Effective communication is crucial for building and maintaining strong relationships, whether it is with a spouse, family member, or friend. The Bible offers timeless wisdom that guides us in how we express our thoughts, feelings, and desires in a loving and respectful manner. Here are Bible verses to inspire and challenge us in our communication practices within our relationships.
Bible Verses About Communication In A Relationship
1. Proverbs 15:1 – A Gentle Answer Deflects Anger
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
Cross-References
Proverbs 12:18 – “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
1 Peter 3:9 – “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
2. James 1:19 – Be Quick to Listen
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” – James 1:19
Cross-References
Proverbs 18:13 – “To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.”
Proverbs 21:23 – “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”
Ecclesiastes 3:7 – “A time to be silent and a time to speak.”
3. Proverbs 18:21 – The Power of the Tongue
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” – Proverbs 18:21
Cross-References
Matthew 12:36 – “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”
Ephesians 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.”
Colossians 4:6 – “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
4. Colossians 3:8 – Get Rid of Malicious Speech
“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” – Colossians 3:8
Cross-References
Ephesians 4:31 – “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
1 Peter 2:1 – “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”
Matthew 15:11 – “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
5. Ephesians 4:29 – Speak What is Helpful
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” – Ephesians 4:29
Cross-References
Proverbs 10:32 – “The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.”
Philippians 2:14 – “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.”
6. Proverbs 12:25 – Kind Words Rescue
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” – Proverbs 12:25
Cross-References
Proverbs 15:23 – “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
7. Proverbs 27:17 – Iron Sharpens Iron
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17
Cross-References
Hebrews 10:24 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
8. Philippians 4:6-7 – Present Your Requests
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6-7
Cross-References
1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
James 4:2 – “You do not have because you do not ask God.”
Matthew 7:7 – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
9. 1 Peter 3:8 – Be Sympathetic
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” – 1 Peter 3:8
Cross-References
Romans 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
Colossians 3:12 – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Galatians 5:26 – “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
10. Proverbs 22:11 – The Words of the Honest
“One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.” – Proverbs 22:11
Cross-References
Psalm 84:11 – “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”
Psalm 37:30 – “The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.”
Proverbs 16:13 – “Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.”
11. Proverbs 16:21 – Sweetness of the Lips
“The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.” – Proverbs 16:21
Cross-References
Proverbs 24:26 – “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”
Proverbs 1:5 – “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”
Ecclesiastes 9:17 – “The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.”
12. Colossians 3:19 – Husbands Love Your Wives
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” – Colossians 3:19
Cross-References
Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
1 Peter 3:7 – “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect.”
1 John 4:19 – “We love because he first loved us.”
13. Proverbs 20:5 – Counsel in the Heart
“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” – Proverbs 20:5
Cross-References
Proverbs 18:1 – “An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.”
Proverbs 25:11 – “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.”
Proverbs 15:22 – “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
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14. Matthew 12:34 – The Heart Speaks
“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” – Matthew 12:34
Cross-References
Luke 6:45 – “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.”
Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
James 3:10 – “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
15. Proverbs 19:20 – Listen to Advice
“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.” – Proverbs 19:20
Cross-References
Proverbs 23:12 – “Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.”
Ecclesiastes 7:5 – “It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.”
16. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 – Do Not Seek Revenge
“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Cross-References
Romans 12:17 – “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.”
Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
17. Romans 12:10 – Honor One Another
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” – Romans 12:10
Cross-References
Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
1 Peter 2:17 – “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”
Galatians 5:13 – “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
18. Luke 6:31 – Treat Others Well
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” – Luke 6:31
Cross-References
Matthew 7:12 – “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Romans 13:8 – “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”
Mark 12:31 – “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
19. Matthew 5:37 – Let Your ‘Yes’ Be ‘Yes’
“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” – Matthew 5:37
Cross-References
James 5:12 – “Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’ or you will be condemned.”
Proverbs 10:19 – “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.”
20. Galatians 6:1 – Restore Gently
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” – Galatians 6:1
Cross-References
Matthew 18:15 – “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.”
2 Corinthians 2:7 – “Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.”
James 5:19-20 – “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
21. Proverbs 1:5 – Let the Wise Listen
“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” – Proverbs 1:5
Cross-References
Proverbs 18:15 – “The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
Proverbs 15:31 – “Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.”
22. Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
Cross-References
Isaiah 26:3 – “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Jeremiah 17:7 – “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
23. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – Love Is Patient
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Cross-References
Ephesians 4:2 – “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
24. 1 John 4:8 – God Is Love
“Whoever does not know love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 4:8
Cross-References
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
1 John 4:16 – “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in them.”
Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
25. Philippians 2:4 – Look to Interests of Others
“Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” – Philippians 2:4
Cross-References
Galatians 6:2 – “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Romans 15:2 – “Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”
1 John 3:18 – “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
26. Colossians 4:5 – Wise in the Way You Act
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” – Colossians 4:5
Cross-References
Ephesians 5:16 – “Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
1 Peter 2:12 – “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
Matthew 10:16 – “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
27. Romans 14:19 – Pursue Peace
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” – Romans 14:19
Cross-References
Hebrews 12:14 – “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
1 Peter 3:11 – “They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.”
28. 2 Timothy 2:22 – Pursue Righteousness
“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” – 2 Timothy 2:22
Cross-References
1 Peter 3:10 – “For, ‘Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.’”
Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
29. Ephesians 5:21 – Submit to One Another
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” – Ephesians 5:21
Cross-References
Colossians 3:18 – “Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”
1 Peter 5:5 – “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’”
30. Proverbs 25:15 – A Soft Tongue Breaks Bones
“Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.” – Proverbs 25:15
Cross-References
Ephesians 4:15 – “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Proverbs 16:24 – “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
James 3:17 – “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
31. 1 Corinthians 16:14 – Do Everything in Love
“Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14
Cross-References
Romans 13:10 – “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Colossians 3:14 – “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
32. Proverbs 14:29 – Patient in Spirit
“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.” – Proverbs 14:29
Cross-References
Ecclesiastes 7:9 – “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”
Proverbs 15:18 – “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”
James 1:20 – “Because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
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Final Thoughts
In relationships, communication can either build or destroy. The Bible emphasizes the importance of speaking with love, kindness, and patience. We are reminded to listen as much as we speak and to communicate from a heart that is sincere and loving. Using scripture as our guide, may we strive to practice these values in our daily interactions. Let us be diligent to communicate effectively and with grace, enhancing the strength and stability of our relationships. By pursuing communication that reflects God’s love, we honor not only our partners but also our Lord and Savior.