Best Pens For Bible Journaling

Quick Introduction

Bible Journaling is a form of art that has been around for centuries. This article will give you some tips on finding the best pens for bible journaling.

We’ll start off by listing our favorite brands, then move onto what to look for in different types of pens. Finally, we’ll share some helpful hints on how to get started with your own bible journaling project!

Best Brands of bible journaling supplies

Here are our top picks for the best bible journaling pens. Tried and tested, this is the cream of the crop! No matter what your project entails, these pens will not disappoint.

Top 7 Pens for Bible Journaling

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Product Reviews

01) BLIEVE- Bible Highlighters And Bible study pens

About this item

• 5 Gel Highlighters PLUS 5 Bible Pens (no bleed)
• Colored pens
• Special gel ink is perfect for bible journaling and note taking.
• Highlighters in Yellow, Light Red, Light Blue, Green, Orange
• Fine point tip 0.7mm Comes in (Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Black ink).
• No Bleed Through gel pen tip
• Bible Verse Dry Highlighter and Pens Fine Tip
• Bible Study Kit (10 Pack)

A brilliant pack that comes with both fine point pens for jotting notes and a set of highlighters too –  I have never had a problem with these pens. The pens write smoothly and they don’t bleed through, which is perfect for my Bible journaling.

I know that some pens/highlighters come in sets but don’t have all the color pens you need – not the case here.

Great quality! Perfect for note-taking or highlighting passages in my bible.  They are very durable and don’t feel cheap. I love the scripture references on the side of the pens and highlighters as a nice, added reminder. 

They would make a lovely gift for any bible journaling enthusiasts, highly recommended.

02) Mr. Pen- A Bible Journaling Kit

About this item

• 18 Pack (10 Bible Gel Highlighter, 8 Bible Pens)
• Bible Journaling Highlighters and Pens
• Gel Highlighters / gel ink /
• No Bleed – designed for bibles
• Won’t Dry Out If Left Uncapped
• Made With High-Quality Materials
• Complete kit of bible marking pens
• Amazing Gift

I started bible journaling about a year ago, and these pens from Mr. Pen’s Bible Journaling Kit are another great choice. The pens are great because they don’t bleed through the paper, and the highlighter doesn’t bleed through magazine pages either.

The best thing that I like about them is they last a long time before running out. If you enjoy writing or drawing on your bible then these pens are perfect – especially highlighter pens.

I have no clue what the highlighters are composed of, but they’re incredible. I’m not as much of a fan of the actual ink pens (which are rather fine and I prefer a little thicker line) but the highlighters are well worth the money.

03) Tanmit Fine Tip Coloring Marker & Brush Pen Set

About this item

• For Bible Journaling, Note Taking, Writing, Planning, Art Projects
• 36 UNIQUE COLORS
• Flexible and soft tip brushes / brush pens and fine tip
• Acid-free ink
• Non-toxic
• Blendable ink flow
• Thin and precise lines
• Odorless
• Non-bleeding

So although these are not advertised as “bible pens” as such, with the fine tip as well as the brush tip on these and the range of colors I thought I’d give them a whirl, and I’m pleased I did. Being an artist/illustrator, I like to doodle and embellish the pages and these pens do a great job of this, even on thin paper.

The thin marker does not leak through the bible pages, however, I found that the thicker brush marker slightly leaks through so use with caution!

Overall, if you want a good range of colors for bible journaling, and are careful, these can give great results. 

If you are looking for notes and highlighting only, these are not the best pens, the previous pens reviewed would be a better choice for your bible journal needs.

More Bible art journaling supplies …

04) Faber-Castell Bible Journaling Kit & bible study pen

About this item

• Gelatos pigment colors
• Smooth application bible journaling pens
• No bleed through perfect for bible notes
• Gelatos are acid free and dry permanent.
• COMPLETE JOURNALING KIT – 47 pieces! Includes 16 Die Cuts, 2 Sheets Mache Paper, 46 Page Illustrated Design Guide, 16 Stickers, 2 Gelatos Highlighters Colors, 2 Gelatos Colors, 2 Pitt Artist Pens, 2 Mixed Media Stencils and 4 Bible Journaling Stencils.
• Included stencils – 4 designs for journaling bible pages

A great kit! Especially for beginners starting a bible journal – to get you started this is fantastic.  No stone has been left unturned with this set. Faber-Castell is a brand we have reviewed many times and they always deliver fantastic products.

