28 Bible Verses About Friendship (NIV & KJV)

Friendship is one of God's kindest gifts, and Scripture has a great deal to say about what makes a friend true. From the loyalty of David and Jonathan to the words of Jesus calling His disciples friends, the Bible holds up companionship as something to treasure and protect.

These Bible verses about friendship gather the wisdom of Proverbs, the example of faithful friends, and the call to love one another. Whether you are thanking a lifelong friend, mending a broken bond, or seeking to be a better companion yourself, these passages offer guidance.

Each verse below is drawn in both the NIV and KJV. Read them slowly, share them freely, and let them shape the way you love the people God has placed beside you.

🤝 The Loyalty of a True Friend

Scripture defines real friendship by its faithfulness, especially when times grow hard.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”— Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”— Proverbs 17:17 (KJV)

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”— Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”— Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)

“Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.”— Proverbs 27:10 (NIV)“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 27:10 (KJV)

“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.”— Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV)“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)

❤️ Love That Lays Down Its Life

The deepest friendship reflects the sacrificial love of Christ.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”— John 15:13 (NIV)“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”— John 15:13 (KJV)

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”— John 15:15 (NIV)“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)

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”— John 15:12 (NIV)“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”— John 15:12 (KJV)

“And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.”— James 2:23 (NIV)“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”— James 2:23 (KJV)

🗣️ Honest Words Between Friends

True friends speak truth, even when it is difficult to hear.

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”— Proverbs 27:6 (NIV)“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”— Proverbs 27:6 (KJV)

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”— Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”— Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)

“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.”— Proverbs 27:9 (NIV)“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.”— Proverbs 27:9 (KJV)

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.”— Proverbs 27:5 (NIV)“Open rebuke is better than secret love.”— Proverbs 27:5 (KJV)

🛡️ The Bond of David and Jonathan

Scripture's most famous friendship shows loyalty stronger than rivalry.

“After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.”— 1 Samuel 18:1 (NIV)“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)

“And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.”— 1 Samuel 18:3 (NIV)“Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.”— 1 Samuel 18:3 (KJV)

“It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.”— Genesis 31:49 (NIV)“And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.”— Genesis 31:49 (KJV)

🌿 Choosing Friends Wisely

The Bible urges us to be careful about the company we keep.

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”— Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”— Proverbs 13:20 (KJV)

“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.””— 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”— 1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV)

“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,”— Proverbs 22:24 (NIV)“Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:”— Proverbs 22:24 (KJV)

“Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?”— Amos 3:3 (NIV)“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”— Amos 3:3 (KJV)

🙏 Loving and Serving One Another

Christian friendship is meant to bear one another's burdens in love.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”— Galatians 6:2 (NIV)“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”— Galatians 6:2 (KJV)

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”— Romans 12:10 (NIV)“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”— Romans 12:10 (KJV)

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV)

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,”— Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”— Hebrews 10:24 (KJV)

“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.”— Hebrews 13:1 (NIV)“Let brotherly love continue.”— Hebrews 13:1 (KJV)

““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”— John 13:34 (NIV)“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”— John 13:34 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Friendship?

The Bible describes friendship as a covenant of loyalty, honesty, and self-giving love. Proverbs teaches that "a friend loveth at all times" and that the wounds of a friend are faithful, meaning a true companion will tell you the truth even when it hurts. The friendship of David and Jonathan illustrates a bond so deep that Jonathan "loved him as his own soul," choosing loyalty over personal gain.

Above all, Scripture points to Jesus as the perfect Friend. He calls His followers friends rather than servants, and He defines the greatest love as laying down one's life for one's friends. Biblical friendship, then, is not merely about enjoyment or convenience but about faithfulness, sacrifice, and helping one another grow closer to God.

True friendship is one of God's richest blessings. If these verses encouraged you, explore more collections on Bible verses about love, Bible verses about kindness, and Bible verses about encouragement to keep building relationships rooted in His word.