{7} Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

(7) Now he rebukes them boldly, because they became fellows with infidels in outward idolatry, as though it were an indifferent thing. And this is the fourth part of this epistle, the conclusion of which is, that those whom the Lord has condescended to in calling them his children, must keep themselves pure, not only in mind, but also in body, that they may be completely holy to the Lord.

People's New Testament

6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. The figure is drawn from the prohibition of De 22:10 Le 19:19. The meaning is that Christians are not to pair off with unbelievers. All intimate associations are forbidden. The primary reference is to intermarriage and to association in heathen festivals. All close fellowship with unbelievers is included. Saints should choose Christian alliances and associations.

NOTE ON MIXED MARRIAGES.-- The unequal yoking covers the question of marriage between Christians and irreligious persons. The whole spirit of the Bible is against the practice. Marriages of the sons of God with the daughters of men caused the sins which brought on the Flood (Ge 6:1-7). Alien marriages were forbidden to Israel (Ex 34:16 De 7:3,4); this was the pit into which Samson fell (Jud 14:3); to this cause was due the fall of Solomon (1Ki 11:1-10); Ezra made the Jews put away alien wives (Ezr 9:10), and in the discussion of the subject in 1 Corinthians 7, the whole implication is that intermarriage with unbelievers was out of the question. The widow is only allowed to marry a Christian (1Co 7:39).

Wesley's Notes

6:14 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers - Christians with Jews or heathens. The apostle particularly speaks of marriage. But the reasons he urges equally hold against any needless intimacy with them. Of the five questions that follow, the three former contain the argument; the two latter, the conclusion.

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin righteousness

See Scofield Note: "Rom 10:10".

Margin unrighteousness

Sin. See Scofield Note: "Rom 3:23".

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14. Be not-Greek, "Become not."

unequally yoked-"yoked with one alien in spirit." The image is from the symbolical precept of the law (Le 19:19), "Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind"; or the precept (De 22:10), "Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together." Compare De 7:3, forbidding marriages with the heathen; also 1Co 7:39. The believer and unbeliever are utterly heterogeneous. Too close intercourse with unbelievers in other relations also is included (2Co 6:16; 1Co 8:10; 10:14).

fellowship-literally, "share," or "participation."

righteousness-the state of the believer, justified by faith.

unrighteousness-rather, as always translated elsewhere, "iniquity"; the state of the unbeliever, the fruit of unbelief.

light-of which believers are the children (1Th 5:5).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:11-18 It is wrong for believers to join with the wicked and profane. The word unbeliever applies to all destitute of true faith. True pastors will caution their beloved children in the gospel, not to be unequally yoked. The fatal effects of neglecting Scripture precepts as to marriages clearly appear. Instead of a help meet, the union brings a snare. Those whose cross it is to be unequally united, without their wilful fault, may expect consolation under it; but when believers enter into such unions, against the express warnings of God's word, they must expect must distress. The caution also extends to common conversation. We should not join in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never choose them for friends. We must not defile ourselves by converse with those who defile themselves with sin. Come out from the workers of iniquity, and separate from their vain and sinful pleasures and pursuits; from all conformity to the corruptions of this present evil world. If it be an envied privilege to be the son or daughter of an earthly prince, who can express the dignity and happiness of being sons and daughters of the Almighty?