Good friends are a gift. The Bible tells of deep friendships – David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi, Jesus and his disciples – and offers surprisingly practical wisdom on the subject. Here you will find 20 Bible verses about friendship, also for cards for friends.
What makes a friend
Wisdom about true friendship.
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A friend loves at all times, and in times of trouble is found to be a brother.
Proverbs 17:17SiblingsFaithfulness
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A faithful friend loves more and is closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24Proverbs of Solomon
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The blows of a lover are meant for our good, but the kisses of an enemy are abundant.
Proverbs 27:6
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The heart delights in ointment and perfume, but a friend is pleasant for counsel of the soul.
Proverbs 27:9
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Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17MenGodparents
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It is good and profitable for two to be together, for they shall have good company. But if one falleth, his companion will help him up. Woe to him that is alone! If he falleth, he hath no one to help him up.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10LonelinessSiblings
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One may be overpowered, but two may withstand; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
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He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but he that walketh with fools shall be in mischief.
Proverbs 13:20Wisdom
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A perverse man stirreth up strife, and a talebearer separateth close friends.
Proverbs 16:28Clap
Friendship in the Bible
Friendships that touch us to this day.
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And when Jonathan had spoken with Saul, the heart of Jonathan was knit together with the heart of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
1 Samuel 18:1
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And Jonathan and David made a covenant together, for Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
1 Samuel 18:3
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And Jonathan spake to David, saying, Go in peace! For we have sworn together in the name of the LORD, and said, The LORD be between me and thee, between my seed and thy seed, for ever.
1 Samuel 20:42
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It is evil for me to do thee so, my brother Jonathan: for I have loved thee greatly, and thy love hath been unto me more than the love of women.
2 Samuel 1:26
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And Ruth answered, Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to return from following thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou shalt lodge, there will I lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.
Ruth 1:16FaithfulnessFarewell
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There is no greater love than that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13Good FridaySelfishness
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Ye are my friends, if ye do what I command. I say no more unto you, that ye are servants; for a servant knoweth not what his lord doeth. But I have called you friends, because I have made known unto you all things which I have heard of my Father.
John 15:14-15
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And is the scripture fulfilled, wherein it is written, Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God.
James 2:23
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But the LORD spake with Moses face to face, as a man speaketh with his friend. And when he returned unto the camp, behold, Joshua the son of Nun, the young man, departed not from the tent.
Exodus 33:11
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Such things he said, and afterward he spake unto them, saying, Lazarus our friend sleepeth; but I go, that I may awaken him.
John 11:11
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I thank my God, so often as I remember you.
Philippians 1:3FarewellRecognition
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
Related Topics
This Goes Well Together
Friendships often grow over a cup of coffee. These cards invite you to do just that – or simply say thank you.
You and Me & Coffee - PostcardPostcard for friendships that grow over a cup of coffee.€2
Coffee Date - PostcardPostcard for inviting someone out for a cup of coffee.€2
United in Christ - SocksSocks from the United-in-Christ series – many members, one body.€12
King Of My Heart - Card GameCard game from the King-of-my-Heart series – for evenings with family and friends.€12
Friendship in the Bible
The best-known friendship in the Bible is that between David and Jonathan. Jonathan is the son of King Saul, David his rival for the throne. And yet it is said: “Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1). Jonathan protects David from his own father. After Jonathan's death, David laments: “It is evil for me to do thee so, my brother Jonathan” (2 Samuel 1:26). Jesus also explicitly calls his disciples “friends” (John 15:15) and says: “There is no greater love than that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
What True Friends Do
The Proverbs describe friendship plainly: A friend is there when times are tough (Proverbs 17:17), he also says uncomfortable things – “The blows of a lover are meant for our good” (Proverbs 27:6) – and he sharpens one, as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). Ecclesiastes 4 brings it to the point: Two are better than one, for if one falls, the other helps him up. He who is alone finds verses at Bible verses against loneliness, about relationships in general at Bible verses about relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Bible verse is suitable for a friend?
Proverbs 17:17 (“A friend loves at all times”), Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, John 15:13 and Philippians 1:3 are very popular.
What does the Bible say about friendship?
The Bible describes friendship as faithfulness in good and difficult times (Proverbs 17:17), as honest (Proverbs 27:6) and as a reflection of God's own friendship with people (John 15:15).
