If you are an inductive Bible study student, then you know that marking key words in the text is an important tool. (If you are not familiar with the inductive Bible study method, click here for a free download that will get you started.) I always tell my students that the point of marking the text (the Bible) is not to create a pretty picture; the point is to engage you with the text, to help you slow down and read with purpose, and to dig out the truth for yourself. You can use different colors to mark different words, but it won’t be long before you will simply run out of colors in your box of pencils. And with so many colors, recognizing the color code at a glance may be difficult. Another way to use the tool of marking key words is to use colors and symbols. You should be able to look at your own Bible (or observation worksheets) and recognize your symbols and what they mean. They don’t have to be complicated works of art. They just have to mean something to you. I like to keep my markings as simple as possible.

However, sometimes even the most seasoned student gets stumped trying to think of different symbols to use. Over the years, I have created my own symbols and I have made them into printable sheets for you to stick in your Bible or notebook. These are not the “correct” way to mark key words. There’s no such thing. These are simply some ideas on ways to mark words to help you so that you won’t waste time laboring over the “perfect” symbol. You can just get down to business studying the Bible, applying it to your life, and being transformed by its power!

Visit our Key Word Symbol Page to print out your own copies of the brand new Key Word Symbols.

Key Word Bookmark

Here’s a handy little bookmark you can order from Precept Ministries. (I laminated mine to make it last longer.) It has some general key words found throughout the Old and New Testaments with a suggested marking symbol for each. Some common key words found from Genesis to Revelation are kept at your fingertips with this bookmark. If you want more ideas for marking key word symbols, go here. You can click on each picture to download and print.

The important thing to remember with marking key words is to not let the use of the tool overshadow the purpose of the tool. The purpose of marking key words is to get you to slow down as you read Scripture and to really pay attention to what you are reading. After marking, you can then easily compile a list of what you learn about each key word.

Having a pretty picture is not the goal. The real goal is to hear God speak to you through His Word, to know Him better, and to live a life serving Him. Because He is worthy!