The term "friendless" refers to the state of being without friends or companions, often implying loneliness and isolation. In the biblical context, the condition of being friendless can be both a physical and spiritual experience, reflecting a lack of human companionship and support, as well as a deeper sense of abandonment or solitude.

Biblical Instances and Themes

1. Job's Isolation: One of the most poignant examples of friendlessness in the Bible is found in the account of Job. Despite his initial wealth and social standing, Job finds himself utterly alone after his trials begin. His friends, who initially come to comfort him, end up accusing him of wrongdoing, exacerbating his sense of isolation. Job laments, "My relatives have failed me, and my close friends have forgotten me" (Job 19:14). This highlights the profound sense of abandonment he feels, not only from his friends but also from God.

2. David's Lament: King David, despite being a man after God's own heart, experienced moments of feeling friendless. In Psalm 142, David cries out to the Lord from a cave, expressing his loneliness and desperation: "Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul" (Psalm 142:4). This psalm reflects the deep emotional turmoil and sense of isolation David felt during his times of distress.

3. Jesus' Experience: Jesus Christ Himself experienced moments of friendlessness, particularly during His passion. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked His disciples to stay awake and pray with Him, yet they fell asleep, leaving Him to face His anguish alone (Matthew 26:36-46). Furthermore, during His crucifixion, Jesus was abandoned by most of His followers, fulfilling the prophecy, "I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered" (Matthew 26:31).

Spiritual Implications

The Bible acknowledges the pain of being friendless but also offers hope and solace. God is portrayed as a constant companion and friend to the friendless. In Psalm 68:5-6, God is described as "a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows," who "sets the lonely in families" . This assures believers that even in the absence of human companionship, God provides spiritual fellowship and support.

Christian Response

The Christian community is called to be attentive to those who are friendless, reflecting God's love and compassion. The New Testament encourages believers to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) and to practice hospitality (Romans 12:13), thereby creating a supportive and inclusive community. The Church is seen as a family where no one should feel alone or abandoned.

Conclusion

While the Bible acknowledges the reality of feeling friendless, it consistently points to God's unwavering presence and the importance of community among believers. Through faith and fellowship, the friendless can find comfort and belonging.(a.) Destitute of friends; forsaken.

M. Pierpont. For a Charitable Occasion.
... sought the sufferer's door; Comfort for the poor provided, And the mourner's sorrows
bore;" So Thy mercy's angel, bending, Heard a friendless prisoner's call ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/414 8 & 7s m.htm

Walamir and Eutyches
... revenge. My mother is dead. My people are slain. I am homeless and friendless.'.
Not friendless,' said Eutyches. We all love you. There ...
/.../chapter xxxv walamir and eutyches.htm

Never! Never! Never! Never! Never!
... A thousand times let Jehovah be blessed that very few of us have ever known what
it is to be friendless! ... He is utterly friendless and alone! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/never never never never never.htm

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act.
... A half-dozen selfish men rushing down this narrow passage, and filling the small
space in the pool, would easily crowd out one who was friendless and more than ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxvii jesus heals on the.htm

Mark xii. 34
... Suppose, for a moment, one with a crippled body, full of the seeds of hereditary
disease, poor, friendless, irritable in temper, low in understanding; suppose ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/lecture xiii mark xii 34.htm

The Psalmist --Setting the Lord
... a very different kind of person"Are you loaded with the curses of people who were
once in your cruel power: widows and orphans, and poor and friendless people ...
/.../whyte/lord teach us to pray/viii the psalmistsetting the lord.htm

Preface
... He was deprived of both his parents while very young, left almost friendless,
and entrusted to my care from the age of fourteen. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolt/dionysius the areopagite/preface.htm

Timely Supplies
... eyes filling with tears of gratitude when we saw not only our own needs supplied,
but the widow and the orphan, the blind and the lame, the friendless and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a retrospect/chapter xvi timely supplies.htm

Lights and Shadows.
... Mary, the elder of the survivors rushes forth with trembling emotion to give full
vent to her sorrow at the feet of the Great Friend of all the friendless![11]. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/vii lights and shadows.htm

The Weeping Saviour.
... breaking hearts there are"how loud the wail of suffering humanity, could we but
hear it!"those written childless and fatherless, and friendless and homeless ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xii the weeping saviour.htm

Friendless (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Destitute of friends; forsaken. Multi-Version
Concordance Friendless (1 Occurrence). 1 Timothy 5:5 ...
/f/friendless.htm - 6k

Friendliness (1 Occurrence)

/f/friendliness.htm - 6k

Charity (29 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Eleemosynary appointments [grants or devises] including relief of the poor
or friendless, education, religious culture, and public institutions. Int. ...
/c/charity.htm - 23k

Real (26 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 5:5 A widow who is really in need, friendless and desolate, has her hopes
fixed on God, and continues at her supplications and prayers, night and day ...
/r/real.htm - 14k

Hagar (15 Occurrences)
... and difficulty; the care exercised over the lonely by the all-seeing God; the Divine
purpose in the life of everyone, however obscure and friendless; how God ...
/h/hagar.htm - 22k

Really (100 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 5:5 A widow who is really in need, friendless and desolate, has her hopes
fixed on God, and continues at her supplications and prayers, night and day ...
/r/really.htm - 35k

Fixed (284 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 5:5 A widow who is really in need, friendless and desolate, has her hopes
fixed on God, and continues at her supplications and prayers, night and day ...
/f/fixed.htm - 35k

Hopes (24 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 5:5 A widow who is really in need, friendless and desolate, has her hopes
fixed on God, and continues at her supplications and prayers, night and day ...
/h/hopes.htm - 12k

Friend (139 Occurrences)

/f/friend.htm - 40k

What does the Bible say about caregiving? | GotQuestions.org

Friendless: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus