The KJV uses communication for everyday speech: "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying" (Ephesians 4:29), and "let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay" (Matthew 5:37). Good communication starts with listening: "a man of understanding will draw it out" (Proverbs 20:5).
Many conflicts in marriages, families, friendships and workplaces are not really about the topic; they are about how people talk and listen. The Bible says a great deal about communication, and the King James Version even uses the word itself for our everyday conversation. People search for these verses before a hard conversation, during marriage counseling, for a team at work, or when they are tired of saying things they regret. These twelve King James verses show what the KJV means by communication, how to listen before you answer, and how to speak a word fitly spoken. For the power of words, see the tongue; for gossip, see gossip.
Let your communication be good
1. Matthew 5:37
"But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says our plain yes and no should be enough, without oaths to prove we mean it (Matthew 5:33-36). Honest, simple speech builds trust. If people need you to swear before they believe you, the problem is trust, not vocabulary. See truth.
2. Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
This verse also appears on our encouragement page because it is the clearest rule for speech in the New Testament: before you speak, ask whether it builds up and gives grace to the hearers. Corrupt here means rotten. See encouragement to others.
3. Philemon 1:6
"That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."
Here communication means sharing or fellowship (the Greek koinonia). Paul prays that Philemon's generous sharing of his faith would bear fruit. In the KJV, communicating includes giving as well as talking (Hebrews 13:16), a reminder that real communication runs both ways.
4. Luke 24:17
"And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?"
On the road to Emmaus the risen Jesus asked two sad disciples what they were talking about, then listened to their whole story before He explained the Scriptures (Luke 24:18-27). Jesus, who knew everything, still asked a question first. A good model for any hard conversation.
Listen first, then answer
5. Proverbs 18:2
"A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself."
The fool has no delight in understanding; he only wants his heart to discover (reveal) itself, that is, to air his own opinion. If you are mostly waiting for your turn to talk, you are not yet communicating. Later the same chapter calls answering before hearing folly and shame (Proverbs 18:13).
6. Proverbs 20:5
"Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out."
A person's real thoughts are like deep water; a wise friend draws them out patiently, with good questions. This is gold for parents of teenagers, for spouses and for managers: ask, wait, then ask again. See wisdom.
7. Proverbs 15:28
"The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things."
The righteous studieth to answer: they think before they speak, while the wicked pour out whatever comes. A pause is not weakness but wisdom. Before replying to a hard message, wait, or pray one line first.
8. Proverbs 17:27
"He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit."
Sparing your words is a mark of knowledge, and an excellent spirit (the Hebrew can also mean a cool spirit) belongs to a person of understanding. The next verse adds that even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace (Proverbs 17:28).
A word fitly spoken
9. Proverbs 25:11
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."
A word fitly spoken, the right word at the right time, is as beautiful as golden apples in a silver setting. Timing and tone matter as much as content. See encouragement.
10. Proverbs 15:23
"A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!"
There is joy in a good answer, and a word spoken in due season is good indeed. The same truth can heal at one moment and wound at another, so ask God for timing as well as words.
11. Proverbs 12:18
"There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health."
Careless words can pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health, that is, healing. In a conflict, aim to heal the relationship rather than to win the argument. See broken relationship.
12. James 1:26
"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."
James says religion is vain if we do not bridle our tongue, however spiritual we may seem. A few verses earlier he gave the classic rule, swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (James 1:19), which you will find on our tongue page. Faith shows up in how we talk.
A short prayer
Lord, set a guard over my words. Help me be swift to hear and slow to speak, to ask before I assume, and to listen until I understand. Let my communication be honest and simple, and let what I say build others up and give grace to those who hear. Where my words have wounded, give me the humility to apologize, and give me the right word at the right time. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Study one proverb a day with the SOAP Bible Study Journal · Memorize a verse before your next hard conversation with the Scripture Memory Cards · Pray before you speak with the 30-Day Prayer Journal
Frequently asked questions
What does communication mean in the KJV?
In 1611 English, communication usually meant conversation or talk. That is how it is used in Matthew 5:37, Ephesians 4:29 and Paul's warning against "filthy communication out of your mouth" (Colossians 3:8). It could also mean sharing, as in Philemon 1:6 and "to do good and to communicate forget not" (Hebrews 13:16). And "evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Corinthians 15:33) means bad company corrupts good character. See teenage.
What does the Bible say about communication in marriage?
Listen before answering: "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him" (Proverbs 18:13). Answer gently: "A soft answer turneth away wrath" (Proverbs 15:1). Deal with anger the same day: "let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26). And speak "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). If talking at home involves threats, intimidation or fear, that is not a communication problem but abuse; in the US, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or call 911 if you are in danger. See married couples and marriage problems.
How can I communicate better as a Christian?
A few habits from these verses: ask a question before giving an opinion (Luke 24:17); repeat back what you heard before you reply (Proverbs 18:13); pause before answering (Proverbs 15:28); keep your yes and no simple (Matthew 5:37); choose your timing (Proverbs 15:23); and when you get it wrong, make it right quickly (Matthew 5:23-24). Many Christians pray "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth" (Psalm 141:3) before a difficult conversation.
What does the Bible say about communication at work or church?
Paul says to "speak every man truth with his neighbour" (Ephesians 4:25); go to someone privately before you talk about them to others (Matthew 18:15); and let your speech "be alway with grace, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6). Clear, kind and direct communication is part of working "heartily, as to the Lord" (Colossians 3:23). See work and leadership.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about the tongue · Bible verses about gossip · Bible verses about truth · Bible verses for married couples · Bible verses about marriage problems · Bible verses about a broken relationship · Bible verses about encouragement to others · Bible verses about wisdom
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