23 Bible Verses About Best Friends

Friendship is one of life’s greatest gifts. Whether it’s sharing laughter over a cup of coffee, offering a shoulder to cry on during tough times, or simply enjoying each other’s company in comfortable silence, best friends enrich our lives in countless ways. They’re the family we choose, the ones who stand by us through thick and thin, and the people who know us better than we sometimes know ourselves.

The Bible, with its timeless wisdom, has much to say about the beauty and importance of these cherished relationships. It offers guidance on how to nurture and sustain friendships that are not only fulfilling but also rooted in love, loyalty, and faith. As you explore these 23 Bible verses about best friends, may you find inspiration to deepen your connections and celebrate the incredible bonds that make life so meaningful.

23 Bible Verses About Best Friends

Verses About Loyalty in Friendship
Verses About Honesty in Friendship
Verses About Support in Friendship
Verses About Sacrifice in Friendship
Verses About Choosing Friends Wisely

Loyalty in friendship is a bond that withstands the test of time and trials. Think of David and Jonathan, whose friendship was marked by unwavering loyalty despite the challenges they faced. Jonathan’s commitment to David, even when it meant going against his own father, King Saul, is a testament to the strength and depth of true loyalty. This kind of steadfastness is a cornerstone of genuine friendship, where trust and faithfulness are paramount.

Proverbs 18:24: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Ruth 1:16–17: “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.'”

1 Samuel 18:3: “And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.”

Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10: “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.”

Honesty is the bedrock of any meaningful friendship. It involves speaking the truth in love, even when it’s difficult. Friends who are honest with each other help one another grow and stay accountable. This kind of transparency fosters a deeper connection and understanding, allowing friendships to flourish in authenticity and trust.

Proverbs 27:5–6: “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

Proverbs 27:9: “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.”

Proverbs 24:26: “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”

Galatians 6:1–2: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Support in friendship means being there for one another through thick and thin. It’s about offering a shoulder to lean on during tough times and celebrating together in moments of joy. This kind of support is a reflection of the love and care that friends have for each other, creating a safe space where burdens are shared and joys are multiplied.

Job 2:11: “When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.”

Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

2 Corinthians 1:3–4: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Sacrifice in friendship is about putting the needs of others before your own. It’s the willingness to go the extra mile, even when it’s inconvenient. Jesus spoke of the greatest love being shown when one lays down their life for their friends, highlighting the profound nature of sacrificial love. This selflessness strengthens the bonds of friendship, making them resilient and enduring.

John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

1 John 3:16: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Philippians 2:3–4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Proverbs 11:25: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

Choosing friends wisely is crucial because the company we keep can influence our character and decisions. The Bible advises us to walk with the wise and avoid the company of fools. Surrounding ourselves with friends who uplift, encourage, and challenge us to grow in positive ways is essential for a fulfilling and purposeful life.

Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'”

Proverbs 12:26: “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

Psalm 1:1: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.”

James 4:4: “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”