Friendship in Scripture: Godly Relationships

One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. At that time, he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner. They were allies of Abram.

The men rose up from there, and looked towards Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way.

Dinah, the daughter of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

At that time, Judah went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

After many days, Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah, the Adullamite.

Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, but he didn’t find her.

The LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn’t depart from the Tent.

Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are journeying to the place of which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the LORD has spoken good concerning Israel.”

Moses said, “Don’t leave us, please; because you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes.

If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, “Let’s go and serve other gods”—which you have not known, you, nor your fathers;

Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with you into your lot.” So Simeon went with him.

Then she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me. Leave me alone two months, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.”

When they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him.

But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his friend.

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.

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.

I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will talk with my father about you; and if I see anything, I will tell you.”

Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Don’t let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good towards you;

Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.

David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?”

He said to him, “Far from it; you will not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small, but that he discloses it to me. Why would my father hide this thing from me? It is not so.”

David swore moreover, and said, “Your father knows well that I have found favour in your eyes; and he says, ‘Don’t let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved;’ but truly as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”

Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever your soul desires, I will even do it for you.”

Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you; but if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?”

Jonathan said, “Far be it from you; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come on you, then wouldn’t I tell you that?”

Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?”

Jonathan said to David, “Come! Let’s go out into the field.” They both went out into the field.

Jonathan said to David, “By the LORD, the God of Israel, when I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good towards David, won’t I then send to you and disclose it to you?

Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.

So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.

In the morning, Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy with him.

But the boy didn’t know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

As soon as the boy was gone, David arose out of the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times. They kissed one another and wept with one another, and David wept the most.

Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have both sworn in the LORD’s name, saying, ‘The LORD is between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” He arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.

Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.

They both made a covenant before the LORD. Then David stayed in the woods and Jonathan went to his house.

Then David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?” Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”

When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, “Behold, a present for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.”

to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men used to stay.

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.

David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

He said to him, “Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”

When David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.

Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, the king’s friend;

Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the place of his father, and Hiram had always loved David.

He said, “What cities are these which you have given me, my brother?” He called them the land of Cabul to this day.

In the third year, Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.

He said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle to Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

He went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Moab to battle?” He said, “I will go up. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

One day Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman; and she persuaded him to eat bread. So it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread.

So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

When he had departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him, and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?” Jehonadab answered, “It is.” “If it is, give me your hand.” He gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.

Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.

David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun to comfort him.

Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.

After some years, he went down to Ahab to Samaria. Ahab killed sheep and cattle for him in abundance, and for the people who were with him, and moved him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead.

Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.”

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 sympathise with him and to comfort him.

So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

Did I ever say, ‘Give to me’? or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance’?

Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.

Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I will not lie to your face.

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

All my familiar friends abhor me. They whom I loved have turned against me.

“Have pity on me. Have pity on me, you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me.

as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was in my tent,

he who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man;

The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.

I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away.

Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.

But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend.

We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company.

He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant.

You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.

I am a friend of all those who fear you, of those who observe your precepts.

who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God;

For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.

A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbour, but the rich person has many friends.

A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

He who covers an offence promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.

A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.

Many will entreat the favour of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

All the relatives of the poor shun him; how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.

He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully is the king’s friend.

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbour’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.

Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbour who is near is better than a distant brother.

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.

A man who flatters his neighbour spreads a net for his feet.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour.

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.

Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one keep warm alone?

If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Friends Eat, friends! Drink, yes, drink abundantly, beloved.

His mouth is sweetness; yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.

Where has your beloved gone, you fairest amongst women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you?

You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!

“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham my friend,

“Everyone beware of his neighbour, and don’t trust in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will go around like a slanderer.

Friends deceive each other, and will not speak the truth. They have taught their tongue to speak lies. They weary themselves committing iniquity.

Their tongue is a deadly arrow. It speaks deceit. One speaks peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in his heart, he waits to ambush him.

Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, but Daniel was in the king’s gate.

Don’t trust in a neighbour. Don’t put confidence in a friend. With the woman lying in your embrace, be careful of the words of your mouth!

One will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’

If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.

Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

Simon and those who were with him searched for him.

They found him and told him, “Everyone is looking for you.”

Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.

Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

Behold, men brought a paralysed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus.

Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the middle before Jesus.

He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

He said to them, “Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’

I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs.

Now as he spoke, a certain Pharisee asked him to dine with him. He went in and sat at the table.

“I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you make a dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbours, or perhaps they might also return the favour, and pay you back.

I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.

Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem.

Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the wedding.

He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore my joy is made full.

He said these things, and after that, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.”

Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.

So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.

Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus.

One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus’ breast.

Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom he speaks.”

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.

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.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.

Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest;

but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought in Peter.

Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing.

On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.

Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.

Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.

and because he practised the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers.

Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theatre.

These accompanied him as far as Asia: Sopater of Beroea, Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia.

They all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,

sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day.

On the next day, we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay.

When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.

Embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica being with us.

The next day, we touched at Sidon. Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him permission to go to his friends and refresh himself.

Now in the neighbourhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and courteously entertained us for three days.

where we found brothers, and were entreated to stay with them for seven days. So we came to Rome.

Let each one of us please his neighbour for that which is good, to be building him up.

whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.

But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,

Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.

Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

Be diligent to come to me soon,

for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; and Titus to Dalmatia.

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.

Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick.

Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.

Let brotherly love continue.

So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.

You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility towards God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.

I had many things to write to you, but I am unwilling to write to you with ink and pen;

but I hope to see you soon. Then we will speak face to face. Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.