The brilliant set of pens and stencils in this kit compliment and enhance your bible art journaling skills.

One downside is that the stencils are made of cardstock and would have been better in plastic material to last longer. Also, it’s a little on the expensive side for what you get included.

However, a great introduction to bible journaling, or a perfect add-on when buying one already. If you are looking to get started and want the best Bible journaling pens, then you won’t go far wrong with the Faber-castell bible journaling set!

The set includes 47 pieces in total – these are: 16 Die Cuts, 2 Sheets Mache Paper, A 46 Page Illustrated Design Guide, 16 Stickers, 2 Gelatos Highlighters Colors, 2 Gelatos Colors, 2 Pitt Artist Pens, 2 Mixed Media Stencils and 4 Bible Journaling Stencils.

05) Sharpie Art Pens – bible journaling pens

About this item

• Sharpie Pens Fine Point
• Sharpie ink dries quickly
• Assorted Colors
• Hard Case
• No bleed pens for bible journaling & note taking
• 8 Pack of colored pens | colorful ink shades
• Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Hot Pink, Red and Brown Sharpie fine point pens
• Acid-free ink
• Fade and smear-resistant

I love Sharpies as a rule – and these are no exception!  Adding notes underlines and highlights to my Bible is a joy with these superb pens from this well-known brand. 

To give you an idea of my use, the paper of my bible is thin, crinkly, almost tissue. So my challenge was to find a pen that would not bleed through or smear. Sharpie Art Pens worked tremendously.

I was a little hesitant in giving them a go as a bible journaling pen, as I did read a few reviews where bleed through did occur,  So it’s always best to try out the pens in a small inconspicuous area first if possible to check they work well on your bible paper.

I highly recommend these Sharpie Art Pens for bible journaling.

06) YISAN Gel Highlighter for bible journaling

About this item

• Bible Highlighters / bible journaling pens
• Crayon Highlighter Marker Pens
• Dry Highlighter
• No Bleed gel pens
• 8 Pastel Colors

Love these! If highlighting bible excerpts is your thing, these do a great job.  Without leaving a waxy residue, they highlight perfectly and do not bleed through.   

These are my go-to highlighters.  I’ve been using them for over a year and can vouch for their effectiveness as well as reliability.

The only gripe is that some of the colors come out a little darker than expected.

You do have to be careful with these pens as the Gel stick is very soft.  It’s important to twist off and recap after use.  Also, avoid storing these in a hot environment.

Great price, good value, and the quality is excellent.

07) Sakura Pigma Micron pens 05

About this item

• Water-based ink
• Micron pens Fineliner – great to write notes
• 0.45mm Line width
• 8 Colors – Orange, Brown, Red, Rose, Purple, Green, Blue & Sepia.
• Bible journaling supplies

Are Sakura Pigma Micron pens good? Well, I gave them a go and found they did a decent job, yes.   If you are looking for something in this price range, I would say they are well worth a try.

The Sakura Pigma Micron 05 pens are ideal to be used to underline, write and draw fine details in your bible and provide a smooth ink flow. One point to note is the set featured doesn’t come with a black which was a disappointment. Overall though Sakura Pigma Micron pens are a really good choice!

Best pens for bible journaling – FAQ’s

What is a bible journaling pen?

Bible journaling pens are designed to write on the thin paper of bible pages without bleeding through or smudging.  There are two main types of pens for bible journaling, highlighter pens to mark important, inspiring, or interesting passages of text, and fine point pens to underline sentences and to write and jot notes in the margins.

What is so good about bible pens?

The inks in these pens don’t bleed through bible paper. They enable you to underline, highlight and write short notes or quotes in your bible without fear of ruining the pages.

What to look for when buying a pen for Bible journaling?

Tip size – the best pens for bible journaling

Depending on your use,  you want to look for a pen that has either a fine or medium tip. Fine tipped pens are usually 0.3-0.5mm, these are good for writing notes in the margins of your bible. They tend to need regular refills because they don’t last very long before their ink runs out. Medium pens have thicker tips, usually around 0.7-1mm thick.

Bleeding through paper – delicate bible pages

Always look for ink that claims not to bleed through thin bible pages.  The above-featured pens have been tested and produce good results, but be careful as each Bible paper type is different.

