Friend

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

is taken for one whom we love and esteem above others, to whom we impart our minds more familiarly than to others, and that from a confidence of his integrity and good will toward us: thus Jonathan and David were mutually friends. Solomon, in his book of Proverbs, gives the qualities of a true friend. "A friend loveth at all times:" not only in prosperity, but also in adversity; and, "there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." He is more hearty in the performance of all friendly offices; he reproves and rebukes when he sees any thing amiss. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." His sharpest reproofs proceed from an upright, and truly loving and faithful soul. He is known by his good and faithful counsel, as well as by his seasonable rebukes. "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, so does the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel:" by such counsel as comes from his very heart and soul, and is the language of his inward and most serious thoughts. The company and conversation of a friend is refreshing and reviving to a person, who, when alone, is sad, dull, and inactive. "Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." The title, "the friend of God," is principally given to Abraham: "Art not thou our God, who gavest this land to the seed of Abraham, thy friend, for ever?" And in  Isaiah 41:8 , "But thou Israel art the seed of Abraham, my friend." "And the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God,"  James 2:23 . This title was given him, not only because God frequently appeared to him, conversed familiarly with him, and revealed his secrets to him, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?"  Genesis 18:17; but also because he entered into a covenant of perpetual friendship both with him and his seed. Our Saviour calls his Apostles "friends:" "But I have called you friends;" and he adds the reason of it, "for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you,"  John 15:15 . As men use to communicate their counsels and their whole mind to their friends, especially in things which are of any concern, or may be of any advantage for them to know and understand, so I have revealed to you whatever is necessary for your instruction, office, comfort, and salvation. And this title is not peculiar to the Apostles only, but is common with them to all true believers. The friend of the bridegroom is the brideman; he who does the honours of the wedding, and leads his friend's spouse to the nuptial chamber. John the Baptist, with respect to Christ and his church, was the friend of the bridegroom; by his preaching he prepared the people of the Jews for Christ,  John 3:29 . Friend is a word of ordinary salutation, whether to a friend or foe: he is called friend who had not on a wedding garment,  Matthew 22:12 . And our Saviour calls Judas the traitor friend. Some are of opinion that this title is given to the guest by an irony, or antiphrasis; meaning the contrary to what the word importeth; or that he is called so, because he appeared to others to be Christ's friend; or was so in his own esteem and account, though falsely, being a hypocrite.

However, this being spoken in the person of him who made the feast, it is generally taken for a usual compellation, and that Christ, following the like courteous custom of appellation and friendly greeting, did so salute Judas, which yet left a sting behind it in his conscience, who knew himself to be the reverse of what he was called. The name of friend is likewise given to a neighbour. "Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say, Friend, lend me three loaves?"  Luke 11:3 .

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: Φίλος (Strong'S #5384 — Adjective — philos — fee'-los )

primarily an adjective, denoting "loved, dear, or friendly," became used as a noun, (a) masculine,  Matthew 11:19; fourteen times in Luke (once feminine,  Luke 15:9 ); six in John; three in Acts; two in James,  James 2:23 , "the friend of God;"  James 4:4 , "a friend of the world;"  3—John 1:14 (twice); (b) feminine,   Luke 15:9 , "her friends."

A — 2: Ἑταῖρος (Strong'S #2083 — Noun Masculine — hetairos — het-ah'ee-ros )

"a comrade, companion, partner," is used as a term of kindly address in  Matthew 20:13;  22:12;  26:50 . This, as expressing comradeship, is to be distinguished from No. 1, which is a term of endearment. Some mss. have the word in  Matthew 11:16; the best have heterois, others, AV and RV, "fellows." See Fellow.

 Mark 3:21 Mark 5:19

B — 1: Πείθω (Strong'S #3982 — Verb — peitho — pi'-tho )

"to persuade, influence," is rendered "having made ... their friend" in  Acts 12:20 , of the folks of Tyre and Sidon in winning the good will of Blastus, Herod's chamberlain, possibly with bribes. See Assure , B, No. 3.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

The word friend in the language of Scripture is very general; but eminently so when spoken of Christ. Abraham is called "the friend of God" ( 2 Chronicles 20:7) And the friendship of David and Jonathan is proverbial. ( 1 Samuel 18:3) But all friendship falls to the ground, when brought into any comparative statement with that of the friendship of the Lord Jesus. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." So Speaks Jesus himself. ( John 15:13) But though no man ever manifested greater love than this, yet the God-man himself far, very far, exceeded it; for he laid down his life for his enemies. ( Romans 5:8) And what unceasing, what everlasting, what unexampled proofs did Jesus give of his friendship, before it came to this last finishing act of love in dying for his people. He engaged from everlasting as our Surety; he took our nature, married our persons, paid all our debts, cancelled all our insolvency, bore the whole weight and pressure both of our sins and his Father's wrath, endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, lest we should be weary and faint in our minds; and having died for us, he took up both the person and the causes of all his people. He is now carrying on the whole purposes of redemption, and never intermits one moment an unceasing attention to our present and everlasting interests; neither will he, until that he hath brought home all his redeemed to glory, that "where he is, there they may be also." Well might the spouse in the Canticles, in the contemplation of such unheard of unexampled love, exclaim, "This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!" ( Song of Song of Solomon 5:16)

King James Dictionary

Friend n. frend.

1. One who is attached to another by affection one who entertains for another sentiments of esteem, respect and affection, which lead him to desire his company, and to seek to promote his happiness and prosperity opposed to foe or enemy.

