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Bible verses about friendship

The best thing anybody does for a friend in the whole Bible takes seven days and involves no speaking at all. These passages are set out with a sentence on each, and they are franker about bad friends than the subject usually allows.

Jonathan gives David his robe and bow as a sign of covenant friendship.
1 Samuel 18:1–4
A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity. — Proverbs 17:17 · WEB

The chapter is preoccupied with what people do to each other, and it ends by pointing out that a fool who says nothing passes for wise.

Read the comment on A Friend Loves at All Times

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance. — Proverbs 27:17 · WEB

The chapter is about friendship, and its central claim is that a friend's wounds are more trustworthy than an enemy's affection.

Read the comment on Iron Sharpens Iron

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. — John 15:13 · WEB

The measure of the love is named, and the relationship is renamed on the night before it is proved.

Read the comment on No Longer Servants but Friends

When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. — 1 Samuel 18:1 · WEB

A prince gives away his robe and his sword; a king counts the numbers in a song and starts throwing spears.

Read the comment on Saul Has Slain His Thousands

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort him. — Job 2:11 · WEB

The best thing the friends do for Job takes a week and involves no speech at all.

Read the comment on Seven Days of Silence

I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to me. Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women. — 2 Samuel 1:26 · WEB

The lament for Saul and Jonathan — no politics, no verdict, no mention of God: only grief, taught to the nation as a song.

Read the comment on How the Mighty Have Fallen

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up. — Ecclesiastes 4:10 · WEB

Four practical arguments for company answer the solitary man of the previous verse, and then a success story is followed forward until it too is forgotten.

Read the comment on Two Are Better Than One

Do two walk together, unless they have agreed? — Amos 3:3 · WEB

Seven questions about cause and effect build one conclusion, and the conclusion is that the prophet had no choice.

Read the comment on Does a Lion Roar with No Prey

The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse. — Proverbs 27:6 · WEB

Read the comment on Iron Sharpens Iron

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. — John 15:15 · WEB

Read the comment on No Longer Servants but Friends

A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. — Proverbs 18:24 · WEB

Read the comment on The Name of Yahweh Is a Strong Tower

One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. — Proverbs 13:20 · WEB

Read the comment on Hope Deferred Makes the Heart Sick

Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.” — 1 Corinthians 15:33 · WEB

Read the comment on Why Then Do We Stand in Jeopardy?

Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man. Don’t associate with one who harbors anger, — Proverbs 22:24 · WEB

Read the comment on Thirty Sayings: Do Not Move the Boundary Stone

Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep. — Romans 12:15 · WEB

Read the comment on Overcome Evil with Good

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