Friendship is a precious gift from God, but not all friendships lead us closer to Him. Some relationships can be harmful, pulling us away from our faith and leading us into temptation and sin. The people we surround ourselves with have a strong influence on our thoughts, actions, and spiritual growth. That is why the Bible warns us to be cautious about the company we keep.
Bad friendships can corrupt good character and weaken our relationship with God. The Bible reminds us that evil company leads to bad habits, making it harder to stay on the right path. Instead of drawing us closer to Christ, unhealthy friendships can fill our hearts with negativity, gossip, and ungodly desires. It is important to choose friends who will encourage us in righteousness rather than lead us into sin.
Throughout Scripture, we see examples of both good and bad friendships. While David and Jonathan shared a friendship built on love, trust, and faith in God, Judas betrayed Jesus for personal gain. The Bible teaches us to be wise and discerning, recognizing the difference between true friends who strengthen our faith and those who bring harm. Our friendships should reflect God’s love and truth.
As followers of Christ, we are called to walk in wisdom and surround ourselves with godly influences. Choosing friends who honor God will help us grow spiritually and stay strong in our faith. Below are Bible verses that highlight the dangers of bad friendships. These teachings remind us of the importance of seeking relationships that glorify God and lead us closer to Him.
Preachers Quotes
“Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” – John K. Jenkins Sr.
“You become like the people you spend the most time with. Choose wisely.” – Craig Groeschel
“A true friend strengthens you with prayers, blesses you with love, and encourages you with hope.” – Richard Exley
“Be careful who you listen to. Bad company corrupts good character.” – Charles Spurgeon
“Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.” – George Washington
“Your closest friends should be those who draw you closer to God.” – Billy Graham
“A friend who leads you away from God is not a friend at all.” – A.W. Tozer
You might also be interested in: Bible verses about Losing Friends
Bible Verses About Bad Friends
1 Corinthians 15:33 – Bad company corrupts good morals.
“Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’” – 1 Corinthians 15:33
Proverbs 13:20 – Walking with the wise brings wisdom.
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” – Proverbs 13:20
Proverbs 22:24-25 – Avoid friendships with angry people.
“Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul.” – Proverbs 22:24-25
Psalm 1:1 – Blessed is the man who avoids the wicked.
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” – Psalm 1:1
2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be unequally yoked.
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14
Proverbs 6:27 – Can one play with fire and not be burned?
“Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?” – Proverbs 6:27
Proverbs 16:28 – A perverse man sows strife.
“A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.” – Proverbs 16:28
James 4:4 – Friendship with the world is enmity with God.
“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” – James 4:4
Proverbs 27:6 – Faithful are the wounds of a friend.
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” – Proverbs 27:6
Psalm 101:6-7 – The deceitful shall not dwell in my house.
“My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; He who walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.” – Psalm 101:6-7
Proverbs 12:26 – The righteous choose their friends wisely.
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” – Proverbs 12:26
Matthew 7:15 – Beware of false prophets.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” – Matthew 7:15
Psalm 26:4-5 – I have not sat with idolatrous mortals.
“I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.” – Psalm 26:4-5
Romans 16:17 – Avoid those who cause divisions.
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” – Romans 16:17
Proverbs 20:19 – A gossip betrays confidence.
“He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.” – Proverbs 20:19
Proverbs 14:7 – Leave the presence of a fool.
“Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.” – Proverbs 14:7
Proverbs 17:9 – Love prospers when faults are forgiven.
“He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.” – Proverbs 17:9
Proverbs 18:24 – A friend sticks closer than a brother.
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” – Proverbs 18:24
Proverbs 19:4 – Wealth brings many friends.
“Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.” – Proverbs 19:4
Proverbs 19:6-7 – Many seek the favor of the generous.
“Many entreat the favor of the nobility, and every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. All the brothers of the poor hate him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.” – Proverbs 19:6-7
Micah 7:5 – Do not trust in a friend.
“Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom.” – Micah 7:5
Luke 6:26 – Woe when all men speak well of you.
“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” – Luke 6:26
Psalm 55:12-14 – Betrayal by a close companion.
“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; then I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng.” – Psalm 55:12-14
Matthew 10:36 – A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.
“And ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’” – Matthew 10:36
Job 19:19 – Close friends abhor me.
“All my close friends abhor me, and those whom I love have turned against me.” – Job 19:19
Proverbs 25:19 – Confidence in an unfaithful man is like a bad tooth.
“Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.” – Proverbs 25:19
Psalm 41:9 – Even my close friend has lifted his heel against me.
“Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” – Psalm 41:9
Matthew 26:48-50 – Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
“Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.’ Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, why have you come?’ Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.” – Matthew 26:48-50
Jeremiah 9:4 – Beware of your neighbor.
“Everyone take heed to his neighbor, and do not trust any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will walk with slanderers.” – Jeremiah 9:4
Jeremiah 20:10 – Fear on every side from acquaintances.
“For I heard many mocking: ‘Fear on every side!’ ‘Report,’ they say, ‘and we will report it!’ All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying, ‘Perhaps he can be induced; then we will prevail against him, and we will take our revenge on him.’” – Jeremiah 20:10
John 15:18-19 – The world hates you because you are not of it.
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” – John 15:18-19
Proverbs 26:24-26 – Enemies disguise themselves with their lips.
“He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; when he speaks kindly, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.” – Proverbs 26:24-26
Galatians 1:10 – Seeking to please men or God?
“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10
Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to this world.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:2
1 Peter 4:3-4 – The world will think it strange when you turn from sin.
“For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.” – 1 Peter 4:3-4
2 Thessalonians 3:6 – Withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly.
“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:6
2 Timothy 3:1-5 – In the last days, men will be lovers of themselves.
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Proverbs 11:9 – The hypocrite destroys his neighbor with his mouth.
“The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.” – Proverbs 11:9
Proverbs 27:17 – Iron sharpens iron.
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” – Proverbs 27:17
Proverbs 10:9 – He who walks with integrity walks securely.
“He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known.” – Proverbs 10:9
If you’re interested, here’s another article on: Bible verses about Toxic People
What Does The Bible Say About Bad Friends
The Bible has a lot to say about friendships and the kind of people we should surround ourselves with. Friends have a strong influence on our lives, and choosing the wrong friends can lead us away from God. The Bible warns us to be careful about the company we keep because bad friends can corrupt our morals and lead us into sin.
One of the clearest warnings comes from 1 Corinthians 15:33, which says, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’” This means that if we spend too much time with people who live in sin and reject God’s ways, we may start acting like them. Even if we do not intend to, their words and actions can influence our thoughts and behavior.
Proverbs also gives us wisdom on friendships. Proverbs 13:20 says, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” This verse teaches that if we want to be wise and follow God, we must surround ourselves with people who also seek wisdom. But if we choose foolish and ungodly friends, we will suffer harm.
The Bible also warns about friends who are dishonest or untrustworthy. Proverbs 16:28 says, “A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.” Gossip and dishonesty can destroy friendships and cause division among people. A true friend speaks truth and encourages us in righteousness, but a bad friend spreads lies and stirs up trouble.
Some friends pretend to care but actually seek their own benefit. Proverbs 19:4 says, “Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.” This means some people will only stay friends when they can gain something, but when hard times come, they will leave.
Jesus Himself was betrayed by a close friend, Judas. Psalm 41:9 prophesied this betrayal: “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” This shows that not everyone close to us truly cares about us.
The Bible teaches that we should avoid bad friends and instead seek godly friends who encourage us in faith. We should choose friends who love God, speak truth, and help us grow in righteousness. In return, we should also be good friends to others, reflecting Christ’s love in all our relationships.