diff --git a/doc/api/pymongo/index.rst b/doc/api/pymongo/index.rst
index 577014593..8a3a99b81 100644
--- a/doc/api/pymongo/index.rst
+++ b/doc/api/pymongo/index.rst
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ Sub-modules:
    encryption
    encryption_options
    errors
-   message
    mongo_client
    monitoring
    operations
diff --git a/doc/api/pymongo/message.rst b/doc/api/pymongo/message.rst
deleted file mode 100644
index 0a28052fb..000000000
--- a/doc/api/pymongo/message.rst
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-:mod:`message` -- Tools for creating messages to be sent to MongoDB
-===================================================================
-
-.. automodule:: pymongo.message
-   :synopsis: Tools for creating messages to be sent to MongoDB
-   :members:
diff --git a/doc/changelog.rst b/doc/changelog.rst
index 05e737c01..189e33e00 100644
--- a/doc/changelog.rst
+++ b/doc/changelog.rst
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ Breaking Changes in 4.0
   :meth:`~pymongo.collection.Collection.find`,
   :meth:`~pymongo.collection.Collection.find_one`, and
   :meth:`~pymongo.cursor.Cursor`.
+- Removed :meth:`pymongo.message.delete`, :meth:`pymongo.message.get_more`,
+  :meth:`pymongo.message.insert`, :meth:`pymongo.message.kill_cursors`,
+  :meth:`pymongo.message.query`, and :meth:`pymongo.message.update`.
 - Removed :exc:`pymongo.errors.NotMasterError`.
   Use :exc:`pymongo.errors.NotPrimaryError` instead.
 - Removed :attr:`pymongo.GEOHAYSTACK`.
diff --git a/doc/migrate-to-pymongo4.rst b/doc/migrate-to-pymongo4.rst
index 93f9baf64..7c741e8cb 100644
--- a/doc/migrate-to-pymongo4.rst
+++ b/doc/migrate-to-pymongo4.rst
@@ -555,3 +555,10 @@ Removed :meth:`~pymongo.collection.Collection.parallel_scan`. MongoDB 4.2
 removed the `parallelCollectionScan command`_.  There is no replacement.
 
 .. _parallelCollectionScan command: https://docs.mongodb.com/manual/reference/command/parallelCollectionScan/
+
+pymongo.message helpers are removed
+...................................
+
+Removed :meth:`pymongo.message.delete`, :meth:`pymongo.message.get_more`,
+:meth:`pymongo.message.insert`, :meth:`pymongo.message.kill_cursors`,
+:meth:`pymongo.message.query`, and :meth:`pymongo.message.update`.
diff --git a/pymongo/collection.py b/pymongo/collection.py
index a2fb4bd19..e4cb2487b 100644
--- a/pymongo/collection.py
+++ b/pymongo/collection.py
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ class Collection(common.BaseObject):
                 # Legacy OP_INSERT.
                 return self._legacy_write(
                     sock_info, 'insert', command, op_id,
-                    bypass_doc_val, message.insert, self.__full_name,
+                    bypass_doc_val, message._insert, self.__full_name,
                     [doc], check_keys, False,
                     self.__write_response_codec_options)
 
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ class Collection(common.BaseObject):
             # Legacy OP_UPDATE.
             return self._legacy_write(
                 sock_info, 'update', command, op_id,
-                bypass_doc_val, message.update, self.__full_name, upsert,
+                bypass_doc_val, message._update, self.__full_name, upsert,
                 multi, criteria, document, check_keys,
                 self.__write_response_codec_options)
 
@@ -1047,7 +1047,7 @@ class Collection(common.BaseObject):
             # Legacy OP_DELETE.
             return self._legacy_write(
                 sock_info, 'delete', command, op_id,
-                False, message.delete, self.__full_name, criteria,
+                False, message._delete, self.__full_name, criteria,
                 self.__write_response_codec_options,
                 int(not multi))
         # Delete command.
diff --git a/pymongo/message.py b/pymongo/message.py
index 60be0c7e7..12ca524ff 100644
--- a/pymongo/message.py
+++ b/pymongo/message.py
@@ -364,9 +364,9 @@ class _Query(object):
             spec = _maybe_add_read_preference(spec,
                                               self.read_preference)
 
