Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Friendships?

12 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Friendships in the Bible

What does the Bible say about friendships? Browse 13 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.

12
Total Verses
11
Old Testament
1
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Friendships

  1. 1
    Job 6:14
    To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. is afflicted: Heb. melteth
    KJV
  2. 2
    Proverbs 12:26
    The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. excellent: or, abundant
    KJV
  3. 3
    Proverbs 13:20
    He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. destroyed: Heb. broken
    KJV
  4. 4
    Proverbs 17:9
    He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. seeketh: or, procureth
    KJV
  5. 5
    Proverbs 17:17
    A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
    KJV
  6. 6
    Proverbs 18:24
    A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
    KJV
  7. 7
    Proverbs 22:24
    Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
    KJV
  8. 8
    Proverbs 27:6
    Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. deceitful: or, earnest, or, frequent
    KJV
  9. 9
    Proverbs 27:9
    Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. by: Heb. from the counsel of the soul
    KJV
  10. 10
    Proverbs 27:17
    Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
    KJV

Subtopics of Friendships

true friendships

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Friendships? (11 Verses)

To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. is afflicted: Heb. melteth
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. excellent: or, abundant
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. destroyed: Heb. broken
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. seeketh: or, procureth
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. deceitful: or, earnest, or, frequent
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. by: Heb. from the counsel of the soul
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Friendships? (1 Verses)

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Friendships

  1. 1

    Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.

  2. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about friendships. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 3

    Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.

  4. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about friendships and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.

Practical Application

Studying what the Bible says about friendships is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:

  • Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on friendships needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about friendships with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.

  • Pray through the key verses about friendships, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.

How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Friendships?

You have studied 12 verses about friendships. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about friendships?
What does the Bible say about friendships? Browse 13 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme. The Bible contains 12 key verses about friendships spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about friendships are there?
There are 12 key Bible verses about friendships compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about friendships?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about friendships is Job 6:14 — "To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. is afflicted: Heb. melteth"
Where in the Bible does it talk about friendships?
Friendships is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 12 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

Continue Studying Friendships