While the Bible doesn’t use the term “fake friends” explicitly, it provides wisdom and guidance on relationships and discernment. Here are twenty verses that address the characteristics and behaviors of deceitful or untrustworthy individuals:
Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 20:19 (NIV)
“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.”
Proverbs 22:24-25 (NIV)
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”
Proverbs 24:21-22 (NIV)
“Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials, for those two will send sudden destruction on them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?”
Psalm 12:2 (NIV)
“Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.”
Matthew 7:15 (NIV)
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
Matthew 24:4-5 (NIV)
“Jesus answered: ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.'”
Matthew 26:48 (NIV)
“Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.'”
Luke 20:20 (NIV)
“Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.”
Romans 16:17-18 (NIV)
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NIV)
“For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”
Galatians 2:4 (NIV)
“This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.”
Ephesians 4:14 (NIV)
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV)
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
2 Timothy 3:13 (NIV)
“while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
2 Peter 2:1 (NIV)
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.”
1 John 4:1 (NIV)
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
Jude 1:4 (NIV)
“For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”
Revelation 12:9 (NIV)
“The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.”
These verses caution against associating with those who deceive, manipulate, or lead others astray, encouraging believers to discern wisely and seek genuine relationships built on truth and righteousness.