2 Corinthians 6:17
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The surprising punch of this verse isn't just about separation, but about who is doing the welcoming. It's God Himself, with open arms, ready to receive us once we step away from what pollutes us. It shifts the focus from our effort to His powerful, personal embrace.
Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is urging believers to separate themselves from the unbelieving world, drawing on Old Testament imagery of God calling His people out of pagan societies. This isn't about isolating themselves from everyone, but from those who actively promote or engage in practices contrary to God's ways, to ensure they remain pure and can truly experience God's presence and favor. The next verses will elaborate on the blessings and responsibilities that come with this separation.
Ever felt God calling you to step away from something or someone? This verse makes that call crystal clear. It’s not about isolation, but intentionality.
The core of this command, "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them," is a call to distinctiveness. The word 'separate' here implies a deliberate setting apart, a holy distinction. It's not that believers are to live as hermits, but that their lives should reflect a different allegiance. God calls His people out of the surrounding culture and its harmful influences to be His own unique possession. This isn't a judgment on others, but a protection and consecration for His followers.
What does it mean to 'touch no unclean thing'? This isn't just about avoiding gross actions, but about the subtle ways we can compromise our spiritual integrity.
The second part of the command, "and touch no unclean thing," is crucial. In the Old Testament, 'unclean' often referred to things that were ritually impure, unfit for worship or fellowship with God. Spiritually, it refers to anything that defiles the soul, corrupts the heart, or leads away from God. This isn't about achieving perfect purity on our own, but about actively avoiding the things that would jeopardize our relationship with a holy God. When we engage with or tolerate what God calls unclean, we hinder His ability to welcome us fully.
Ask a follow-up
The promise at the end of this verse is stunning! What does it truly mean for God to 'welcome' us?
The verse culminates in a magnificent promise: "then I will welcome you." This isn't a reluctant or grudging acceptance. God’s welcoming is an embrace, a full and joyful reception into His presence and fellowship. It’s the assurance that when we heed His call to separate ourselves from defilement, we can confidently approach Him. This welcome is rooted in His unchanging love and the finished work of Christ, enabling us to stand before Him not as we are, but as we are made in Him.
Understand the original words
exerchomai · Greek Verb
To move away, depart, or withdraw, specifically used in a moral or religious sense to indicate withdrawal from sinful associations, corruption, or compromise with the world.
aphorizo · Greek Verb
To be set apart, consecrated, or sanctified for God's use; this involves a distinct way of living that rejects moral pollution and aligns with God's holiness.
akathartos · Greek Adjective
Ritual or moral impurity that defiles a person's standing before a holy God; it necessitates avoidance to maintain one's consecrated status.
This verse echoes the call for the people of God to maintain their distinct identity, a theme that resonated throughout their history, from exile and return to periods of intense persecution and reform.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and deport a significant portion of the population, leading to a crisis of faith and identity for the exiles.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The returned exiles complete and dedicate the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a symbol of their restored community and covenant with God.
c. 444 BC— this verse
Ezra and Nehemiah's Reforms
Ezra and Nehemiah lead a spiritual revival in Jerusalem, emphasizing adherence to the Law and separation from surrounding pagan influences and foreign intermarriage.
c. 167-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
A period of intense conflict where Jewish rebels fought against the Seleucid Empire's attempts to Hellenize Jewish culture and religion, leading to a renewed emphasis on distinctiveness.
This passage echoes the call to separation by warning against participating in both the Lord's table and the table of demons, highlighting the incompatibility of serving two masters.
Leviticus 11:44-45This Old Testament passage directly links holiness with separation from the unclean, stating 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.' This demonstrates the ancient roots of God's call for His people to be distinct.
Romans 12:1-2Paul urges believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices and not be conformed to this world, which is a powerful call to a spiritual separation that transforms from the inside out, mirroring the external separation demanded in 2 Corinthians.
1 Peter 1:15-16Peter reminds believers to be holy in all their conduct, directly quoting Leviticus 19:2, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.' This reinforces the consistent theme throughout Scripture that God's people are called to a life of distinctiveness.
The surprising punch of this verse isn't just about separation, but about who is doing the welcoming. It's God Himself, with open arms, ready to receive us once we step away from what pollutes us. It shifts the focus from our effort to His powerful, personal embrace.
Paul is urging believers to separate themselves from the unbelieving world, drawing on Old Testament imagery of God calling His people out of pagan societies. This isn't about isolating themselves from everyone, but from those who actively promote or engage in practices contrary to God's ways, to ensure they remain pure and can truly experience God's presence and favor. The next verses will elaborate on the blessings and responsibilities that come with this separation.
Paul is urging believers to separate themselves from the unbelieving world, drawing on Old Testament imagery of God calling His people out of pagan societies. This isn't about isolating themselves from everyone, but from those who actively promote or engage in practices contrary to God's ways, to ensure they remain pure and can truly experience God's presence and favor. The next verses will elaborate on the blessings and responsibilities that come with this separation.
"Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you," — The surprising punch of this verse isn't just about separation, but about who is doing the welcoming. It's God Himself, with open arms, ready to receive us once we step away from what pollutes us.…
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Last reviewed October 2026
