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Bible

Bible Verses About Relationships

The Bible gives practical instruction on how Christians should treat each other in friendship, family, marriage, work, and church. Below are curated KJV passages on love and patience, forgiveness, wisdom, and avoiding harmful company.

Love and patience

The New Testament defines love by its action and by its patience. These verses describe the steady, unflashy love that makes a relationship last.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 · KJV

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Colossians 3:12-14 · KJV

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Ephesians 4:2 · KJV

Forgiveness

Every long relationship requires repeated forgiveness. Jesus and the apostles set the bar at the way Christ forgives us.

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:21-22 · KJV

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32 · KJV

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Colossians 3:13 · KJV

Wisdom in relationships

Proverbs and James give the practical wisdom: sharpen each other, listen carefully, stay loyal in hard times.

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:17 · KJV

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17 · KJV

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

James 1:19 · KJV

Avoiding harmful company

Scripture is honest about influence. Who we walk with shapes who we become. These warnings are wisdom, not contempt for people.

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Proverbs 13:20 · KJV

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Proverbs 22:24-25 · KJV

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

1 Corinthians 15:33 · KJV
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Examples

Love and patience

1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Colossians 3:12-14, Ephesians 4:2

Forgiveness

Matthew 18:21-22, Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:32

Wisdom in relationships

Proverbs 27:17, Proverbs 17:17, James 1:19

Avoiding harmful company

Proverbs 13:20, Proverbs 22:24-25, 1 Corinthians 15:33

How it works

The page groups verses into four themes that summarize the biblical pattern for relationships:

  • Love and patience: the core character of every Christian relationship.
  • Forgiveness: forgiving as we have been forgiven.
  • Wisdom in relationships: listening, sharpening, and steady loyalty.
  • Avoiding harmful company: the influence of close associations.

All verse text below is from the King James Version (1611), public domain in the United States.

Frequently asked questions

Scripture treats relationships as a central area of obedience. The two great commandments (Matthew 22:37-40) are to love God and to love neighbor; nearly every New Testament epistle includes practical instructions on how Christians should treat each other, family members, and outsiders. The dominant pattern is self-giving love, patient honesty, forgiveness, and wise discernment about whom we keep close company with.

The New Testament instructs believers to address conflict directly and gently. Matthew 18:15 says to go first to the person who has wronged you. Ephesians 4:26 warns: 'Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.' Colossians 3:13 calls for forbearance and forgiveness 'as Christ forgave you.' Conflict is not avoided in Scripture; it is handled with humility, honesty, and a goal of reconciliation.

Yes, in specific cases. Proverbs warns repeatedly against close company with the angry, the proud, the gossip, and the wicked because their habits rub off (Proverbs 13:20; 22:24-25). 1 Corinthians 15:33 says: 'Evil communications corrupt good manners.' This is wisdom about influence, not a license to treat anyone with contempt. The same Bible commands love of neighbor and enemy.

Yes, in the United States. The King James Version was first published in 1611 and is in the public domain in the U.S. All verse text on this page is KJV.