Bible Verses About Friendship

Of all the biggest blessings in life, friendship holds a position at the forefront, and indeed the Bible is never short of texts telling us how to gain and keep true friendships. Loyalty, love, forgiveness, and mutual support are qualities fostered by the Bible verses about friendship. True friendship reflects God’s love toward us and helps us make it through ups and downs in life. Whether you’re seeking to deepen your understanding of what makes a good friend or looking for guidance on how to be a better friend, these Bible verses about friendship provide timeless insights for building strong, lasting bonds. Here is a collection of Bible verses about friendship:

The Value of Friendship

Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Proverbs 18:24
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

These Bible verses about friendship highlight the deep value of true friends, emphasizing how they strengthen, support, and show sacrificial love, helping each other through life’s challenges.

Qualities of a True Friend

Proverbs 17:17
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Proverbs 27:6
“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
1 Samuel 18:1
“After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.”
Romans 12:10
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

These Bible verses about friendship reveal that true friends love unconditionally, provide honest and constructive support, and demonstrate deep loyalty and selflessness, even during difficult times.

Jesus as a Friend

John 15:14-15
“You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
Luke 7:34
“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'”
Matthew 11:19
“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'”

These Bible verses about friendship highlight how Jesus exemplifies the true nature of friendship by calling His followers friends, sharing God’s will with them, and embracing the outcasts and sinners with compassion and love.

Friendship and Loyalty

1 Samuel 20:42
“Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, “The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.'”
Proverbs 27:9
“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.”
Ruth 1:16-17
“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.'”

These Bible verses about friendship emphasize the deep loyalty and unwavering commitment that true friends have for one another, as seen in Jonathan and David’s covenant and Ruth’s devotion to Naomi, highlighting how friendship is bound by love and faithfulness.

Forgiveness and Restoration in Friendship

Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Matthew 18:21-22
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”

These Bible verses about friendship highlight the importance of forgiveness and restoration in relationships, teaching us to bear with one another and forgive as the Lord has forgiven us, no matter how many times it is needed.

The Role of Friendship in Life

Proverbs 27:10
“Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.”
2 Samuel 1:26
“I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.”
Philippians 2:4
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

These Bible verses about friendship emphasize the value of loyal and compassionate friendships, encouraging us to prioritize and care for others, recognizing the profound impact of true friendship in both times of need and in daily life.

Friendship and Accountability

Galatians 6:2
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Proverbs 27:5-6
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

These Bible verses about friendship highlight the importance of accountability in true friendships, encouraging us to support one another, offer honest rebuke, and share each other’s burdens as an expression of love and faithfulness.

These Bible verses about friendship highlight just how important in life loyal, loving, sacrificial relationships, centered on God, can be. The truth is: True friendship covers love, support, encouragement, and even accountability. Therefore, true friendship teaches men to live together in harmony, demonstrating the sort of love which Jesus has toward His disciples.

Take a moment today to dive into the Bible verse of the day and the daily devotion. Let God’s Word guide, encourage, and strengthen you as you navigate your day.