Bible verses about
friendship
Scripture honors faithful friendship — love that sticks closer than a brother, sharpens like iron, and lays down its life. It also warns whom we keep company with. These King James verses gather the Bible’s words on friendship.
12 verses about friendship (KJV)
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Proverbs 17:17
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
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Proverbs 18:24
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
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Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
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John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
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Ecclesiastes 4:9
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
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Ecclesiastes 4:10
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
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Proverbs 27:9
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
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1 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
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Proverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
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James 2:23
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
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Proverbs 13:20
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
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Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Questions, answered plainly
What does the Bible say about friendship?
The Bible praises loyal friendship: "A friend loveth at all times" (Proverbs 17:17), and "there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). It names the highest love as that of laying down one’s life "for his friends" (John 15:13).
What makes a good friend according to the Bible?
Scripture values friends who sharpen us — "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" (Proverbs 27:17) — and warns that "evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Corinthians 15:33), so the company we keep matters.
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