50 Bible Verses About Friendship

Friendship is one of God’s precious gifts to humanity. From the very beginning, Scripture shows that we were not created to live life alone. God uses friendships to strengthen us, guide us, correct us, and remind us of His love through others. In this blog post, we will reflect deeply on bible verses about friendship, explore what Scripture teaches about godly relationships, and look at powerful biblical examples that show friendship in action.

Whether you are seeking encouragement, wisdom, or clarity about the people in your life, God’s Word offers timeless insight into what true friendship looks like.

Importance Of Friendship

Healthy friendships are essential for spiritual growth, emotional support, and accountability. The Bible presents friendship as a covenant built on love, loyalty, faithfulness, and truth. Through Scripture, we see that God values relationships that reflect His character, relationships marked by kindness, patience, sacrifice, and mutual care.

This collection of bible verses about friendship will help you understand God’s heart for companionship and how to build relationships that honor Him.

What Does the Bible Say About Friendship?

The Bible speaks clearly and consistently about the importance of friendship. According to Scripture, friendship is not based merely on convenience or shared interests, but on godly character and love rooted in truth.

Here are key biblical principles about friendship:

1. Friendship Is Rooted in Love: True friends love at all times, not only when things are easy. Biblical friendship involves commitment and consistency. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17
2. Friendship Brings Strength and Support: God uses friends to strengthen us during difficult seasons. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9
3. Friendship Involves Honest Correction: Real friends care enough to speak the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. “Wounds from a friend can be trusted.” – Proverbs 27:6
4. Friendship Reflects God’s Love: Godly friendship mirrors Christ’s love; selfless, forgiving, and sacrificial. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13
5. Friendship Influences Character: The Bible warns that friendships shape who we become. “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” – Proverbs 13:20

Through these teachings, Scripture makes it clear that friendship is meant to sharpen us spiritually and draw us closer to God.

Biblical Examples of Friendship

Scripture doesn’t only teach about friendship, it also shows us real-life examples worth learning from.

• David and Jonathan: Their friendship was marked by loyalty, sacrifice, and covenant love (1 Samuel 18–20). Jonathan protected David even when it cost him personally.
• Ruth and Naomi: Ruth’s commitment to Naomi is one of the most powerful examples of faithful friendship, rooted in love and devotion.
• Jesus and His Disciples: Jesus modeled friendship through humility, service, and sacrifice. He called His disciples friends and laid down His life for them.
• Paul and Timothy: Paul mentored Timothy with love, encouragement, and spiritual guidance, showing how friendship can also be a source of growth.

These examples confirm that godly friendships are intentional, faithful, and centered on God’s purpose.

50 Bible Verses About Friendship

Below is a carefully selected list of bible verses about friendship that reveal God’s wisdom on friendship, love, loyalty, and companionship.

1. Proverbs 17:17 (KJV) – “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
2. Proverbs 18:24 (KJV) – “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
3. John 15:13 (KJV) – “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
4. John 15:15 (KJV) – “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends…”
5. Ecclesiastes 4:9 (KJV) – “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.”
6. Ecclesiastes 4:10 (KJV) – “For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth…”
7. Proverbs 27:9 (KJV) – “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.”
8. Proverbs 27:17 (KJV) – “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
9. Proverbs 12:26 (KJV) – “The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.”
10. Proverbs 13:20 (KJV) – “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”
11. Psalm 133:1 (KJV) – “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
12. 1 Samuel 18:1 (KJV) – “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”
13. 1 Samuel 20:17 (KJV) – “And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.”
14. Ruth 1:16 (KJV) – “Entreat me not to leave thee… for whither thou goest, I will go…”
15. Job 6:14 (KJV) – “To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend…”
16. Proverbs 16:28 (KJV) – “A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”
17. Proverbs 22:24–25 (KJV) – “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go…”
18. Luke 6:31 (KJV) – “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.”
19. Romans 12:10 (KJV) – “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.”
20. Romans 12:15 (KJV) – “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
21. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV) – “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
22. Colossians 3:13 (KJV) – “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another…”
23. Ephesians 4:32 (KJV) – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…”
24. Hebrews 10:24 (KJV) – “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.”
25. Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) – “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…”
26. Galatians 6:2 (KJV) – “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
27. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV) – “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another…”
28. James 4:11 (KJV) – “Speak not evil one of another, brethren.”
29. James 5:16 (KJV) – “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another…”
30. 1 Peter 4:8 (KJV) – “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves…”
31. 1 Peter 4:9 (KJV) – “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”
32. 1 Peter 5:5 (KJV) – “Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility…”
33. 1 John 4:7 (KJV) – “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God…”
34. 1 John 4:11 (KJV) – “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
35. 1 John 3:16 (KJV) – “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us…”
36. Matthew 18:20 (KJV) – “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
37. Luke 10:33–34 (KJV) – “But a certain Samaritan… had compassion on him…”
38. Acts 2:44 (KJV) – “And all that believed were together, and had all things common.”
39. Acts 4:32 (KJV) – “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul…”
40. Proverbs 11:13 (KJV) – “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”
41. Proverbs 14:20 (KJV) – “The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.”
42. Proverbs 19:4 (KJV) – “Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.”
43. Proverbs 25:17 (KJV) – “Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee…”
44. Micah 6:8 (KJV) – “What doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy…”
45. Zechariah 8:19 (KJV) – “Therefore love the truth and peace.”
46. Matthew 7:12 (KJV) – “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you…”
47. Luke 17:3 (KJV) – “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
48. Proverbs 3:3 (KJV) – “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee…”
49. Psalm 55:14 (KJV) – “We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.”
50. 2 Corinthians 13:11 (KJV) – “Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

Conclusion

Friendship is not a small topic in Scripture, it is woven throughout God’s plan for humanity. From wisdom literature to the life of Jesus, the Bible teaches that meaningful friendships are rooted in love, truth, faithfulness, and mutual care.

As you meditate on these bible verses about friendship, pray for wisdom to choose godly friends and grace to be a faithful friend yourself. When friendships are built on God’s Word, they become a source of strength, joy, and spiritual growth for years to come.

Read also: 60 Powerful Prayers for Friends