-        return query(flags, ns, self.ntoskip, ntoreturn,
-                     spec, None if use_cmd else self.fields,
-                     self.codec_options, ctx=sock_info.compression_context)
+        return _query(flags, ns, self.ntoskip, ntoreturn,
+                      spec, None if use_cmd else self.fields,
+                      self.codec_options, ctx=sock_info.compression_context)
 
 
 class _GetMore(object):
@@ -450,9 +450,10 @@ class _GetMore(object):
                     ctx=sock_info.compression_context)
                 return request_id, msg, size
             ns = "%s.%s" % (self.db, "$cmd")
-            return query(0, ns, 0, -1, spec, None, self.codec_options, ctx=ctx)
+            return _query(0, ns, 0, -1, spec, None, self.codec_options,
+                          ctx=ctx)
 
-        return get_more(ns, self.ntoreturn, self.cursor_id, ctx)
+        return _get_more(ns, self.ntoreturn, self.cursor_id, ctx)
 
 
 class _RawBatchQuery(_Query):
@@ -532,8 +533,8 @@ def __last_error(namespace, args):
     cmd = SON([("getlasterror", 1)])
     cmd.update(args)
     splitns = namespace.split('.', 1)
-    return query(0, splitns[0] + '.$cmd', 0, -1, cmd,
-                 None, DEFAULT_CODEC_OPTIONS)
+    return _query(0, splitns[0] + '.$cmd', 0, -1, cmd,
+                  None, DEFAULT_CODEC_OPTIONS)
 
 
 _pack_header = struct.Struct("<iiii").pack
@@ -552,7 +553,7 @@ def __pack_message(operation, data):
 _pack_int = struct.Struct("<i").pack
 
 
-def _insert(collection_name, docs, check_keys, flags, opts):
+def _insert_impl(collection_name, docs, check_keys, flags, opts):
     """Get an OP_INSERT message"""
     encode = _dict_to_bson  # Make local. Uses extensions.
     if len(docs) == 1:
@@ -574,7 +575,7 @@ def _insert(collection_name, docs, check_keys, flags, opts):
 def _insert_compressed(
         collection_name, docs, check_keys, continue_on_error, opts, ctx):
     """Internal compressed unacknowledged insert message helper."""
-    op_insert, max_bson_size = _insert(
+    op_insert, max_bson_size = _insert_impl(
         collection_name, docs, check_keys, continue_on_error, opts)
     rid, msg = _compress(2002, op_insert, ctx)
     return rid, msg, max_bson_size
@@ -583,7 +584,7 @@ def _insert_compressed(
 def _insert_uncompressed(collection_name, docs, check_keys, continue_on_error,
                          opts):
     """Internal insert message helper."""
-    op_insert, max_bson_size = _insert(
+    op_insert, max_bson_size = _insert_impl(
         collection_name, docs, check_keys, continue_on_error, opts)
     rid, msg = __pack_message(2002, op_insert)
     return rid, msg, max_bson_size
@@ -591,8 +592,8 @@ if _use_c:
     _insert_uncompressed = _cmessage._insert_message
 
 
-def insert(collection_name, docs, check_keys, continue_on_error, opts,
-           ctx=None):
+def _insert(collection_name, docs, check_keys, continue_on_error, opts,
+            ctx=None):
     """Get an **insert** message."""
     if ctx:
         return _insert_compressed(
@@ -601,7 +602,7 @@ def insert(collection_name, docs, check_keys, continue_on_error, opts,
                                 continue_on_error, opts)
 
