Close relationships are part of God's will for human life. Scripture speaks of intimate relationships between Jesus Christ and the Father, between God and his people, and between various individuals.
Jesus Christ's intimate relationship with his Father
Matthew 11:27 See also Matthew 3:17 parallels Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22; John 5:20, John 10:30, John 10:38, John 14:10–11, John 17:21
All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
God's intimate relationship with his people
John 17:3 “know” speaks of close personal relationship rather than theoretical or academic knowledge. See also 2 Chronicles 7:15–16; Psalm 148:14; Hosea 6:6; John 14:21, John 15:4, John 15:15
Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.
Images of God's desire for intimacy with his people
God as a father
Jeremiah 31:9 See also Psalm 103:13; Jeremiah 31:20; Hosea 11:1–4; Romans 8:15; 1 John 3:1
They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”
God as a husband
Isaiah 62:5 See also Isaiah 54:4–8; Jeremiah 3:14; Hosea 2:19; Ephesians 5:25–27; Revelation 19:7, Revelation 21:2
For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.
Intimate relationships between men and women
As God's good purpose
Genesis 2:18 See also Genesis 1:27–28, Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5 parallel Mark 10:7; 1 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 5:28, Ephesians 5:31; 1 Timothy 4:3–4
The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.”
Examples of such close relationships
Jacob and Rachel: Genesis 29:20, Genesis 29:30; Ruth 4:13 Boaz and Ruth; 1 Samuel 1:5, 1 Samuel 1:8; Esther 2:17 Xerxes and Esther; Song of Solomon 1:15–16 Solomon and his beloved
Intimacy in other relationships
Close friendships commended
Proverbs 18:24 See also Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 27:10; Ecclesiastes 4:9–12; John 15:13
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Examples of close friendships
David and Jonathan: 1 Samuel 18:1, 1 Samuel 18:3; 2 Kings 2:2, 2 Kings 2:4; 2 Timothy 1:16 Paul and Onesiphorus
Examples of intimate family relationships
Genesis 37:3 Jacob and his son Joseph; Ruth 1:16 Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi; 2 Samuel 18:33 David and his son Absalom
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.