2 Corinthians 6:14

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

Cross-reference

In 1 Corinthians 7:39, a widow may marry only 'in the Lord'—a direct application of not yoking with unbelievers.

Proverbs 29:27 says righteous and wicked detest each other — the same incompatibility Paul describes here.

Psalm 119:63 shows the positive side: befriend those who fear God, the counterpart to not yoking with unbelievers here.

In Psalm 101:3-5, the psalmist vows to avoid the vile and faithless — the same separation Paul commands here.

In Malachi 2:11, Judah marries a foreign god's daughter—a direct parallel to being unequally yoked with unbelievers.

Psalm 26:5 Parallel

In Ps 26:5, David hates evildoers and refuses to sit with them, reinforcing Paul's principle of separation from the wicked.

Psalm 26:4 Parallel

In Ps 26:4, David avoids sitting with the deceitful, directly mirroring Paul's command to avoid unequal yoking with unbelievers.

In Nehemiah 13:23-26, intermarriage with foreigners leads to sin and rebuke—a concrete example of unequal yoking.

John 7:7 Parallel

John 7:7 says the world hates Jesus for exposing evil — the same light-darkness conflict Paul refers to here.

John 15:18 Parallel

John 15:18 warns the world will hate believers — a consequence of the separation Paul commands here.

John 15:19 Parallel

John 15:19 contrasts belonging to the world vs. being chosen out of it — the same separation Paul commands here.

Ezra 9:12 Parallel

In Ezra 9:12, the specific command not to intermarry with pagans is a strong OT precedent for Paul's 'do not be unequally yoked.'

Ezra 9:2 Parallel

In Ezra 9:2, intermarriage mixing the holy race directly parallels the unequal yoke — both warn against compromising union with unbelievers.

Romans 13:12-14 echoes the light/darkness metaphor, urging believers to reject darkness and live in the light.

In 2 Chron 19:2, Jehoshaphat is rebuked for allying with the wicked, directly exemplifying the unequal yoke Paul forbids.

In 1 Corinthians 10:21, Paul similarly contrasts the Lord's table with demons' table, reinforcing the impossibility of mixing allegiance.

In 1 Corinthians 15:33, 'bad company corrupts good morals' reinforces the warning about unequal yoking.

Ephesians 5:6-11 develops the same light/darkness theme, urging believers to expose dark deeds rather than partner with them.

In 1 Sam 5:3, Dagon falls before the ark, showing the inevitable consequence of mixing God's presence with idolatry.

In 1 Sam 5:2, the ark placed beside Dagon illustrates the unequal yoke between holiness and idolatry that Paul warns against.

In Exodus 34:16, intermarriage with pagans leads to idolatry — Paul's 'unequally yoked' echoes this warning against spiritual compromise.

Ephesians 5:8-14 directly parallels the light/darkness contrast and commands to expose darkness, reinforcing the prohibition.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 reinforces that believers belong to the day, not night, aligning with the call to separate from darkness.

James 4:4 Parallel

In James 4:4, friendship with the world is enmity with God—parallel to the danger of being unequally yoked.

In Deuteronomy 22:9-11, the 'unequally yoked' imagery likely alludes to plowing with an ox and donkey — a clear OT type of forbidden mixing.

In Deuteronomy 7:3, the direct prohibition of intermarriage with pagans is a specific OT application of the unequal yoke principle.

1 Peter 2:9 Parallel

In 1 Peter 2:9, believers are called out of darkness into light, reinforcing why they should not be yoked with unbelievers—they have a different identity.

In 1 Peter 4:2-4, believers no longer join Gentiles in debauchery—a direct application of not being unequally yoked with unbelievers.

In 1 John 1:5-7, God is light; walking in darkness breaks fellowship. This echoes the same light/darkness contrast as the main verse.

In Genesis 24:3, Abraham forbids Isaac marrying Canaanites, establishing an OT precedent for avoiding union with unbelievers.

Amos 3:3 Allusion

In Amos 3:3, walking together requires agreement — echoing Paul's question about light and darkness having fellowship.

Ephesians 5:11 echoes the same command: have no fellowship with darkness, reinforcing Paul's call to avoid unequal yoking with unbelievers.

Romans 12:2 Parallel

In Romans 12:2, Paul commands not to be conformed to the world — a parallel call to avoid being yoked with its values.

1 John 1:6 Parallel

1 John 1:6 warns that claiming fellowship with God while walking in darkness is a lie—mirroring the incompatibility of believers and unbelievers.

In Genesis 28:1, Isaac commands Jacob not to take a Canaanite wife, reinforcing the same principle of separation from unbelievers.

Leviticus 19:2 Related theme

Leviticus 19:2 commands holiness because God is holy, providing the theological basis for Paul's separation from unbelievers.

Deuteronomy 22:10 prohibits yoking an ox and donkey together, directly supplying the 'unequally yoked' imagery Paul uses.

Joshua 23:7 Parallel

Joshua 23:7 warns Israel not to associate with pagan nations, echoing Paul's command to avoid being yoked with unbelievers.

Joshua 23:12 warns that intermarrying with pagan nations will become a snare, illustrating the danger Paul addresses.

Judges 2:2 Parallel

Judges 2:2 rebukes Israel for making covenants with Canaanites, reinforcing Paul's call to avoid binding ties with unbelievers.

1 Kings 11:2 shows Solomon's foreign wives turning his heart to other gods, a direct example of the danger of being unequally yoked.

In 2 Chronicles 18:1, Jehoshaphat's marriage alliance with Ahab illustrates the danger of being yoked with the ungodly.

In 2 Kings 8:27, Jehoram's marriage into Ahab's house shows how unequal yoking leads to evil — an OT example of Paul's warning.

In Proverbs 13:20, walking with the wise brings wisdom while the companion of fools suffers harm — directly supporting Paul's warning about unequal yokes.

In 1 Kgs 18:21, Elijah's call to choose between God and Baal parallels Paul's command not to be yoked with unbelievers.

In Deuteronomy 7:2, the command to make no covenant with Canaanites echoes Paul's warning against binding agreements with unbelievers.

In 1 Corinthians 5:9, Paul earlier commanded separation from immoral believers—different target but same principle.

Ezra 9:1 Parallel

In Ezra 9:1, grief over Israel's failure to separate from pagan nations mirrors Paul's concern about believers yoked with unbelievers.

Ezra 10:19 Parallel

In Ezra 10:19, the response of putting away foreign wives shows the costly obedience required to undo an unequal yoke — an OT example of separation.

Ephesians 4:17-20 contrasts darkened Gentile living with the new life in Christ, supporting the call to avoid partnership with unbelievers.

Ezra 9:11 Parallel

In Ezra 9:11, the land's uncleanness from pagan practices reinforces the need for separation Paul commands from unbelievers.

In Nehemiah 10:28, the people separate themselves from foreign peoples to follow God's law — a parallel call to separation from unbelievers.

In Nehemiah 13:1-3, the law excludes Ammonites and Moabites from the assembly—a precedent for separating from unbelievers.

In Leviticus 19:19, prohibitions on mixing kinds illustrate God's principle of separation, paralleling not being yoked with unbelievers.

Psalm 26:9 Parallel

In Ps 26:9, David prays not to be swept away with sinners, echoing the desire for separation from the wicked Paul commands.

In Psalm 106:35, mingling with nations causes Israel to learn pagan ways—similar danger of being unequally yoked.