 
-def _update(collection_name, upsert, multi, spec, doc, check_keys, opts):
+def _update_impl(collection_name, upsert, multi, spec, doc, check_keys, opts):
     """Get an OP_UPDATE message."""
     flags = 0
     if upsert:
@@ -621,7 +622,7 @@ def _update(collection_name, upsert, multi, spec, doc, check_keys, opts):
 def _update_compressed(
         collection_name, upsert, multi, spec, doc, check_keys, opts, ctx):
     """Internal compressed unacknowledged update message helper."""
-    op_update, max_bson_size = _update(
+    op_update, max_bson_size = _update_impl(
         collection_name, upsert, multi, spec, doc, check_keys, opts)
     rid, msg = _compress(2001, op_update, ctx)
     return rid, msg, max_bson_size
@@ -630,7 +631,7 @@ def _update_compressed(
 def _update_uncompressed(collection_name, upsert, multi, spec, doc,
                          check_keys, opts):
     """Internal update message helper."""
-    op_update, max_bson_size = _update(
+    op_update, max_bson_size = _update_impl(
         collection_name, upsert, multi, spec, doc, check_keys, opts)
     rid, msg = __pack_message(2001, op_update)
     return rid, msg, max_bson_size
@@ -638,7 +639,7 @@ if _use_c:
     _update_uncompressed = _cmessage._update_message
 
 
-def update(collection_name, upsert, multi, spec, doc, check_keys, opts,
+def _update(collection_name, upsert, multi, spec, doc, check_keys, opts,
            ctx=None):
     """Get an **update** message."""
     if ctx:
@@ -728,8 +729,8 @@ def _op_msg(flags, command, dbname, read_preference, slave_ok, check_keys,
             command[identifier] = docs
 
 
-def _query(options, collection_name, num_to_skip,
-           num_to_return, query, field_selector, opts, check_keys):
+def _query_impl(options, collection_name, num_to_skip, num_to_return,
+                query, field_selector, opts, check_keys):
     """Get an OP_QUERY message."""
     encoded = _dict_to_bson(query, check_keys, opts)
     if field_selector:
@@ -750,7 +751,7 @@ def _query_compressed(options, collection_name, num_to_skip,
                       num_to_return, query, field_selector,
                       opts, check_keys=False, ctx=None):
     """Internal compressed query message helper."""
-    op_query, max_bson_size = _query(
+    op_query, max_bson_size = _query_impl(
         options,
         collection_name,
         num_to_skip,
@@ -763,10 +764,10 @@ def _query_compressed(options, collection_name, num_to_skip,
     return rid, msg, max_bson_size
 
 
-def _query_uncompressed(options, collection_name, num_to_skip,
-          num_to_return, query, field_selector, opts, check_keys=False):
+def _query_uncompressed(options, collection_name, num_to_skip, num_to_return,
+                        query, field_selector, opts, check_keys=False):
     """Internal query message helper."""
-    op_query, max_bson_size = _query(
+    op_query, max_bson_size = _query_impl(
         options,
         collection_name,
         num_to_skip,
@@ -781,8 +782,8 @@ if _use_c:
     _query_uncompressed = _cmessage._query_message
 
 
-def query(options, collection_name, num_to_skip, num_to_return,
-          query, field_selector, opts, check_keys=False, ctx=None):
+def _query(options, collection_name, num_to_skip, num_to_return,
+           query, field_selector, opts, check_keys=False, ctx=None):
     """Get a **query** message."""
     if ctx:
         return _query_compressed(options, collection_name, num_to_skip,
@@ -796,7 +797,7 @@ def query(options, collection_name, num_to_skip, num_to_return,
 _pack_long_long = struct.Struct("<q").pack
 
 
-def _get_more(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id):
+def _get_more_impl(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id):
     """Get an OP_GET_MORE message."""
     return b"".join([
         _ZERO_32,
@@ -808,18 +809,18 @@ def _get_more(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id):
 def _get_more_compressed(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id, ctx):
     """Internal compressed getMore message helper."""
     return _compress(
-        2005, _get_more(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id), ctx)
+        2005, _get_more_impl(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id), ctx)
 
 
 def _get_more_uncompressed(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id):
     """Internal getMore message helper."""
     return __pack_message(
-        2005, _get_more(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id))
+        2005, _get_more_impl(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id))
 if _use_c:
     _get_more_uncompressed = _cmessage._get_more_message
 
