“And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”
— 1 Samuel 18:1
"There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" — the Bible prizes friendship highly enough to give it its own proverbs, its own epic (David and Jonathan), and its own theology in John 15. The fifteen verses below are the Bible's direct address to that situation, shown in full KJV text from 1 Samuel 18:1 to 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
Quick answer: The best-known verse about friendship here is 1 Samuel 18:1: "And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." 2 Samuel 1:26 follows close behind: "I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women." Both are public-domain translations, shown in full on the cards below with a modern-English toggle.
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
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.
1 Samuel 18:1
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
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.
2 Samuel 1:26
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24
Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Proverbs 27:5
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
Proverbs 27:9
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
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.
Ecclesiastes 4:10
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
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.
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.
John 15:15
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
Proverbs 27:17
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
Ecclesiastes 4:9
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,
Hebrews 10:24
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Read these before the hard conversation rather than after — the Bible's relationship material works best as preventive care. They are also read in reconciliation seasons, where the forgiveness page pairs naturally with this one.
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