What Does the Bible Say About Real Friendship?

John 15:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 18:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 17:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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

James 2:19-24 ESV / 1 helpful vote

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 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. ...

Romans 12:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote

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

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 1 helpful vote

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

John 15:12-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote

“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. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. ...

John 15:12 ESV / 1 helpful vote

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Malachi 3:16 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.

Isaiah 41:8 ESV / 1 helpful vote

But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 1 helpful vote

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

Psalm 119:63 ESV / 1 helpful vote

I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.

2 Chronicles 20:7 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

1 Samuel 20:1-42 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” And he said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so.” But David vowed again, saying, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.” Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening. ...

1 Samuel 18:1 ESV / 1 helpful vote

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.

15 Bible Verses about Real Friendship

John 15:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 18:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 17:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

James 2:19-24 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Romans 12:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 1 helpful vote

John 15:12-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote

John 15:12 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Malachi 3:16 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Isaiah 41:8 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Psalm 119:63 ESV / 1 helpful vote

2 Chronicles 20:7 ESV / 1 helpful vote

1 Samuel 20:1-42 ESV / 1 helpful vote

1 Samuel 18:1 ESV / 1 helpful vote

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15 Bible Verses about Real Friendship

John 15:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 17:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 2:19-24 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:12-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:12 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Malachi 3:16 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 41:8 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 119:63 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

2 Chronicles 20:7 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

1 Samuel 20:1-42 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

1 Samuel 18:1 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

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John 15:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 18:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 17:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

James 2:19-24 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Romans 12:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 1 helpful vote

John 15:12-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote

John 15:12 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Malachi 3:16 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Isaiah 41:8 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Psalm 119:63 ESV / 1 helpful vote

2 Chronicles 20:7 ESV / 1 helpful vote

1 Samuel 20:1-42 ESV / 1 helpful vote

1 Samuel 18:1 ESV / 1 helpful vote