 
-def get_more(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id, ctx=None):
+def _get_more(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id, ctx=None):
     """Get a **getMore** message."""
     if ctx:
         return _get_more_compressed(
@@ -827,7 +828,7 @@ def get_more(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id, ctx=None):
     return _get_more_uncompressed(collection_name, num_to_return, cursor_id)
 
 
-def _delete(collection_name, spec, opts, flags):
+def _delete_impl(collection_name, spec, opts, flags):
     """Get an OP_DELETE message."""
     encoded = _dict_to_bson(spec, False, opts)  # Uses extensions.
     return b"".join([
@@ -839,19 +840,19 @@ def _delete(collection_name, spec, opts, flags):
 
 def _delete_compressed(collection_name, spec, opts, flags, ctx):
     """Internal compressed unacknowledged delete message helper."""
-    op_delete, max_bson_size = _delete(collection_name, spec, opts, flags)
+    op_delete, max_bson_size = _delete_impl(collection_name, spec, opts, flags)
     rid, msg = _compress(2006, op_delete, ctx)
     return rid, msg, max_bson_size
 
 
 def _delete_uncompressed(collection_name, spec, opts, flags=0):
     """Internal delete message helper."""
-    op_delete, max_bson_size = _delete(collection_name, spec, opts, flags)
+    op_delete, max_bson_size = _delete_impl(collection_name, spec, opts, flags)
     rid, msg = __pack_message(2006, op_delete)
     return rid, msg, max_bson_size
 
 
-def delete(collection_name, spec, opts, flags=0, ctx=None):
+def _delete(collection_name, spec, opts, flags=0, ctx=None):
     """Get a **delete** message.
 
     `opts` is a CodecOptions. `flags` is a bit vector that may contain
@@ -864,7 +865,7 @@ def delete(collection_name, spec, opts, flags=0, ctx=None):
     return _delete_uncompressed(collection_name, spec, opts, flags)
 
 
-def kill_cursors(cursor_ids):
+def _kill_cursors(cursor_ids):
     """Get a **killCursors** message.
     """
     num_cursors = len(cursor_ids)
diff --git a/pymongo/mongo_client.py b/pymongo/mongo_client.py
index 5a4df213d..dab22cc33 100644
--- a/pymongo/mongo_client.py
+++ b/pymongo/mongo_client.py
@@ -1582,7 +1582,7 @@ class MongoClient(common.BaseObject):
         else:
             if publish:
                 start = datetime.datetime.now()
-            request_id, msg = message.kill_cursors(cursor_ids)
+            request_id, msg = message._kill_cursors(cursor_ids)
             if publish:
                 duration = datetime.datetime.now() - start
                 # Here and below, address could be a tuple or
diff --git a/pymongo/network.py b/pymongo/network.py
index e575f0eb3..c6146566c 100644
--- a/pymongo/network.py
+++ b/pymongo/network.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def command(sock_info, dbname, spec, slave_ok, is_mongos,
                 max_doc_size > max_bson_size):
             message._raise_document_too_large(name, size, max_bson_size)
     else:
-        request_id, msg, size = message.query(
+        request_id, msg, size = message._query(
             flags, ns, 0, -1, spec, None, codec_options, check_keys,
             compression_ctx)
 
diff --git a/test/test_pooling.py b/test/test_pooling.py
index 5746f56d1..97a994ec3 100644
--- a/test/test_pooling.py
+++ b/test/test_pooling.py
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ class TestPooling(_TestPoolingBase):
         self.assertTrue(socket_checker.select(s, write=True, timeout=0))
         self.assertTrue(socket_checker.select(s, write=True, timeout=.05))
         # Make the socket readable
-        _, msg, _ = message.query(
+        _, msg, _ = message._query(
             0, 'admin.$cmd', 0, -1, SON([('isMaster', 1)]), None,
             DEFAULT_CODEC_OPTIONS)
         s.sendall(msg)