11 Bible Verses About Friendship

The importance of friendship is difficult to overstate in our journey of walking with God. Friendship is a reflection of God's character and is extended to us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. By faith, we receive Christ's invitation of friendship and it is there that we learn how to love, encourage, be patient, and committed to others. Each of these verses below is shown in its biblical context to give you a better sense for the intended meaning of each passage. The CSB Bible translation is used throughout this list.

Bonus: Be sure to check out the 'Friendship with God' section at the bottom for a few passages about Abraham's friendship with God, and Christ's extension of friendship to us.

Proverbs 17:17

16 Why does a fool have money in his hand
with no intention of buying wisdom?
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a difficult time.
18 One without sense enters an agreement
and puts up security for his friend.
19 One who loves to offend loves strife;
one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

Proverbs 27:9

6 The wounds of a friend are trustworthy,
but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.
7 A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb,
but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Anyone wandering from his home
is like a bird wandering from its nest.
9 Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.
10 Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,
and don’t go to your brother’s house
in your time of calamity;
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

1 Corinthians 15:33

30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I face death every day, as surely as I may boast about you, brothers and sisters, in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus as a mere man, what good did that do me? If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34 Come to your senses and stop sinning; for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

7 Again, I saw futility under the sun: 8 There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. “Who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself of good things?” This too is futile and a miserable task.

9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 12 And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

Proverbs 13:20

17 A wicked envoy falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy courier brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to those
who ignore discipline,
but the one who accepts correction will be honored.
19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste,
but to turn from evil is detestable to fools.
20 The one who walks with the wise will become wise,
but a companion of fools will suffer harm.

Romans 12:10

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.

Proverbs 27:5-6

4 Fury is cruel, and anger a flood,
but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Better an open reprimand
than concealed love.
6 The wounds of a friend are trustworthy,
but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

Friendship with God

2 Chronicles 20:7

Note: Abraham is described as God's friend in this passage

5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the Lord’s temple before the new courtyard. 6 He said: Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, and no one can stand against you. 7 Are you not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and who gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in the land and have built you a sanctuary in it for your name and have said, 9 “If disaster comes on us—sword or judgment, pestilence or famine—we will stand before this temple and before you, for your name is in this temple. We will cry out to you because of our distress, and you will hear and deliver.”

Isaiah 41:8

Note: In this section of Isaiah, God himself describes Abraham as his friend

5 The coasts and islands see and are afraid,
the whole earth trembles.
They approach and arrive.
6 Each one helps the other,
and says to another, “Take courage!”
7 The craftsman encourages the metalworker;
the one who flattens with the hammer
encourages the one who strikes the anvil,
saying of the soldering, “It is good.”
He fastens it with nails so that it will not fall over.
8 But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
descendant of Abraham, my friend—
9 I brought you from the ends of the earth
and called you from its farthest corners.
I said to you: You are my servant;
I have chosen you; I haven’t rejected you.

John 15:13

Note: In this passage, Jesus is foreshadowing his own substitutionary death the a cross for the sins of mankind. Through Christ's sacrifice, we are able to be reconciled to God and as a result, have friendship with Him. This also enables us to righteously love others through the help of his Spirit.

12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 17 “This is what I command you: Love one another.

A note from Matt:

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