How I Mark Up My Bible: A Simple Guide

By:Drew Anderson

I’ve been asked how I mark up my Bible when I read and study. Keep in mind that one size doesn’t fit all—this method suits me at this stage of life. While I may adapt it in the future, it’s been a helpful way for me to quickly grasp and pick up the flow of the text each time I open my Bible and begin to search the Scriptures.

First Step: Find your best tools. I use the following:

  • Bible. These Bibles have risen by over $100 since I purchased them years ago. I chose Bibles of the finest quality for each of my children, intending them as future gifts. I rotate using them in my quiet time over the years, but I plan to give each child their marked-up Bible eventually.
  • Pens
  • Highlighters
  • A small, straight edge (plastic card) to nicely underline and write somewhat in a straight line.

Second Step: Mark the Bible according to a consistent coding method. I use the following:

  • Heart: I draw a heart over every heart in blue and then color it red.
  • Purple: anything related to:
    • God
    • The Land of Israel
    • Sacrificial elements (altar, temple, etc.)
    • The Patriarchs and God’s promises
    • Fear of the Lord
    • The Church
    • The Gospel
  • Blue: anything related to
    • The following words get a double bracket or square:
      • Knowledge, know, knowing, etc.
      • Understanding
      • Wisdom
    • Life or living
    • Positive examples or activities
  • Red
    • Bad examples, actions, or activities
  • Black
    • Names of people are bracketed.
    • Titles of people (Orphan, Widow, Husband, Mother, etc.). I double square these.
    • The following connective, sequential, and contrasting words:
      • Now, when, for, but, and because
  • Green
    • I mark the following purpose, descriptive, and inferential words:
      • Therefore, thus, that, to, according to, so, then, from, for this reason, and so that.
  • Pink
    • I circle the following words related to the manifold gifts of God and our responses:
      • Attributes related to God:
        • Love, beloved, peace, thanks, joy, grace, faith, gospel, faithful, holy, and more.
      • I highlight in pink the following words:
        • Compassion, lovingkindness, faithfulness (anything related to God’s unwavering commitment to His people).

Third Step: Write notes in the margins.

  • I stick with my color coding above…red for evil, etc., and make notes related to connections, explanations, questions, and more.
  • Sometimes, I’ll draw lines (without marking through the words) from one verse to another to show how they relate.
  • Since the coding takes a lot of time, I usually start my notetaking after I’ve coded the Bible. This usually occurs on a second or third reading through the Bible in a year. However, sometimes I have to write something that stands out in the margin.
  • For more resources on my approach to mornings, CLICK HERE.

God bless you as you study God’s Word…for life…to know Him…and seek His face…forever. Amen.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15

 

— May 26, 2025