Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

People's New Testament

6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, etc. Quoted from Isa 52:11. A call to Israel to cleanse itself from pagan pollutions.

Wesley's Notes

6:17 Touch not the unclean person - Keep at the utmost distance from him. And I will receive you - Into my house and family. Isaiah 52:11; Zeph 3:19,20.

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] come out from among them

Separation, Summary:

(1) Separation in Scripture is twofold: "from" whatever is contrary to the mind of God; and "unto" God Himself. The underlying principle is that in a moral universe it is impossible for God to fully bless and use His children who are in compromise or complicity with evil. The unequal yoke is anything which unites a child of God and an unbeliever in a common purpose Dt 22:10.

(2) Separation from evil implies

(a) separation in desire, motive, and act, from the world, in the ethically bad sense of this present world-system. See Scofield Note: "Rev 13:8" and

(b) separation from believers, especially false teachers, who are "vessels unto dishonour" 2Tim 2:20,21 2Jn 1:9-11.

(3) Separation is not from contact with evil in the world or the church, but from complicity with and conformity to Jn 17:15 2Cor 6:14-18 Gal 6:1.

(4) The reward of separation is the full manifestation of the divine fatherhood 2Cor 6:17,18 unhindered communion and worship Heb 13:13-15 and fruitful service 2Tim 2:21 as world-conformity involves the loss of these, though not of salvation. Here, as in all else, Christ is the model. He was "holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners" Heb 7:26 and yet in such contact with them for their salvation that the Pharisees, who illustrate the mechanical and ascetic conception of separation See Scofield Note: "Mt 3:7", judged Him as having lost His Nazarite character. Lk 7:39 Cf 1Cor 9:19-23 10:27.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

17. Quoted from Isa 52:11, with the freedom of one inspired, who gives variations sanctioned by the Holy Spirit.

be ye separate-"be separated" (Ho 4:17).

touch not the unclean thing-rather, "anything unclean" (2Co 7:1; Mic 2:10). Touching is more polluting, as implying participation, than seeing.

receive you-The Greek implies, "to myself"; as persons heretofore out of doors, but now admitted within (2Co 5:1-10). With this accords the clause, "Come out from among them," namely, so as to be received to me. So Eze 20:41, "I will accept you"; and Zep 3:19, "gather her that was driven out." "The intercourse of believers with the world should resemble that of angels, who, when they have been sent a message from heaven, discharge their office with the utmost promptness, and joyfully fly back home to the presence of God" (1Co 7:31; 5:9, 10).

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?