Bible verses about friendship

The Bible values loyal friendship, saying a friend loves at all times, sharpens you, and shows up in hardship.

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”Proverbs 17:17 · KJV
Verses
15
Key passage
Proverbs 17:17
Translation
King James
Updated
2026-10-27

Scripture treats friendship as a practical good. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes talk about loyalty, honest correction and company in hard times, and the stories of David and Jonathan or Ruth and Naomi show what that looks like. These verses cover choosing friends, being one, and the cost of laying something down for someone.

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15 verses about friendship

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

Proverbs 17:17 · KJV
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“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

Proverbs 18:24 · KJV
03

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

John 15:13 · KJV
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“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.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 · KJV
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“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”

Proverbs 27:17 · KJV
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“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.”

Proverbs 27:9 · KJV
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“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

Proverbs 27:6 · KJV
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“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.”

John 15:15 · KJV
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“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.”

1 Samuel 18:1 · KJV
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“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:”

Ruth 1:16 · KJV
11

“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

Proverbs 13:20 · KJV
12

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”

Romans 12:10 · KJV
13

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2 · KJV
14

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 · KJV
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“And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:12 · KJV
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Questions

What does the Bible say about friendship?

The Bible values loyal friendship, saying a friend loves at all times, sharpens you, and shows up in hardship. A good place to start is Proverbs 17:17.

Where does the Bible talk most about friendship?

Key passages include Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 18:24, John 15:13. This page lists 15 verses from the Old and New Testaments.

Which Bible translation is used?

The King James Version (KJV), which is in the public domain in the United States. Other translations use different wording for the same passages.

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Related topics

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain in the U.S.). Verses were selected by hand. Last reviewed 2026-10-27. See how topics are chosen.