Friends are a part of life. Part of God’s plan involves having friends. Here are 9 Bible verses about friends. A good and faithful friend is a gift from God. The Bible has some encouraging and practical things to say about friends. Here are some Bible verses about friends. The very first time the word friend is used in the Bible, it is in the context of comfort.
Bible Verses About Friends – Genesis 38:12
“And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah’s wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.” (KJV)
Judah lost his wife and was mourning. His friend Hirah provided some comfort to Judah, and they took a trip together. Judah did not have the companionship of his wife, but he had the comradeship of a guy buddy.
God knew how close a good friend can be. A friend can be really an extension of ourselves. This is how God described a close friendship.
Bible Verses About Friends – Deuteronomy 13:6
“Thy friend, which is as thine own soul” (KJV)
Sometimes we have a friendly relationship with someone, and we want to believe they are our true friends when in reality, the relationship is only one-sided. This happened to Samson. He married a woman, got angry, and in a fit of rage left her, then she immediately got remarried to one of Samson’s companions. This is how the Bible describes this sad situation.
Bible Verses About Friends – Judges 14:20
“But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.” (KJV)
Obviously, Samson’s “friend” was not loyal to Samson.
The book of Ruth is about a woman who was a true and loyal friend to her mother-in-law. After Ruth’s husband passed away, the familial bond was replaced by an admirable friendship. These strong words of undying friendship, which were voiced by Ruth to Naomi, are similar to wedding vows.
Bible Verses About Freinds – Ruth 1:16-17
“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: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” (KJV)
The most famous of Ruth’s grandsons was David, who eventually became the king of Israel. David had a faithful friend in a man named Hushai.
Bible Verses About Friends – 2 Samuel 16:16
“And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.”
When David’s son Absalom tried to take the kingdom from his father, Hushai played the important role of a spy while influencing Absalom away from David. Hushai protected his friend, King David.
Friends are a great influence in our lives. Therefore, it is important to choose our friends wisely. One of King David’s sons had a friend named Jonadab who was really not a good friend.
Bible Verses About Friends – 2 Samuel 13:3
“But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.” (KJV)
Jonadab’s advice to Amnon got Amnon what he wanted, but this same act suggested by Jonadab soon cost Amnon his life.
The Old Testament patriarch Abraham was called “the friend of God”.
Bible Verses About Friends – James 2:23
“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.”
The reason Abraham enjoyed such a great friendship was because of his faith in an unseen God. This example is true today as well. A person’s faith is a blessing to the heart of God, and God rewarded Abraham, His friend, with many and great blessings.
Jesus, God’s Son had much to say about His friends. Three times in three consecutive verses, Jesus mentioned the word “friends” in John chapter 15. He was speaking to His eleven disciples right before being betrayed to His death on the cross. Here is what He said:
Bible Verses About Friends – John 15:13
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (KJV)
Jesus spoke these words with a direct reference to Himself before He voluntarily gave His life for His friends. He died on the cross so that through His death, burial, and resurrection, He could make a way to heaven so His friends, those who trusted in Him for salvation, could live with Him in eternity. Jesus truly gave His life so His friends, not only the eleven disciples, but us as well, could live and live eternally.
Bible Verses About Friends – John 15:14
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (KJV)
Do you want to be close to Christ? Do you want to be His friend? Then do what Jesus said in His Word, the Bible. Reading and obeying the Bible and praying daily are ways to be close to Jesus Christ. This takes faith. But this closeness that Abraham had, the friendship that Jesus offers, is all based on faith—both in Christ and in God’s Word.
Bible Verses About Friends – John 15:15
“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.” (KJV)
Jesus continued in His address to His eleven disciples before His crucifixion, explaining to them what would shortly occur. In this last long conversation with them, He affectionately called these followers “friends.” Since God provide not only the words of Jesus but the entire Bible for us to learn about Him, this action shows that God wants all people to be His friends as well. But it is our choice if we want to accept His friendship…or not.
Thank God for your friends, and make it both your prayer and your practice to be a good friend to them.
