25 Bible Verses About Friendship

Friendship-wise, I am so fortunate to be in a very connected season of life (it hasn’t always been this way).

We are in a wonderful church that has given us so many places to connect. We lead a small group full of families with different ages, different ministries, and unique strengths to bring to the table to support each other.

We are surrounded by other young families in similar seasons of life as us, sharing wisdom and resources, and connecting in places like playdates and birthday parties.

I have an “inner circle” of deep friendships – some of which have withstood the test of time (I still connect regularly with my best friend I met when I was 10!) and some of which were formed just in the past few years.

I could go on and on about how these people have shown up for me – praying for my insomnia every day for nearly 6 years, processing hard emotions and situations alongside me, leaving homemade bread and flowers and Scripture cards on my doorstep on my hardest days…

But I also want to recognize the difficulties that come with this topic, too.

• The loneliness that comes from desperately wanting close friendships but just not finding or having those places of connection in your life right now.
• That uncomfortable and confusing feeling of being left out or like you don’t fully belong with the people around you.
• The vulnerability and hurt that can happen when you open up your heart to others and they let you down.

There is no denying the flaws of friendship in a broken world.

Those hard feelings and seasons are so real. And so are the blessings.

I know what it’s like to sit in church, surrounded by people, and still feel alone. I know what it’s like to hear hurtful words from loved ones.

I’ve prayed for friendships that never quite formed and grieved the loss of relationships that faded over time.

But through it all, I continue to see God’s faithfulness through friendships in our community.

The Bible is filled with wisdom about friendship, from how to choose good friends to how we can be the kind of friend that reflects Christ’s love.

See which Scriptures resonate with you then dig deeper into the ones that do by memorizing them, reading the full stories, and learning the context.

This is not a comprehensive list on the subject, but it’s a great place to get you started!

25 Bible Verses About Friendship

Get These Bible Verses In A Printable

1. Proverbs 17:17

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

2. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 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.”

3. John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

4. Proverbs 27:9

“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.”

5. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

6. Proverbs 18:24

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

7. 1 Corinthians 15:33

“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”

8. Proverbs 27:17

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

9. Colossians 3:13

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

10. Romans 12:10

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

11. Proverbs 12:26

“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

12. Job 42:10

“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.”

13. James 4:8

“Come near to God and He will come near to you.”

14. Luke 6:31

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

15. Galatians 6:2

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

16. Philippians 2:3

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

17. Matthew 18:20

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

18. Psalm 133:1

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

19. 1 Samuel 18:1

“Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.”

20. Proverbs 22:24-25

“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.”

21. 2 Timothy 1:16

“May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

22. Zechariah 8:16

“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts.”

23. 3 John 1:11

“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God.”

24. 1 Peter 4:8-10

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.”

25. Matthew 22:39

“And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

This is just the beginning of what Scripture says on the topic of friendship, connection, and community.

There is so much more to be said about things like healthy boundaries in relationships, expectations to have of friends, navigating feelings of hurt, and so much more, but this gives you a good start of things to prayerfully consider.

Which of these verses speaks to your heart today? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to pray for you!