If you’ve ever done an Inductive Bible Study, you’ve probably been asked to mark certain words. Maybe you’ve wondered, Why? What’s the point? If you're new to this method, it might feel like extra work at first. But trust me - once you see how it transforms the way you read and understand Scripture, you won’t want to stop!
Why should I mark words in the Bible?
Marking words is a key part of the Precept Inductive Bible Study method, which is built around three simple but powerful steps: Observation, Interpretation, and Application. This approach helps us go beyond just reading the Bible - it helps us truly understand what God is saying and apply it to our lives.
At Precept, we encourage people to underline, circle, highlight, or even use symbols to set apart key words and phrases. Why? Because it makes us slow down, pay attention to what we’re reading and engage with it. Think of it like watching a football match: instead of sitting on the sidelines as a spectator, marking words puts you out on the pitch, actively engaging with God’s Word.
Four Benefits of Marking Words in the Bible
1. It Helps You Remember What You Read
Have you ever read a passage, closed your Bible, and immediately forgotten what it was about? You’re not alone! One way that you can improve your memory of Scripture is to engage with it actively - and marking key words is a simple way to do that.
Studies show that when we interact with a text - by highlighting, underlining, or taking notes - helps us retain the information better. The same is true for Scripture!
For example, if you're reading Matthew and take the time to mark every mention of the word “kingdom”, you’ll quickly notice how often Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God. And because you’ve highlighted that word, you’ll remember it long after you’ve closed your Bible.
2. It Helps You See Detail You Might Otherwise Miss
Marking words makes you more aware of what’s happening in the passage. It forces you to ask questions like:
Who is speaking? (Marking names makes it clear.)
Where is this happening? (Highlighting locations helps.)
What is the main idea? (Noticing repeated words points to key themes.)
When we take the time to observe these details, our understanding of the passage deepens. And when our understanding grows, so does our ability to apply God’s truth to our lives.
Read Psalm 119:1-8, and ask yourself, what are these verses about? Then look for any words that are repeated (and any synonyms) and mark them. Did this confirm what you first thought the verses were about, or change it?
3. It Reveals Key Themes and Patterns
Sometimes we read a passage and miss the bigger picture. But when we mark words, we start to see themes emerge that we might not have noticed before.
For example, in Philippians, if you highlight “joy” and “rejoice” every time they appear, you’ll quickly realize that joy is one of Paul’s main messages - even though he was writing from a prison cell! Similarly, in Romans, if you mark words like “law,” “grace,” and “faith”, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of what Paul is teaching about salvation.
Recognizing these patterns helps us grasp why certain books of the Bible were written and what God wants us to learn from them.
4. It Helps You Apply God’s Word to Your Life
The goal of studying the Bible isn’t just to gain knowledge - it’s to be transformed. Marking words helps us see what God is asking us to do.
For example, if you read 1 John and mark every mention of the word “love”, you’ll quickly see how central love is to the Christian life. But it doesn’t stop there - seeing it repeatedly reminds you to live it out! When you read, “Beloved, let us love one another” (1 John 4:7), marking the word “love” makes it stand out. And the more it stands out, the more you’ll be reminded to practice it in your daily life.
Final Thoughts: Give It a GO!
Marking words in the Bible is such a simple habit, but it makes a big difference. It helps you remember what you read, observe key details, recognize themes, and most importantly, apply God’s Word to your life.
So next time you open your Bible, try it out! Pick a passage, choose a key word, and start marking - you might be surprised at how much more you notice.
P.S. One more thing…
Bibles are often printed on very thin paper, so some types of pens may bleed through to other pages. If you want to write directly on to the page, we recommend our Micron pens that don’t bleed through! Check them out here.