How To Do a Bible Verse Study – Bible Study Methods

Sitting down to do your quiet time with Jesus is a lot easier when you have an idea of what and how you would like to study. And more motivating (if we’re being honest here). Which is why I’ve created this series of Bible study methods. We’ve learned how to do a Bible word study and a Bible character study, but now we’re going to learn how to do a Bible verse study. I’ll share with you what a Bible verse study is, how to do one, and I’ll give an example towards the end to help.

My goal for you at Boldly Rise is to leave you feeling encouraged and equipped to spend time in God’s Word. I believe that we as Christian women need to truly know God’s Word on a deep and personal level so that we may have the strength to boldly rise and follow Christ each and every day. And some days, it’s simply boldly rising out of bed to abide in Scripture.

I don’t have a worksheet to go along with this Bible study method like I have with the other methods. But! There is a printable “cheat sheet” at the end of this post to help remind you of the different ways to study a verse. It’s worth downloading and keeping in your Bible or notebook as a reference for when you’re doing a Bible verse study on your own. As much as I’d love for you to come back to this blog post everyday, it’ll be much easier for you to have a small cheat sheet to refer back to. 

What is a Bible Verse Study

A Bible verse study is a method for studying the Bible by choosing one verse at a time to study in depth. This study can be part of a larger study to break down a passage/book one verse at a time or by choosing different verses throughout the Bible with no particular pattern. This method is designed to help you learn and understand the details that make up the big picture that is the Bible.

How to do a Bible verse study

1. Read the verse in context. 

I place this as the first thing to do because of how important it is to understand the verse in its context. First, verses can easily be taken out of context if only looked at as a stand alone verse. For example, the verse “for where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them” from Matthew 18:20 is often taken out of context. Several people include this in their prayers as an encouragement that Jesus is among the group of people gathered and/or will answer our prayers as we ask because there are at least two or three there. However, the context this verse is in addresses confronting your brother/sister in Christ who has sinned against you. Furthermore, Jesus is with each one of us the second we are born again, regardless of whether there are two or three or more people with you. You do not have to have 2+ people in order for Jesus to be with you.

Second, it’s essential to grasp the background of the verse to fully understand the meaning and message of a verse.

Third, you can learn so much more about the verse by reading the surrounding verses. 

2. Read the cross-referenced verse(s).

Use the cross-reference tool in your Bible to find other verses that are similar. This tool may help expound on the verse you’re studying.

3. Find definitions for words in the verse and write them down.

Understanding key words in the verse will help you learn the meaning and message of the verse better. It helps to break the verse down and see how the word is used in context with this verse. Plus, some words are the same yet have different meanings depending on the way they’re used – like the word “blessed.” Even if you know the definition for key words in the verse, write them down! 

4. Make note of how the verse is revealing God.

Look for names of God, characteristics/attributes of God, what God has done for us, what He is doing for us, His promises, etc.

5. Circle/underline/highlight repeated or important words.

Hint They’re repeated for a reason.

6. Circle/underline/highlight what stands out to you.

As you’re re-reading this verse, point out what’s pulling on your heart strings. Write why it’s standing out to you.

7. Make note of what you’re learning from the verse.

As you’re reading this verse, God is teaching you. Write down what He is showing you.

8. Write what comes to mind.

If this verse is leading you to praise God or give Him thanks, write it down. If something has clicked in your mind, write it down!

9. Write out the meaning/message of the verse.

After reading and re-reading the verse both by itself and in context, write out what this verse is meaning and what it’s conveying to us as the readers. What does God want you to take away from this verse?

10. Write down your questions.

Sometimes verses leave us with plenty of questions. Write them down so that you can spend time pouring into God’s Word to find some answers. Pray over the questions. Ponder the things that are confusing you.

11. Meditate on it.

Take some time to step back from the actual studying to simply rest and think about this verse. Let this verse draw you near to the Lord. Let God work through it to transform your heart.

12. Memorize the verse. 

At this point, you might as well memorize the verse. Store it in your heart as you would store treasure in a chest.

Example Bible Verse Study

I found definitions for rejoice, hope, patient, tribulation, constant, and prayer. I wrote out the context that this verse is written in. I circled the repeated word “in.” I looked up similar verses through the cross-reference and other verses I have learned about. I wrote what stood out to me – the start of each line has a command statement like “be.” I wrote what I had learned from the words, for example, for hope I wrote “God gives us the hope through Jesus Christ.” And for tribulation I wrote that it transforms and refines us. And then I wrote the meaning/message of this verse.

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The Bible is rich and beautiful and amazing, isn’t it? God has given us His actual words, that we can rest in and find comfort, encouragement, and refinement in. It’s the story of God’s grace and mercy. It points to Jesus in every verse. It’s living and active (Hebrews 4:12). It equips us for every good work – teaching, reproofing, correcting, and training us (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

To boldly rise for Christ, we need to intentionally abide in His Words. When you hit a roadblock in your quiet time, struggling to know what or how to study, try doing a Bible verse study. Keep it simple. Pick a verse that you’ve been wanting to learn and memorize. Or start with the first verse in a book. Then the next day do the second verse and so on and so forth. Verse by verse you can study God’s Word all on your own.

To access the free Bible Verse Study cheat sheet…

Simply CLICK HERE if you’ve already subscribed (you’ll need the password… check your welcome email or most recent email from me for the password if you missed it) OR enter your email address below to receive it in your inbox in just a few moments!

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