100 Bible Verses about Friendship

Proverbs 18:24 ESV / 2,325 helpful votes

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 27:17 ESV / 1,620 helpful votes

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

John 15:13 ESV / 1,607 helpful votes

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Proverbs 17:17 ESV / 1,574 helpful votes

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV / 1,512 helpful votes

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV / 1,258 helpful votes

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV / 1,190 helpful votes

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Proverbs 27:9 ESV / 951 helpful votes

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

Job 6:14 ESV / 752 helpful votes

“He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 730 helpful votes

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 13:20 ESV / 647 helpful votes

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Proverbs 16:28 ESV / 626 helpful votes

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

1 Peter 4:8-10 ESV / 580 helpful votes

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

Proverbs 22:24-25 ESV / 551 helpful votes

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV / 534 helpful votes

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV / 514 helpful votes

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 504 helpful votes

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

Proverbs 12:26 ESV / 480 helpful votes

One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Luke 6:31 ESV / 437 helpful votes

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

James 4:4 ESV / 427 helpful votes

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Romans 1:12 ESV / 420 helpful votes

That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.

Proverbs 27:5-6 ESV / 383 helpful votes

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

John 15:12-14 ESV / 366 helpful votes

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.

1 John 4:7 ESV / 351 helpful votes

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Proverbs 27:10 ESV / 341 helpful votes

Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.

Proverbs 22:24-27 ESV / 330 helpful votes

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?

John 15:12-15 ESV / 297 helpful votes

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 280 helpful votes

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ...

John 15:15 ESV / 243 helpful votes

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Job 2:11 ESV / 232 helpful votes

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.

Psalm 41:9 ESV / 220 helpful votes

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

Proverbs 27:19 ESV / 218 helpful votes

As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.

2 Kings 2:2 ESV / 217 helpful votes

And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

Colossians 3:12-14 ESV / 202 helpful votes

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Psalm 133:1 ESV / 201 helpful votes

A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

1 Samuel 18:1-3 ESV / 201 helpful votes

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

Matthew 18:20 ESV / 200 helpful votes

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Proverbs 22:11 ESV / 193 helpful votes

He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

Proverbs 20:6 ESV / 190 helpful votes

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV / 184 helpful votes

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Romans 12:10 ESV / 183 helpful votes

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Psalm 55:12-14 ESV / 183 helpful votes

For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.

Galatians 6:2 ESV / 174 helpful votes

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Hebrews 13:5 ESV / 170 helpful votes

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

James 2:23 ESV / 167 helpful votes

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

1 Samuel 22:23 ESV / 165 helpful votes

Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.”

Colossians 3:13 ESV / 155 helpful votes

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Proverbs 19:20 ESV / 153 helpful votes

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 ESV / 152 helpful votes

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

Ruth 1:17 ESV / 151 helpful votes

Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

Proverbs 24:5 ESV / 149 helpful votes

A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might,

Proverbs 11:13 ESV / 149 helpful votes

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Romans 12:10-11 ESV / 146 helpful votes

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

James 4:8 ESV / 137 helpful votes

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

1 John 4:21 ESV / 136 helpful votes

And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Job 2:11-13 ESV / 133 helpful votes

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Romans 12:15 ESV / 129 helpful votes

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Ruth 1:16-17 ESV / 128 helpful votes

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

John 15:13-15 ESV / 126 helpful votes

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 125 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 5:10 ESV / 125 helpful votes

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Exodus 33:11 ESV / 123 helpful votes

Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

Amos 3:3 ESV / 119 helpful votes

“Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?

Ecclesiastes 4:10 ESV / 114 helpful votes

For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Proverbs 16:7 ESV / 114 helpful votes

When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 25:17 ESV / 110 helpful votes

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

Philippians 1:3-4 ESV / 108 helpful votes

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

2 Samuel 10:2 ESV / 107 helpful votes

And David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David's servants came into the land of the Ammonites.

1 Samuel 18:1 ESV / 107 helpful votes

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Job 19:13-22 ESV / 101 helpful votes

“He has put my brothers far from me, and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me. My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me. The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger; I have become a foreigner in their eyes. I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy. My breath is strange to my wife, and I am a stench to the children of my own mother. ...

Ruth 1:16 ESV / 101 helpful votes

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 98 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Psalm 68:6 ESV / 96 helpful votes

God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

Proverbs 14:6-7 ESV / 94 helpful votes

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

2 Samuel 15:32-37 ESV / 94 helpful votes

While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt on his head. David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king's house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. Behold, their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son, and by them you shall send to me everything you hear.” ...

Job 29:4 ESV / 90 helpful votes

As I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent,

Job 16:20-21 ESV / 88 helpful votes

My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God, that he would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbor.

1 Samuel 20:42 ESV / 88 helpful votes

Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

1 Samuel 20:17 ESV / 88 helpful votes

And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Job 16:20 ESV / 87 helpful votes

My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,

2 Samuel 1:26 ESV / 87 helpful votes

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.

Proverbs 3:32 ESV / 85 helpful votes

For the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.

Psalm 73:25 ESV / 81 helpful votes

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

Proverbs 18:1-24 ESV / 79 helpful votes

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the righteous of justice. ...

Proverbs 15:22 ESV / 79 helpful votes

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

Romans 1:11-12 ESV / 78 helpful votes

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.

Psalm 55:13 ESV / 76 helpful votes

But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.

1 John 2:6 ESV / 73 helpful votes

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Micah 7:5 ESV / 72 helpful votes

Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms;

2 Timothy 1:2-4 ESV / 68 helpful votes

To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV / 68 helpful votes

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

John 3:16 ESV / 68 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

2 Timothy 4:16 ESV / 67 helpful votes

At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!

1 Samuel 18:1-4 ESV / 66 helpful votes

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 64 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...

1 John 3:7 ESV / 64 helpful votes

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

John 14:27 ESV / 64 helpful votes

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Proverbs 27:14 ESV / 64 helpful votes

Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.

Proverbs 25:19 ESV / 59 helpful votes

Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV / 58 helpful votes

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ...

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