Lord’s Library editors answer the question “What does the Bible say about friendship?” with specific Bible references.
Have you ever asked yourself the question “What does the Bible say about friendship?” If you have, you’re definitely not alone! And since the Bible helps Christians form a foundational understanding of important topics, it’s imperative that one know how Scripture describes friendship in different contexts.
The Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines friendship as “An attachment to a person, proceeding from intimate acquaintance, and a reciprocation of kind offices, or from a favorable opinion of the amiable and respectable qualities of his mind.”
Now armed with a basic definition of friendship, Lord’s Library editors thought it would be a helpful exercise to provide Biblical context. As a result, we compiled this short resource which captures all notable mentions of the word friendship, as well as its other forms. If you’ve been wondering what the King James Bible says about friendship, scroll on for additional detail.
Note: If you want to know what the Bible says about friendship and 206 other important topics (to be exact), our editors recommend Spencer Smith’s Doctrine Matters: Bible Topic Guidebook.
What Does the Bible Say About Friendship?
Proverbs 17:17
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 18:24
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 22:24
“Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:”
Proverbs 27:6
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
Proverbs 27:10
“Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.”
Proverbs 27:17
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“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.”
Luke 11:5-10
“And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
John 15:13-15
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 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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