Memorize Bible Verses
by Setting Them to Music

One of the easiest ways to memorize Bible verses is to set them to music. Music aids our memory and adds fun to the memorization process. Plus, songs tend to stick in our minds for a lifetime.

Since I am a firm believer in the value of memorizing Bible verses, I make Bible memory work a priority in my Bible classes. Younger children are especially good at memorizing, so don’t be afraid to challenge them.

To help my students memorize Bible verses more quickly and easily, I like to set the words of the verses to familiar childhood songs. That way, the students don’t have to learn a new melody. Think about songs your kids already know: nursery rhymes, folk songs, songs with simple melodies. Sometimes you have to try a few songs before you find the one that works best for the Bible verse you are trying to memorize.

This page contains PDF links to some of the Bible verses I have set to song. Most have the words of the original songs printed lightly below the words of the Bible verse to help you figure out how the songs go. There are also lyric videos for some of the songs to make it easier to hear how the songs go. 

Visuals to Help Memorize Bible Verses

Some songs have visuals that the kids can use while they memorize Bible verses. You can print these in color on white paper if you wish; however, I usually print them with black ink on brightly colored paper. Sometimes I choose a color of paper that will reinforce the words on that particular page. For example, if the words are about “light,” I might print them on yellow paper.

I sometimes punch a hole in the top left-hand corner of the printed pages of the song / Bible verse and attach them with a ring. (I make a copy for each small group.) This way students can flip through the pages as they are practicing the Bible verse, and the words stay in order. You can also remove some of the words and see if the kids remember them. Students also use these visuals during large-group time to lead the class in the songs, flipping through and showing the visuals as they lead.

Another thing I have done with the visuals is attach them to poster board (you can use the front and back and flip back and forth) or tape them together into larger sheets. These are easier for kids to hold in front of the class while they are leading the songs.

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Memorize Bible Verses from the
Jesus Is A-Z Curriculum

Here are songs to help memorize Bible verses from the Jesus Is A-Z curriculum.

From the Jesus Is A-F Memorization Chart

A - Revelation 1:8 Song ("I am Alpha and Omega...") to the tune of "Michael Finnegan"

B - John 6:35 Song ("And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life...") to the tune of "Six Little Ducks"

C - Ephesians 2:20 Song ("And are built upon the foundation...") to the tune of "The Wise Man Built His House"

D - John 10:7 Song ("Then said Jesus unto them again...") to the tune of "Cindy"

E - Matthew 1:23 Song ("Behold, a virgin shall be with child...") to the tune of "Rock-a-Bye Baby"

F - Hebrews 10:23 Song ("Let us hold fast the profession of our faith...") to the tune of "A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea"

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From the Jesus Is G-L Memorization Chart:

G - John 10:11

H - Hebrews 13:6 Song ("So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper...") to the tune of "A Peanut Sat on the Railroad Track"

I - Colossians 1:15 Song ("Who is the image of..." to the tune of "Pretty Little Dutch Girl"

J - 2 Timothy 4:8 Song  ("Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness...") to the tune of "Itsy Bitsy Spider"

K - Revelation 19:16 Song ("And he hath on his vesture...") to the tune of "Did You Ever See a Lassie"

L - John 1:29 song ("The next day John seeth Jesus...") to the tune of 

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From the Jesus Is L-Q Memorization Chart

L - John 8:12 Song ("Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world...") to the tune of "You Are My Sunshine"

M - 1 Timothy 2:5 Song ("For there is one God...") to the tune of "Rise and Shine"

N - Matthew 2:23 Song ("And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth...") to the tune of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands"

O - Jude 1:25 Song ("To the only wise God...") to the tune of "Long-legged Sailor"

P - 1 John 2:2 Song ("And he is the propitiation...") to the tune of "The Hokey Pokey"

Q - 1 Corinthians 15:45 Song ("And so it is written, The first man Adam..." to the tune of "Billy Boy"

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From the Jesus Is R-U Memorization Chart

R - Job 19:25

R - John 11:25 Song ("Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection...") to the tune of "Deep and Wide"

John 11:25 audio file

S - Luke 2:11 Song ("For unto you is born this day...") to the tune of "There's a Little Wheel A-turnin'"

S - Philippians 2:7 Song ("But made himself of no reputation...") to the tune of "Bought Me a Cat"

T - John 14:6 Song ("Jesus saith unto him, I am the way...") to the tune of "Had a Little Rooster"

U - Hebrews 13:8 Song ("Jesus Christ the same...") to the tune of "Make New Friends"

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From the Jesus Is V-Z Memorization Chart

V - John 15:5 Song ("I am the vine...") to the tune of "Kum Ba Yah"

W - Isaiah 9:6

W - John 1:1 Song ("In the beginning was the Word...") to the tune of "Reuben and Rachel"

X - Philippians 2:9 Song ("Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him...") to the tune of “Short’nin’ Bread”—last two lines

