apart from what defiles, with the promise that God will welcome them.