Friendship is one of the sweetest things in life. True friendship is a treasure and grace from God. Friends are our chosen. They cheer and support us through discouraging seasons. They help us to lift our heads and hearts like no one else can. Here are some Bible verses on friendships.
The Bible offers life-changing wisdom surrounding the topic of prayer for a friend. It teaches readers to carry each other’s burdens through challenging situations, choose love and patience even when faced with adversity, and treat others how we would hope to be treated. Whether your friends are near or far, these encouraging Bible verses, will help you feel connected with them through love and faith.
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” —Luke 6:31
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” —Colossians 3:12-14
“Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.” —James 4:11
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 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.” —John 15:12-15
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” —Philippians 2:3
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” —Ephesians 4:32
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” —Romans 12:9-10
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” —Galatians 6:28
“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.” —1 John 4:11
“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” —Job 6:14
“My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.” —Job 16:20-21
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:11
“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.” —1 Peter 4:8-10
“One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.” —Proverbs 17:9
“But Ruth said.… ‘Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.’” —Ruth 1:16
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” —Proverbs 17:17
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” —Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” —Proverbs 27:17
“When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes, giving him twice as much as before!” —Job 42:10
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” —Proverbs 15:22
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” —Matthew 18:20
“Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.” —Luke 16:9
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” —John 15:13
“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.” —Ecclesiastes 4:10
“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.” —Proverbs 27:9
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. —Proverbs 27:6
“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” —Joshua 1:5
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” —Proverbs 12:26
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.” —Proverbs 22:24-25
“Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” —1 Corinthians 15:33
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” —Proverbs 13:20
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” —Proverbs 27:5-6
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” —Proverbs 18:24