This document provides guidance on making observations during Bible study. It instructs the reader to look for key words, grammatical elements like quotes and comparisons, and historical, setting, reason, command, or God-focused observations. These different types of observations should be marked with symbols like underlining, circling, or writing initials next to the observation for easy reference. The goal is to objectively note what the passage says before interpreting or applying it.

1. BIBLE STUDY 3
Today’s reading (read what you can….): 2 Sam 16 and 17, Psalm 119: 65-80, Prov 27,
and Hebrews 1-2
Today’s lesson: Making observations.
In this phase of Bible study, you are trying to observe what the passage says…not trying
to interpret or apply it yet. You are just making notes, underlining, highlighting, etc.
What kinds of things to you look for? Well, I am going to give you some simple things
that you can start “observing”…(this is Bible Study at the 101 level. You can get very
indepth in the kinds of observations you make but we’ll start out with the basics)
1. As you read the passage, look for key words. Its best to underline or highlight
the key words. You can use different types of lines or colors for different key
words. What is a key word? A key word is one that is repeated or seems to
indicate what the passage is about. For example, as you read Psalm 119, you see
the repetition of words like: Laws, Principles, Commandments, Commands,
Word. These are all key words in Psalm 119 and are repeated frequently. Noting
these key words gives me an indication the passage is about God’s laws,
principles, commandments, etc.
2. Also, look for “grammatical (language)” observations. Are there emphatic
statements (statements that in English use an exclamation mark); quotes that
would indicate someone is talking; comparisons or contracts (the qualities of
two objects are compared..one is familiar and the qualities of the familiar teach
you something about the qualities of the unfamiliar….a similie is a comparison
using “like” or “as”. … a metaphor is a direct comparison….also, don’t try to
interpret the comparison yet…just note its there.);
2nd Samuel 17:11 has a comparision…”That way you will have an army as
numerous as the sand on the sea shore”. That’s enough language type
observations for now…
Mark your grammatical observations as follows: rob talking
Circle emphatic statements.
Draw a box around the quote marks…write in who is talking. “quote”
I use the = sign for comparisons or = for contrasts.
3. Historical or setting observations ( a historical observation is something about
the culture or things that happened…setting observations are about time, place,
etc of what is going on.) Mark an H next to historical observations. Mark an S
next to setting observations. 2nd Samuel 17:11 has some historical/setting
observations…identifying the names of cities Dan and Beersheeba.
4. Reasons or results of doing things or commands. Does the passage give a
result of doing something? Does it give a reason to do something? Does it give a
consequence of an action? Underline the reason or result and mark an R. Usually

2. a reason or result passage includes words like: “therefore” or “because”. Does
the passage make a command (something the reader is directed to do)? Mark it
with a C.
5. Does the passage say something about the character or nature of God? Does it list
an attribute of God or an action by God? Does it list something about His nature?
Mark all your God observations with a (This is “theta”, the greek symbol for
God. Or, you can just use a G.
Ok. You now have a tool box for making observations. Here is your tool box. I
recommend you either print it off or write these symbols in your Bible and keep it as a
key code and as you read a passage, use your symbols to mark your observations.
KEY CODE:
Key Words or Key Words
Emphatic statements
Quotes
= comparison
= contrast
H – historical observation
S – setting observation
R – reason or result of doing things
C – command
G or observation about God