Y - 2 Corinthians 1:20 Song ("For all the promises of God in him are yea...) to the tune of "Crawdad Song"

Z - John 2:17 Song ("And his disciples remembered that it was written...") to the tune of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"

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From the Jesus Is A-F Second Round Memorization Chart

A2 - 1 John 2:1 Song ("My little children, these things write I unto you...") to the tune of "The Rattlin' Bog"

B2 - Jeremiah 23:5 Song ("Behold the days come, saith the Lord...") to the tune of "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

C2 - Matthew 14:14

D2 - Luke 1:78

E2 - 1 Timothy 1:17 Song ("Now unto the King eternal...") to a tune from the 1970s

F2 - Isaiah 28:16 Song ("Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold...") to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic"

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Memorize Doctrinal Bible Verses

Use these songs to help students memorize Bible verses on important foundational topics:

"One God" Memory Verses

Isaiah 43:11 Song

Isaiah 43:11 is set to the tune of "Baby Bumblebee."

Here's a "chipmunks" version. :D

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Ephesians 4:6 Song

Ephesians 4:6 is set to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."

Here's a "chipmunks" version. :D

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James 2:19 Song

James 2:19 is set to the tune of "Ten in a Bed."

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"Sin & Repentance" Memory Verses

James 4:17 Song Visuals

James 4:17 Song Audio

James 4:17 is set to the tune of "Oh, You Can't Get to Heaven."

This is an echo, or call-repeat, song. For the first four lines of the song, one student sings and the rest of the class echoes. These lines are then repeated with everyone singing together. (My students love leading this song.)

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1 John 1:9 Song Visuals

1 John 1:9 Song Audio

1 John 1:9 is set to the tune of "Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Dog Gone?"

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1 John 1:7 Song Visuals

1 John 1:7 Song Audio

1 John 1:7 is a song I learned in my childhood. Author unknown.

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Luke 24:47 Song Visuals

Luke 24:47 Song Audio

Luke 24:47 is set to the tune of "Hickory, Dickory Dock."

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"Baptism in Jesus' Name" Memory Verses

Colossians 3:17 Song

Colossians 3:17 is set to the tune of "Grizzly Bear" and is a favorite with kids. :D

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Acts 4:12 Song Visuals

Acts 4:12 Song Audio

Acts 4:12 is set to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

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Acts 22:16 Song Visuals

Acts 22:16 is set to the tune of "Shoo Fly."

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"Holy Ghost" Memory Verses

John 3:5 Song Visuals

John 3:5 Song Audio

John 3:5 is set to the tune of "Darling Clementine."

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Acts 2:38 Song Visuals

Acts 2:38 Song Audio

Acts 2:38 is set to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It."

The visuals for the Acts 2:38 song are a little different than for the other songs. I made these visuals to be used with a larger class, so the words are larger, and there are fewer of them per page, resulting in 18 total pages in this PDF file. I usually tape these pages together like this:

I have several students come to the front of the class and hold the words, raising their particular section(s) when we get to those words.

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Acts 2:4 Song Visuals

Acts 2:4 Song Audio

Acts 2:4 is set to the tune of "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush."

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Acts 1:8 Song Visuals

Acts 1:8 Song Audio

Acts 1:8 is set to the tune of "I've Been Working on the Railroad."

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John 7:38 Song

John 7:38 is set to the tune of "The Bear Went Over the Mountain."

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Ezekiel 36:27 Song

Ezekiel 36:27 is set to the tune of "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain."

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"Obeying God" Memory Verses

Deuteronomy 27:10 Song

Deuteronomy 27:10 is set to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell."

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1 John 5:2 Song

1 John 5:2 is set to the tune of "Boom, Boom, Ain't It Great to Be Crazy."

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1 John 3:22 Song

1 John 3:22 is set to the tune of "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt."

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Ecclesiastes 12:13 Song

Ecclesiastes is set to the tune of "Home, Home on the Range."

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"Honoring Authorities" Memory Verses

Hebrews 13:17a Song

Hebrews 13:17a is set to the tune of "Do Your Ears Hang Low?"

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1 Timothy 5:17 Song

1 Timothy 5:17 is set to the tune of "BINGO."

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"My Bible" Memory Verses

Isaiah 40:8 Song

Isaiah 40:8 is set to the tune of a lunch song I learned as a child "Today is Monday..."

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Psalm 119:103 Song

Psalm 119:103 is set to the tune of "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider."

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"My Character" Memory Verses

Ephesians 4:32 Song

Ephesians 4:32 is set to the tune of "The Old Gray Mare."

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Matthew 7:12 Song

Matthew 7:12 is set to the tune of "Pop! Goes the Weasel."

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You can read more about my ideas for making Bible memorization part of your Sunday school or Bible class, on my main Bible Memorization page. You can find more ideas, tips, and activities to help your students memorize Bible verses on my Memorization Tips page. My prayer is that you find all these songs, ideas, and activities helpful as you memorize Bible verses together. May God bless your efforts!

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