How to Color Code Scriptures—My Simple Way
- Dec 2, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 7
I’ve always liked the idea of highlighting verses in my Bible. It’s one of those small things that helps me pay closer attention when I read. It gives my eyes something to focus on and reminds my heart to meditate on the Word daily.
But there were times I stopped doing it because I wasn’t sure what to highlight anymore.
Sometimes we open the Bible with the best intentions, a highlighter in hand… and then stop before we start. There’s so much on the page. So much to take in. It can make us wonder what we’re supposed to mark or what’s worth stopping for.
If you’re feeling unsure about what to highlight (color code) or how to use highlighting as a helpful part of your Bible study, I’d like to invite you to learn with me.
The Struggle with Engaging in the Word
The problem may not be that you don’t want to engage with the Word. Maybe you just don’t always know what to look for.
I’ve seen the color code charts online. Some are helpful, but many are overwhelming. Some have over a dozen categories or list out emotions and spiritual insights that feel more like a deep session than Scripture. That just wasn’t what I needed.
Most of us don’t need a heavy system—we just need to get in the habit of reading and understanding.
What I started to realize is that certain verses naturally carry a theme. Some show me what Jesus said. Others teach me how to live. Some tell me who God is. Others warn me about the reality of sin.
Recognizing these themes while I read helped me not just understand the passage better, but remember it. The Word started to settle in deeper when I could connect what I was reading with why it was there.
A 6-Color Guide That Helped Me Start Again
Out of all of the highlighters I loved using, I decided to pull out just six that I already had, and I wrote out a Bible scriptures color code using these highlighters. I didn’t overthink it and I didn’t try to make it super fancy. I just asked myself what I kept seeing in Scripture that I want to remember.
With consistency and commitment, it worked. Six meaningful categories and six colors. And I believe it will work for you. It's enough to keep you focused, but not enough to confuse you.
It’s not just because of the colors, but because the themes I’d written helped me see what the verse was saying more clearly.
Highlighting Isn’t a Rule, It’s Just a Tool
I’m not offering a method to replace your devotional time or create pressure around how you read. I’m sharing what helped me get back into Scripture in a more focused way.
When I read a verse like John 15:9, I mark it in pink. Because Jesus is speaking, and He’s talking about His love.
When I come across James 1:22, I mark it in blue. It’s good spiritual advice and it's instruction for how to live as a believer.
And, when I stop at Isaiah 41:10, I highlight it yellow. It’s a promise, and it’s still true for life today.
There’s no need to highlight everything. Just take your time and pay attention to what God is saying as you read.
If You’re Ready to Try, Start Small
Follow along here on the blog where I’ll walk you through highlighting a verse. You don’t have to purchase a new Bible or tons of highlighters to start marking key verses. Just use a Bible you already have and choose to be present and willing to let the Word speak—and to pay attention when it does.
If Bible highlighting helps you notice more, think longer, and remember better, then use it. And if you need a place to start, start with the verses I’ll be sharing in this highlighting series. Be ready to open your Bible and allow the Word to do the work in your heart.
Happy Highlighting!
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