Smudging – a bible journal nightmare!

Even the best pens can leave smudges.  Look for pens that have non-smudging inks, so you don’t get any nasty residue on your page. Also, take your time and allow the pen ink to dry before touching or turning the pages.

Storage case for bible pens

If you are going to buy a bible journaling pen, it’s worth investing in a storage case if one is not included. This will keep your pens protected and in top condition.

Best bible pens & Bible journaling pens FAQ’s

What are the best brands for Bible journaling?

The best brands are as follows:

• Sharpie
• Faber-castell
• Tanmit
• BLIEVE (gel pens)
• Mr Pen (the bible pen)

Bible journaling pens and bible art journaling

If you are are an artist and in particular are into bible art, finding the right pen or pack of color pens is a must for you.  Whether you need to draw in fine detail or color larger areas will determine the kind of pen you are after.

Can you use colored pencils for Bible journaling?

About you may be looking to get the best pens for bible journaling, colored pencils are a great alternative to pens. The pigment doesn’t bleed through the pages and you can blend colors for a more natural-looking finish.

They can be used on bible paper with great effect, but make sure you buy high-quality artist’s pencils as kids ones will not have enough pigmentation to work well.

Read more about our recommended colored pencils here.

Do Sharpie pens bleed through Bible pages?

Yes and no! If you but the right kind of Sharpie pens (see review above), they write very nicely on bible pages.  Their pigment is really rich and the color won’t fade.  They don’t bleed through most bible page types.  However, if you buy the permanent Sharpie marker pens, these will certainly bleed through.

Are gel pens a good choice for bible journaling?

Some gel pens are good for writing notes in the margins of your bible, but it depends on the type/brand.  The ink from gel pens can be very wet and may smudge easily if not careful. Getting the right gel pens will enable you to jot away, underline, make notes without fear of smudging and bleed through.

How do I take care of bible journaling supplies?

If you are investing in the best pens for bible journaling, you’ll want to keep them working at their best.  Therefore it’s important to look after and care for your pens regularly and in the right way. Cleaning the tips with a soft cloth will keep your tips running smoothly.

Don’t use tissue or cloths that shed fibers as this will only block the flow and potentially damage the pen. Storing your pens in the right way will preserve their life also, so don’t just throw them in a bag or drawer. If they do not come in a suitable container or tin, buying a pencil case will be of benefit.

What pens do you use for Bible journaling?

I have tried and tested all of the above pens and found them to be the best choices for bible journaling.  I have had the misfortune of testing a few brands which unfortunately didn’t meet the grade, and therefore do not feature here in this review.

Do Muji pens bleed through Bible pages?

I have tested the black Muji pen on my Bible and although it did show through from the other side, it’s not a “bleed-through” as such.  It’s just the ink is visible through the thin pages.

Do Crayola markers bleed through Bible?

Yes, they are not the best pens for bible journaling for this very reason.  The color pens show through each page. However, if you were set on using them, it may be possible if you prepare the paper first with a product like Clear Gesso.  This protects the page and stops the ink bleeding through.

Why do you need a special pen for writing in a bible?

The thin paper of a bible makes using regular pens impractical. Normal pens and highlighters bleed or show through the thin paper and make a mess of the pages. This includes metal gel tips pens, a regular gel pen etc.

Bible journaling accessories

There is a whole range of extra accessories to accompany the best pens for bible note taking and artwork. These tabs are a fantastic way to organize your learning and mark your favorite texts –Bible Journal Tabs

Also, there are some lovely books with tips and techniques which I’m sure you’ll find incredibly useful and fun too – as an illustrator this is something that I found really great to read through and learn from: The Art Of Bible Journaling

Here are some stickers to embellish and decorate your bible in a quick and exciting way

Bible journaling reviews

Above are all products reviewed and tested by myself and I found them to be the best pens for bible journaling, marking bible passages, hand lettering, note-taking, highlighting and more..

Conclusion

There are many a bible pen that you can use for bible journaling, but the above featured are the best from my experience.  They each have their good points and not-so-great points, but buying one of them will help you get started with your bible journaling journey.

I hope this article has been useful for you – if you have found benefit from reading this guide, please share via social media to your friends, family and Bible study groups!  We appreciate your support.

Start bible journaling today!