Finding true friendship and love in today’s world can feel really hard sometimes. But the Bible has so many beautiful verses that show us what real friendship looks like and how we should love each other. These scriptures have helped millions of people build stronger relationships and understand God’s heart for friendship.
In this post, I’m sharing 30 powerful Bible verses about friendship and love that will encourage your heart. Whether you’re looking for verses to share with a friend, need encouragement about relationships, or want to understand what the Bible says about love, you’ll find something meaningful here.
Table of Contents
Beautiful Bible Verses About Friendship and Love
1. John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
This verse always gives me chills because it shows the biggest love possible. Jesus showed this kind of love when he died on the cross for us. It teaches us that real friendship means we’re willing to sacrifice for our friends, even when it’s hard.
2. Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
I love this verse because it reminds us that true friends don’t disappear when things get difficult. They stick around during both the happy times and the really tough seasons. That’s what makes friendship so special: it’s love that doesn’t give up.
3. Proverbs 18:24: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
This scripture warns us about choosing friends who aren’t dependable. But it also gives us hope that we can find friends who are even more loyal than family members. Some friendships really do become that deep and meaningful.
4. 1 John 4:7-8: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
This passage is so foundational because it shows us where love actually comes from. When we love our friends, we’re reflecting God’s own nature. People who truly know God will show His love to others naturally.
5. 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.”
This verse makes so much practical sense! Having good friends means we have people to help us when we stumble. Life is definitely easier when we don’t have to face everything alone.
6. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
This is probably the most famous passage about love in the whole Bible! These verses give us a complete picture of what love should look like in our friendships. When I read this, I often think about whether I’m showing this kind of love to my friends.
7. 1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Even though faith and hope are incredibly important, love is the greatest virtue. This reminds us that love should be the driving force behind all our relationships and friendships.
8. 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
Deep love in friendship means we extend grace and forgiveness to each other. When we really love our friends, we’re able to overlook their mistakes and show them mercy just like God shows us mercy.
9. Colossians 3:14: “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Love is like the glue that holds all other good qualities together. In friendship, love creates harmony and makes the bond between people even stronger.
10. Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
This verse teaches us to put our friends’ needs before our own wants. True friendship involves being devoted to each other and showing respect and honor.
11. Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
I really like this verse because it shows how good friends help each other grow and improve. Just like iron makes iron sharper, friends can challenge each other to become better people and grow closer to God.
12. Proverbs 27:6: “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
Sometimes a real friend has to tell us hard truths, and that might hurt a little. But we can trust that a genuine friend is speaking truth in love, not trying to harm us. Fake friends will only tell us what we want to hear.
13. Proverbs 27:9: “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.”
The wisdom and counsel from a good friend bring joy and refreshment to our lives. When friends give us advice that comes from a caring heart, it’s like a pleasant fragrance that makes us feel better.
14. Job 6:14: “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.”
Showing kindness to our friends is actually a way of showing reverence for God. When we refuse to be kind to our friends, we’re showing that we don’t properly fear and respect God.
15. Ecclesiastes 4:12: “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
This verse shows us the strength that comes from unity and mutual support. When God is included in our friendship (as the third strand), the bond becomes even stronger and harder to break.
16. John 15:12: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
Jesus doesn’t just suggest that we love each other; He commands it! And the standard is high: we should love our friends with the same sacrificial, unconditional love that Jesus showed us.
17. 1 John 3:18: “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
Talk is cheap, as they say. Real love is shown through what we do, not just what we say. Our friendships should be marked by genuine acts of love and service.
18. Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Good friends help lighten each other’s loads during difficult times. When we help carry our friends’ burdens, we’re actually fulfilling Christ’s law of love.
19. 1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Friends should be each other’s biggest encouragers! This verse shows how friendship should be a source of mutual building up and growth.
20. Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Kindness, compassion, and forgiveness should characterize our friendships. We extend grace to our friends because God has extended so much grace to us.
21. Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
The friends we choose will definitely influence our character and life direction. We should look for companions who will encourage wisdom and righteous living.
22. 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'”
This verse gives us a strong warning about choosing friends poorly. The company we keep has a powerful impact on our moral development, so we need to be careful.
23. Proverbs 22:24-25: “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”
We should avoid friendships with people who have destructive character traits. The behaviors of our friends can become our own behaviors if we’re not careful.
24. Proverbs 16:28: “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
Gossip and conflict can destroy even the strongest friendships. We should guard against both participating in gossip and allowing it in our friendships.
25. Proverbs 12:26: “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
Wise people are selective about their friendships. They choose friends who align with their values and will encourage them to live godly lives.
26. John 15:15: “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.”
This verse is so amazing because it shows that Jesus wants to be our friend! He elevates His disciples to the level of friends, showing the intimacy God desires with us.
27. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
This verse demonstrates the ultimate expression of God’s love for humanity. It shows us that true love involves sacrifice for the good of others.
28. Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God’s love doesn’t wait for us to become worthy; it’s freely given. This teaches us to love our friends unconditionally, even when they fall short or make mistakes.
29. 1 John 4:19: “We love because he first loved us.”
Our ability to love others actually comes from God’s love for us. This verse reminds us that God’s love is the source of all genuine human love.
30. Psalm 133:1: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
Unity among believers brings joy to God’s heart. This verse celebrates the blessing of harmonious relationships within the faith community.
Living Out Biblical Friendship
These 30 Bible verses about friendship and love give us a beautiful roadmap for building relationships that honor God and bless others. They teach us that true friendship involves sacrifice, loyalty, mutual support, and unconditional love.
As we apply these principles to our own relationships, we reflect God’s nature and show the world what His love looks like. Remember, we love because He first loved us and that love should overflow into all our friendships.
The next time you’re struggling in a friendship or wondering how to be a better friend, come back to these verses. Let God’s Word guide you toward the kind of friendships that last and bring glory to His name.
RELATED: 36 Bible Verses About Love and Relationships
FAQs About Bible Verses on Friendship and Love
What does the Bible say is the most important quality in friendship?
According to the Bible, love is the most important quality in friendship. 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us that “the greatest of these is love,” and this love should be the foundation of all our relationships.
How can I choose good friends according to biblical principles?
Proverbs 13:20 teaches us to “walk with the wise and become wise.” Look for friends who share your values, encourage your spiritual growth, and demonstrate godly character traits like kindness, integrity, and faithfulness.
What should I do if a friend hurts me?
The Bible teaches us to forgive as God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). Love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5), so we should be ready to extend grace and work toward reconciliation.