A friend loveth at all times.  Proverbs 17 .

2. One not hostile opposed to an enemy in war. 3. One reconciled after enmity. Let us be friends again. 4. An attendant a companion. 5. A favorer one who is propitious as a friend to commerce a friend to poetry a friend to charitable institution. 6. A favorite. Hushai was David's friend. 7. A term of salutation a familiar compellation.

Friend, how camest thou in hither?  Matthew 22 .

So Christ calls Judas his friend, though a traitor.

 Matthew 26 .

8. Formerly, a paramour. 9. A friend at court, one who has sufficient interest to serve another.

FRIEND, frend. To favor to countenance to befriend to support or aid. But we now use befriend.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) One of a religious sect characterized by disuse of outward rites and an ordained ministry, by simplicity of dress and speech, and esp. by opposition to war and a desire to live at peace with all men. They are popularly called Quakers.

(2): ( n.) One who entertains for another such sentiments of esteem, respect, and affection that he seeks his society aud welfare; a wellwisher; an intimate associate; sometimes, an attendant.

(3): ( n.) One who looks propitiously on a cause, an institution, a project, and the like; a favorer; a promoter; as, a friend to commerce, to poetry, to an institution.

(4): ( v. t.) To act as the friend of; to favor; to countenance; to befriend.

(5): ( n.) One not inimical or hostile; one not a foe or enemy; also, one of the same nation, party, kin, etc., whose friendly feelings may be assumed. The word is some times used as a term of friendly address.

(6): ( n.) A paramour of either sex.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words

Rêa‛ ( רֵיעַ , Strong'S #7453), “friend; companion; fellow.” This noun appears about 187 times in the Bible. The word refers to a “friend” in 2 Sam. 13:3: “But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab.” The word may be used of a husband (Jer. 3:20) or a lover (Song of Sol. 5:16).

In another sense, rêa‛ may be used of any person with whom one has reciprocal relations: “And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots …” (Jonah 1:7). The word also appears in such phrases as “one another,” found in Gen. 11:3: “And they said one to another …” (cf. Gen. 31:49).

Other related nouns that appear less frequently are rêa‛ , which means “friend” about 5 times (e.g., 1 Kings 4:5); and rêa‛ , which means “companion or attendant” (Judg. 11:38; Ps. 45:14).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Abraham is signally honored in being called "the friend of God,"  Isaiah 41:8   James 2:23 . Christ granted a similar honor and blessing to his disciples,  John 15:15 . It is a different word, however, in Greek, by which he addressed Judas,  Matthew 26:50; the word there translated friend, means simply companion, and appears to have been used as a conversational term not implying friendship. The same word occurs in  Matthew 20:13   22:12 .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

"is taken for one whom we love and esteem above others, to whom we impart our minds more familiarly than to others, and that from a confidence of his integrity and good will towards us; thus Jonathan and David were mutually friends. Solomon, in his book of Proverbs, gives the qualities of a true friend. 'A friend loveth at all times:' not only in prosperity, but also in adversity; and, 'There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.' He is more hearty in the performance of all friendly offices; he reproves and rebukes when he sees anything amiss. 'Faithful are the wounds of a friend.' His sharpest reproofs proceed from an upright and truly loving and faithful soul. He is known by his good and faithful counsel, as well as by his seasonable rebukes. ' Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, so does the sweetness of a man's friend by heartv counsel: by such counsel as comes from his very heart and soul, and is the language of his inward and most serious thoughts. The company and conversation of a friend is refreshing and reviving to a person who, when alone, is sad, dull, and inactive. 'Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.' The title, 'the friend of God,' is principally given to Abraham: 'Art not thou our God, who gavest this land to the seed of Abraham, thy friend, forever?' And in  Isaiah 41:8, 'But thou Israel art the seed of Abraham, my friend.' 'And the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God' ( James 2:23). This title was given him, not only because God frequently appeared to him, conversed familiarly with him, and revealed his secrets to him, 'Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?' ( Genesis 18:17), but also because he entered into a covenant of perpetual friendship both with him and his seed. Our Savior calls his apostles 'friends:' 'But I have called you friends;' and he adds the reason of it, 'For all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you' ( John 15:15). As men use to communicate their counsels and their whole minds to their friends, especially in things which are of any concern, or may be of any advantage for them to know and understand, so I have revealed to you whatever is necessary for your instruction, office, comfort, and salvation. And this title is not peculiar to the apostles only, but in common with them to all true believers. The friend of the bridegroom is the brideman, he who does the honors of the wedding, and leads his friend's spouse to the nuptial chamber. John the Baptist, with respect to Christ and his Church, was the friend of the bridegroom; by his preaching he prepared the people of the Jews for Christ ( John 3:29). Friend is a word of ordinary salutation, whether to a friend, or foe; he is called friend who had not on a wedding garment ( Matthew 22:12). And our Savior calls Judas the traitor friend. Some are of opinion that this title is given to the guest by an irony, or antiphrasis, meaning the contrary to what the woerd importeth; or that he is called so because he appeared to others to be Christ's friend, or was so in his own esteem and account, though falsely, being a hypocrite. However, this being spoken in the person of him who made the feast, it is generally taken for a usual compellation, and that Christ, following the like courteous customs of appellation and friendly greeting, did so salute Judas, which yet left a sting behind it in his conscience, who knew himself to be the reverse of what he was called. The name of friend is likewise given to a neighbor. 'Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say, Friend, lend me three loaves?' ( Luke 11:5)." — Watson, Dictionary , s.v.