2 Corinthians 6:14
What does 2 Corinthians 6:14 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 6:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Corinthians 6:14 means
Paul forbids being “unequally yoked with unbelievers,” drawing on the picture of mismatched animals harnessed together, which leads to strain and misdirection. He presses five questions to show the moral and spiritual incompatibility: righteousness versus iniquity, light versus darkness. The issue is not ordinary contact with the world but binding partnerships that compromise loyalty to Christ—especially in worship and life-direction. He urges clear-eyed discernment about influences that shape values and practices. Fellowship thrives where there is shared allegiance to God’s truth; where darkness rules, communion falters. The Corinthians must not tie themselves to relationships that draw them into idolatry or dilute obedience to the Lord.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Do not keep company with those who have not faith: for what is there in common between righteousness and evil, or between light and dark?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Become not yoked with others--unbelievers, for what partaking <FI>is there<Fi> to righteousness and lawlessness?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Bear not the yoke with unbelievers. For what participation hath justice with injustice? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Be not diversely yoked with unbelievers; for what participation [is there] between righteousness and lawlessness? or what fellowship of light with darkness?
Context
Paul moves from relational appeal (vv. 11–13) to ethical command. The church at Corinth lived amid idolatrous culture and was tempted to alliances that threatened purity. Verse 14 begins a chain of contrasts continued in verse 15, preparing for the temple imagery and promises in verses 16–18. The flow is deliberate: affection must be enlarged toward God and His servants, while attachments to unbelief must be loosened. This sets up the identity-based rationale that follows: they are God’s temple.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- John 15:18
If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before it hated you.
- Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
- Deuteronomy 22:9
Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole fruit be forfeited, the seed which thou hast sown, and the increase of the vineyard.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:4
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:
- Ephesians 5:6
Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.
- John 7:7
The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that its works are evil.
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