100 Encouraging Bible Verses About Friendship and Love

Friendship is one of God’s most precious gifts. A true friend can lift your spirits, stand beside you through trials, and encourage your faith walk. The Bible is rich with wisdom about how to love, support, forgive, and walk with others in meaningful relationships. Whether you’re reflecting on your closest bonds or seeking to be a better friend yourself, these 100 Bible verses about friendship offer guidance, encouragement, and reminders of the beauty of godly companionship. Let these verses remind you of what it means to love and be loved as a friend.

Friendship Is a Blessing from God

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.

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

Job 6:14 – Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

1 Samuel 18:1 – After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

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

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

Psalm 133:1 – How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.

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

Ruth 1:16 – 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.

Romans 12:10 – Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

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

Colossians 3:13 – Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

James 2:23 – Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.

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

Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

1 Peter 4:8 – Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Philippians 2:4 – Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Zechariah 8:16 – Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts.

Qualities of a True Friend

Proverbs 27:6 – Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Colossians 3:12 – Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Ephesians 4:2 – Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Matthew 7:12 – So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.

Proverbs 16:28 – A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 22:11 – One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.

1 Corinthians 15:33 – Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.

Romans 13:10 – Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

James 4:11 – Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.

1 John 4:7 – Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.

Proverbs 15:1 – A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Ephesians 4:29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.

Psalm 141:5 – Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head.

1 John 3:18 – Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

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

2 Timothy 2:22 – Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Galatians 5:14 – For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Luke 6:31 – Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Ephesians 5:1-2 – Follow God’s example… and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us.

Romans 15:2 – Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.

Friendship Through Trials

Proverbs 25:17 – Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—too much of you, and they will hate you.

Job 2:11 – When Job’s three friends heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and sat with him.

Galatians 6:10 – Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Proverbs 19:20 – Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

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

Isaiah 41:6 – They help each other and say to their companions, Be strong!

Ecclesiastes 4:12 – Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Proverbs 22:24-25 – Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person… or you may learn their ways.

Psalm 37:30 – The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.

2 Corinthians 1:4 – Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble.

Hebrews 13:1 – Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.

Proverbs 14:21 – It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.

2 Corinthians 13:11 – Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.

James 5:16 – Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

2 Samuel 9:7 – Don’t be afraid… I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.

Luke 10:27 – Love your neighbor as yourself.

1 Peter 3:8 – Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

Romans 14:19 – Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Zephaniah 3:17 – The Lord your God is with you… he will rejoice over you with singing.

Ecclesiastes 7:5 – It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.

Jesus as Our Greatest Friend

John 15:14 – You are my friends if you do what I command.

Revelation 3:20 – Here I am! I stand at the door and knock…

Matthew 11:19 – The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.

Hebrews 4:15 – For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses.

Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 10:11 – I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Matthew 28:20 – And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

1 John 4:19 – We love because he first loved us.

Luke 24:15 – As they talked and discussed these things… Jesus himself came up and walked along with them.

John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

John 13:34 – A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Matthew 18:20 – For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

John 6:37 – All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

Romans 8:39 – Nothing… will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 15:15 – I no longer call you servants… Instead, I have called you friends.

Luke 12:4 – I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body…

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 – May our Lord Jesus Christ himself… encourage your hearts and strengthen you.

John 17:26 – I have made you known to them… that the love you have for me may be in them.

Living Out Godly Friendships

Galatians 5:13 – Serve one another humbly in love.

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

Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

1 John 4:12 – No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us.

Psalm 119:63 – I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.

Romans 12:16 – Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud…

James 3:17 – But the wisdom that comes from heaven is… full of mercy and good fruit.

Titus 3:2 – To slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

Acts 2:44 – All the believers were together and had everything in common.

Psalm 15:3 – Whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor…

Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Ephesians 6:7 – Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.

Hebrews 6:10 – God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him…

Romans 1:12 – That you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Colossians 3:16 – Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly… teaching and admonishing one another.

Acts 4:32 – All the believers were one in heart and mind.

Philippians 2:1-2 – If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ… then make my joy complete by being like-minded.

Romans 16:16 – Greet one another with a holy kiss.

1 Corinthians 1:10 – I appeal to you… that all of you agree with one another…

Jude 1:2 – Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

True friendship is rooted in love, humility, and a shared pursuit of God. These 100 Bible verses about friendship reveal that godly relationships are more than just companionship—they’re a reflection of God’s love, a source of strength, and a part of His divine plan. Whether you’re building new friendships or deepening old ones, may these verses help you walk in love, wisdom, and grace—just as Jesus, the greatest Friend of all, walks with you.