Friendship is a cherished gift, but not all friendships are genuine. The Bible provides wisdom on recognizing and dealing with fake friends—those who are insincere, unreliable, or deceitful. These scriptures guide believers in discerning true friends from false ones and emphasize the importance of loyalty, integrity, and trustworthiness in relationships. Here are 30 Bible verses about fake friends, each accompanied by a brief commentary to provide deeper understanding and reflection.
1. Proverbs 18:24
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
True vs. fake friends. This verse contrasts fake friends, who are many but unreliable, with true friends who are loyal and dependable, often surpassing even familial bonds in their steadfastness.
2. Proverbs 19:4
“Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.”
Fair-weather friends. This verse highlights how wealth can attract many superficial friends, while true friendships are often tested by times of poverty or difficulty.
3. Proverbs 27:6
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
Honest vs. deceitful friends. True friends may offer painful but helpful truths, while fake friends use flattery and deceit, masking their true intentions with false kindness.
4. Psalm 55:21
“The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”
Deceptive speech. This verse warns about those who speak kindly but harbor harmful intentions, illustrating the danger of trusting outward appearances without discernment.
5. Proverbs 20:19
“He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.”
Gossip and flattery. This verse advises against associating with those who gossip and flatter, as these behaviors often indicate insincerity and a lack of trustworthiness.
6. Matthew 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
Discernment of intentions. This verse encourages discernment to recognize those who appear friendly but have harmful intentions, similar to fake friends who disguise their true nature.
7. Proverbs 14:20
“The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends.”
Superficial friendships. This verse illustrates how wealth can attract superficial friends, while true friendship is not influenced by material circumstances.
8. Job 19:19
“All my close friends abhor me, and those whom I love have turned against me.”
Betrayal in hardship. Job laments the betrayal of his friends in his time of suffering, highlighting how fake friends abandon you when you need them the most.
9. Proverbs 17:17
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
True friendship. This verse contrasts fake friends with true friends who love consistently and support each other through adversity.
10. Micah 7:5
“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.”
Caution in trust. This verse advises caution in trusting others, acknowledging that not all who appear friendly are trustworthy.
11. Psalm 41:9
“Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.”
Betrayal by a close friend. This verse reflects the pain of betrayal by a trusted friend, a common experience with fake friends who turn against you.
12. Proverbs 16:28
“A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.”
Sowing discord. This verse warns about individuals who spread strife and gossip, causing division even among the best of friends, indicative of fake friends.
13. Jeremiah 9:4
“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.”
Caution against deceitful neighbors. This verse highlights the prevalence of deceit and betrayal even among those who should be close, urging caution and discernment.
14. Proverbs 25:19
“Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.”
Unreliable friends. This verse compares trusting an unfaithful person in trouble to relying on a painful tooth or injured foot, emphasizing the harm caused by fake friends.
15. Matthew 26:49-50
“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.”
Judas’ betrayal. This passage recounts Judas betraying Jesus with a kiss, illustrating the deceitful actions of a fake friend who pretends to be loyal.
16. 2 Timothy 3:2-5
“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!”
Avoiding false friends. This passage lists various negative traits, warning believers to turn away from those who display such behaviors, indicative of fake friends.
17. Proverbs 26:24-25
“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.”
Disguised hatred. This verse warns against those who disguise their hatred with kind words, advising not to trust their deceitful speech.
18. Job 6:15
“My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook, like the streams of the brooks that pass away.”
Fleeting loyalty. Job compares his deceitful friends to unreliable brooks that disappear, highlighting the inconsistency and unreliability of fake friends.
19. Proverbs 27:14
“He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him.”
Insincere flattery. This verse suggests that overly enthusiastic praise can be insincere and annoying, revealing the false nature of some friendships.
20. Psalm 109:5
“Thus they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.”
Unjust treatment. This verse laments the unjust treatment by those who repay good with evil and love with hatred, characteristic of fake friends.
21. Proverbs 19:6-7
“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.”
Conditional friendships. These verses illustrate how friendships based on wealth and gifts are superficial and how fake friends abandon you in times of need.
22. Proverbs 12:26
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
Choosing friends wisely. This verse emphasizes the importance of choosing friends carefully, as bad company can lead one astray, highlighting the need to avoid fake friends.
23. Luke 22:48
“But Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?'”
Betrayal with a kiss. Jesus questions Judas’s betrayal with a kiss, symbolizing the ultimate act of deceit by a fake friend who pretends loyalty while committing betrayal.
24. Proverbs 25:4-5
“Take away the dross from silver, and it will go to the silversmith for jewelry. Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.”
Removing the wicked. This verse encourages removing deceitful and wicked individuals from one’s circle to establish a righteous and trustworthy community.
25. Psalm 55:12-14
“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.”
Pain of betrayal by a friend. This passage expresses the deep pain of being betrayed by a close friend, someone trusted and cherished, which is often more hurtful than betrayal by an enemy.
26. Proverbs 22:24-25
“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.”
Avoiding bad influences. This verse advises against forming friendships with angry or furious people, as their negative influence can lead to personal downfall.
27. Jeremiah 20:10
“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.'”
Watching for failure. This verse describes fake friends who eagerly wait for someone’s failure, revealing their true intentions of harm and betrayal.
28. Proverbs 28:23
“He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.”
Value of honesty. This verse highlights that honest rebuke is more valuable in the long run than insincere flattery, emphasizing the need for genuine friends who speak truth.
29. Psalm 55:20-21
“He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”
Broken trust. This verse describes someone who betrays peaceful friends, breaking trust with deceitful and harmful intentions masked by smooth words.
30. Proverbs 6:12-15
“A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth; he winks with his eyes, he shuffles his feet, he points with his fingers; perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, he sows discord. Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.”
Characteristics of a fake friend. This passage describes the behaviors of a deceitful and wicked person who sows discord and devises evil, warning of the sudden calamity that will befall them.
These verses collectively offer guidance on recognizing and dealing with fake friends, emphasizing the importance of discernment, integrity, and seeking genuine, trustworthy relationships. They encourage believers to foster true friendships based on loyalty, honesty, and mutual respect, reflecting God’s principles in their social interactions.
Also Read:Bible Verses About Mountains (Bible Explained)
30 Bible Verses About Daughters (With Explanation)
30 Bible Verses About Time (Bible Explained)
30 Bible Verses About Going To Heaven (With Explanation)
30 Bible Verses About Living Life With Purpose (With Explanation)
Commentary
20 Powerful Bible Verses About Israel (With Commentary)