Bible verses about friendship
“A friend loves at all times” (Proverbs 17:17) and “Two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12) are the classic friendship verses. Proverbs has the most to say.
13 passages
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Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
KJV
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
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Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
KJV
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
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John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
KJV
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
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Ecclesiastes 4:9–12
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up! Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
KJV
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 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. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
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Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
KJV
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
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Proverbs 27:6
The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
KJV
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
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Proverbs 27:9
Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
KJV
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
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1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
KJV
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
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Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
KJV
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
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Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
KJV
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
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1 Samuel 18:1–3
After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
KJV
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
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John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.
KJV
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
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Galatians 6:2
Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
KJV
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain). Tap KJV for the King James Version. Make any short verse into a wallpaper.