John Gill Commentary 2 Corinthians 6:15

"And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever?" — 2 Corinthians 6:15 (ASV)

And what concord has Christ with Belial ?
etc.] The word "Belial" is a Hebrew word, and is only used in this place in the New Testament, but often in the Old; this word is differently read and pronounced; some copies read it "Beliar", and accordingly in the Ethiopic version it is "Belhor", and by Jerom read ^F9 Belvir"; but he observes that it is more rightly called Belial": in some copies it is "Belias", and so Tertullian ^F11 read it; and Jerom ^F12 says that most corruptly read it "Belias" for "Belial":

Some derive it from (ylb) , "Beli", and (hle) , "Alah", and it signifies "without ascent"; one in a very low condition, of low life, that never rises up and comes to anything; to which Kimchi's etymology of the word seems to agree, who says {m} that Belial is a wicked man, (xyluy lbw hley lb) , "who does not succeed and does not prosper": Others say it signifies ^F14 one that is (lwe ylb) , "Beli Ol, without a yoke", without the yoke of the law; so Jarchi explains children of Belial in (Deuteronomy 13:13) as without yoke, who break off the yoke of God; and so say ^F15 the Talmudists, ``children of Belial, are children that break off (Mymv lwe) , "the yoke of heaven" (i.e. the law) from their necks;'' lawless persons who are under no subjection to God or man:

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or what part has he that believes with an infidel ?
Such have no part, and shall have no part or portion in one and the same thing; the believer's part and portion are God, Christ, and an eternal inheritance; the unbeliever's part and portion will be in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone; and therefore what part, society, or communion can they have with one another?

FOOTNOTES:

• F9: De Nominibus Hebraicis, fol. 106. K.
• F11: De Corona, c. 10.
• F12: Comment. in Ephes. iv. 27.
• F14: Hieronym Quaestasive Trad. Heb. in Lib. Reg. fol. 74. I. Tom. 3. & in Ephes. iv. 27. R. Abraham Seba in Tzeror Hammor, fol. 141. 4. & 142. 2.
• F15: T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 111. 2.