How To Use A Bible Color Code To Help You Understand Scripture

You don’t have to be a Bible Journaler to use a Bible Color Code!

Today we continue our Understanding The Bible Series with Part 2 – How to use a Bible Color Color Code to help you understand Scripture.

If you haven’t read Part 1 – The Importance of Knowing the Context of Scripture, we encourage you to read that post first; then come back here to read this post.

Bible Color Code

I’m not a Bible journaler but I do love to study scripture, and write my prayers and thoughts in a notebook.

One day, I was talking to a friend who is a Bible Journaler, and I told her the extent of coloring in my Bible is highlighting. Whose with me?

Well, she asked if I considered using a Bible Color Code? I have to admit, I’ve seen them all over Pinterest, but I assumed it was for Bible journaling.

After researching and understanding how it works, I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t done this earlier.

Not too long ago, I bought a new Bible and thought this was the perfect time to learn how to color code. Instead of having highlights with no rhyme or reason, I can create a color code to break in my new Bible.

What Is A Bible Color Code?

A Bible Color Code is a color code you create – a specific color that’s related to a specific topic in the Bible.

Colors

I was pleasantly surprised to learn there was no particular color that is used for any specific topic. You simply choose the colors you want to use for each Bible topic or category you create.

While I love to use PILOT Frixon erasable pens and highlighters for my Better Choice Planner, I don’t use it for my Bible. Because those pens erase and disappear with heat. I would be HOT if my notes or highlights disappeared in my Bible.

I had Zebra Mildliner highlighters on hand, so I decided to use 9 of those as my Bible color code highlighters. 

Feel free to use more or less, it’s all up to you. You probably have highlighters around your house so start there. Since I was using 9 colors I decided to make sure I had 9 Bible categories.

Bible Topics or Categories

I spent a few days researching different Bible Color Codes, looking at different categories or topics others have used, then came up with my own.

Since I’m using 9 colors I grouped some topics together.

Blue – God, Holy Spirit

Red Underline – Jesus, Jesus Speaking, Prophesy of His Coming

Green – Commands

Yellow – Faith, Wisdom, For Spiritual Growth, Christian Living

Teal – Heaven, Eternity, Second Coming

Orange – Warnings: Sin, Spiritual Warfare, Judgements, Disobedience, False Teaching, Works of The Flesh

Pink – Love, Serving Others, Grace, Family

Purple – Blessings, Promises, Miracles, Prayers, Praise & Thanksgiving

Gray – Geography, People

This Printable Is Available In Our Community Library

Why A Color Code

The Bible isn’t just one book. The Bible is 66 different books, originally written in 3 different languages (Hebrew, Greek and Arabic) by 40 different authors, over a period of 1500 years. All bounded together for our benefit.

As fascinating as that is, it can also make the Bible difficult to understand. Using a Bible color code can help make what may seem daunting, more exciting.

By studying one passage at a time, identifying the type of passage you’re reading, using symbols and highlighting text, based on a color code you create, will take your Bible studying to another level.

Then, when you re-read those passages, you’ll be able to immediately recognize the context of the passage just by looking at your color code.

Before You Highlight

You’re probably eager to get started! But don’t be in such a rush to start highlighting, as that defeats the purpose of using the color code to begin with. 

For the Bible color code to be effective, you need to examine the passage closely, to know what color to use.

Here are 6 ways to examine scripture before you highlight

#1 Pray

Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you through God’s word and lead you to what He wants you to study.

#2 Determine The Type of Passage

Once you’ve decided on a verse you want to study, determine the type of passage you’re reading.

Determine if the passage is a cultural or timeless teaching, a poem, parable, or eyewitness account. This will make a difference in understanding the full context of scripture.

#3 Look For Transitional or Repeated Words

Look for transitional words in the verse such as; therefore, however, since, etc. These are indicators that what was said right before or after is important.

Create a symbol you will use to note these words – I decided to draw a box around transitional words.

If a word is signification enough to repeated, that is another indication to us to take a closer look at the context of scripture. I chose to circle repeated words.

#4 Use A Good Commentary

If you read a verse and it seems unclear to you, use a good commentary for clarity. We like to use The IVP Bible Background Commentary, because understanding the culture and history during the time the passage was written, gives some insight to the scripture itself.

#5 Look – Up Definitions, Hebrew and Greek Words

Consider using a dictionary for words that stand out to you, and a Strong’s Concordance for definitions of Hebrew and Greek words.

#6 Use A Notebook or Journal

Use a notebook or journal to write what the Holy Spirit has show you through studying scripture. Studies have shown that you actually remember more when you hand write information than when you type.

We will go more into detail about note taking in part 3 of this series. However, once you have a clear understanding about what you’re studying, now you can highlight words or use symbols in a passage, based on the color and symbol code you created.

Bible Color Code Example

Here is an example of how I use my color code to highlight Psalm 91. (This printable is available in our community library! )

Remember the Bible is the Living Word of God. Every time you read it, you’ll gain new insight. As a result, it is possible and perfectly ok to re-highlight the same passage with another color at a later date.

In The End

To help you create a Bible color code, I created a quick Reference Worksheet and Color Code Chart for you to use. You can use the categories I created, or you can use the blank color code chart to make your own.

Here’s a video showing you the three different options I created for you! 

 These worksheets are available in our Community Library or by filling out the form below.

PS…Be sure to read part 3 of “Understanding the Bible Series,” How To Make Fun Bible Study Notes.  

~ Timberley Gray