Who you surround yourself with has a powerful impact on who you become.
From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture makes it clear that the people in your inner circle can either pull you closer to God or quietly steer you away.
This truth isn’t just a good principle for living—it’s a spiritual safeguard.
The Bible warns that bad company corrupts good character.
That’s not just about avoiding obvious danger.
Sometimes the most dangerous influences are subtle—those who drain your faith, dilute your values, or dismiss God’s Word.
On the flip side, surrounding yourself with godly people builds strength, sharpens wisdom, and multiplies grace.
Iron sharpens iron.
Two are better than one. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
Jesus surrounded Himself with a close group of disciples, teaching them, correcting them, and encouraging them to grow.
In the early church, believers met daily, shared meals, and supported one another.
We were never meant to walk this life of faith alone.
The right people help us stay aligned with God’s purpose, encourage us in our battles, and celebrate our victories in the Spirit.
If your circle pushes you toward holiness, truth, and love—you are in good company.
Bible Verses About Surrounding Yourself With Good People
1. Proverbs 13:20
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
2. 1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
3. Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
4. Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take.
5. Proverbs 22:24-25
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person… or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
6. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
7. Proverbs 12:26
The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
8. Proverbs 27:9
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.
9. Romans 16:17
Watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.
10. 2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?
11. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
12. Colossians 3:16
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly… teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom.
13. Hebrews 10:24-25
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds… encouraging one another.
14. Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
15. Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
16. James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
17. Matthew 18:20
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
18. Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.
19. Acts 2:44-47
All the believers were together and had everything in common… They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.
20. Proverbs 27:6
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
21. Philippians 2:2-4
Be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit… not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.
22. 2 Timothy 2:22
Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23. Psalm 133:1
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.
24. 1 Peter 4:8-9
Above all, love each other deeply… Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
25. Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
26. John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
27. Proverbs 18:24
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
28. Job 2:11
When Job’s three friends heard about all the troubles… they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.
29. 1 John 1:7
If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.
30. Titus 3:10
Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.
31. Proverbs 16:28
A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
32. Micah 6:8
…to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
33. 2 Thessalonians 3:6
Keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.
34. Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
35. 1 Samuel 18:1
After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.
Our Thoughts on What the Bible Says About Surrounding Yourself With Good People
The people around you are either sharpening your faith or slowly wearing it down.
Scripture consistently teaches that community matters—godly friendships and faith-filled connections are not just a blessing, they’re a necessity.
Good people bring encouragement when you’re weary, correction when you’re drifting, and support when you’re under fire.
God designed relationships to reflect His nature, and when you surround yourself with people who love Him, their lives inspire you to do the same.
Choosing the right relationships is not about being selective in a prideful way—it’s about guarding your purpose and walking in alignment with God’s will.
May you seek out those who help you love Jesus more, who speak truth in love, and who walk beside you in wisdom and faith.
Say This Prayer
Lord, thank You for the gift of relationships.
Help me to walk in wisdom when it comes to the people I allow into my life.
Surround me with friends who love You deeply and push me toward holiness.
Teach me to be a godly friend in return—one who encourages, builds up, and points others to Your truth.
If there are any relationships in my life that are not aligned with Your will, give me the grace and clarity to make wise decisions.
I trust You to bring the right people into my path. In Jesus’ name, Amen.