A person who has friends ¹  may be harmed by them, ²  but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” so they came near. Then he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

Now yes, it is true that ¹  I am a guardian, ²  but there is another guardian who is a closer relative than I am.

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

God ¹  said, “Do not approach any closer! ²  Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ³  ground.” ⁴ 

¹ The Philistine kept coming closer to David, with his shield bearer walking in front of him.

Those who are eager to do ¹  wrong draw near; they are far from your law.

So the watchman called out and informed the king. The king said, “If he is by himself, he brings good news.” ¹  The runner ²  came ever closer.

The Philistine drew steadily closer to David to attack him, while David quickly ran toward the battle line to attack the Philistine. ¹ 

The cliff to the north was closer to Micmash, the one to the south closer to Geba.

Now ¹  when Jesus ²  approached ³  and saw the city, he wept over it,

Elijah then told all the people, “Approach me.” So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. ¹ 

For her house ¹  sinks ²  down to death, and her paths lead ³  to the place of the departed spirits. ⁴ 

You refuse to believe a day of disaster will come, ¹  but you establish a reign of violence. ² 

Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come closer so I can touch you, ¹  my son, and know for certain if you really are my son Esau.” ² 

When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and when he approached to investigate, there came the voice of the Lord,

Joseph positioned them; ¹  he put Ephraim on his right hand across from Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh on his left hand across from Israel’s right hand. Then Joseph brought them closer to his father. ² 

When ¹  Pharaoh got closer, ²  the Israelites looked up, ³  and there were the Egyptians marching after them, ⁴  and they were terrified. ⁵  The Israelites cried out to the Lord, ⁶ 

Now Boaz went up ¹  to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian ²  whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth! ³  Boaz said, “Come ⁴  here and sit down, ‘John Doe’!” ⁵  So he came ⁶  and sat down.

Approach me! Listen to this! From the very first I have not spoken in secret; when it happens, ¹  I am there.” So now, the sovereign Lord has sent me, accompanied by his spirit. ²